Derek Thibeault, Nashua Ward 8 Alderman Candidate

Derek Thibeault

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position Sought

Ward 8 Alderman

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife - Loren, daughter Libby 19, sons Alex 17 and Andrew 13

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Associates Degree from Southern NH University

Occupation

Call Center Leader (Health Insurance Industry), 25 Years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Ward Clerk, Selectman, Nashua Youth Baseball President (2 years), Secretary (3 Years)

Campaign website

thibeaultfornashua.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

It's important to give back to a community. I love this city and want to see it continue to move forward. I want to see infrastructure continue to get better. It's important to be a transparent and diverse city. We need a responsible and compassionate government.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

It's the effects of Covid-19. Mental Health and drug issues related to the stress of the pandemic. Business closures all over the city due to previous shutdowns or staffing shortages. We need a plan for the future. How do we fill up the empty storefronts? How do we fix the opioid crisis? My goal is to work with the other Alderman/women, and the mayor and figure out how to do this. A prosperous business community brings money to Nashua as does a healthy workforce.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

One big difference is thoughts on public education. I believe we have a great public education system in Nashua. Continuing to make this strong is critical for the future of Nashua. I did not believe that tax money should now go to private schools, thus being diverted away from public education. Teachers are important too. You can care about kids and teachers (including other school staff). I don't agree with vouchers or taking down the unions. Pay for teachers and other school positions needs to be evaluated.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think they did a great job. They kept our community safe. Small sacrifices for the greater good. They made hard choices and I applaud them for that, they took their lumps. Hard decisions have to be made during a crisis. I may not have voted for the mask mandate allowing businesses to make those decisions on their own, but at the end of the day the city did the best they could.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I look to support Ward 8 - fighting for them to get road work fixed or completed. I want responsible development and redevelopment for Ward 8. Essential services must be strong, police, fire, public health, and also work together with the community. I will listen to the concerns of all residents in Ward 8. I will listen and ask questions to get answers.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have led customer service teams for 25 years. I was a director of a 400-person call center. I have solved complex problems while listening to people and responding promptly. I have worked with other departments learning to collaborate. I was on a Board of Directors for Nashua Youth Baseball. I have coached kids in baseball for 11 years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never forget where you came from.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love this city. I have two sets of great-grandparents who came to work in the Nashua mills in the late 1800s from Canada. My grandfather was on the Nashua Police force in the 1950s. My father fought for Nashua in Vietnam. They loved this city too. It's time for me to give back and help continue what is one of the greatest cities in the United States. It cannot go backwards it must continue to progress.