The Concord special elections will be on July 13th, 2021,Edith Chiasson is running for the Concord City Council Ward 4 position. Her family  includes her husband who owns a small local business and her  children who are young professionals,  none are in politics. Edith answered some questions for us.

Can you tell us a bit about your Occupation & Professional Experience?

Currently, I work at the NH OPLC (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) managing the Customer Support Unit with a focus on enhancing customer experience. I have over 30 years of experience establishing policy and developing professionals in serving the public – with topics ranging from regulatory compliance to fiscal and personal responsibility. I have worked over 10 years in NH State agencies and have enjoyed many years of volunteer work in the community for non-profit organizations.

Why are you seeking elected office?

I have been a part of the Ward 4 community for over 30 years. I whole-heartedly care about people, about our community, and especially about our culture. I would like to ensure effective bi-partisan representation for unique challenges confronting residents of Ward 4. We are at the heart of the city with narrow streets, traffic congestion, and limited parking. I would like to preserve the small-town city culture that makes our neighborhood such a great place to live.

I support fair and transparent city contracts, accountability for city leaders, funding for a clean, safe environment for our residents as well as visitors to our capital city.

What are the key differences between you and the other candidates seeking this position?

What I have in my favor is my education and experience. I studied public policy and administration at UNH, graduating just a couple of years ago with a Master of Public Administration degree.

I worked for many years in the financial services industry. My Bachelor of Science degree is in Financial Planning & Management.

I have a Black Belt certification in the practice of Lean. The study of Lean is about learning a variety of methods for continuous improvement designed to improve services and reduce waste (red tape) in an effective and fiscally responsible manner – especially in Government.

My entire career has been about listening to people and working with groups small or large to find common sense, cost-saving solutions.

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

The sky-rocketing expense of basic housing is out-pacing the incomes of individuals and families of all ages. Some loyal long-time residents have been displaced out of the community they call home. Budgets are stretched to a breaking point. Development is challenging the capacity of city services as well as the ease (or lack thereof) of movement in and about the heart of the city, where Ward 4 exists.

I intend to listen carefully to city planners, independent developers, and local residents as we work together to create a viable response to this issue. I will question proposed outcomes, keeping in mind desired culture, capacity limitations, and cost to the taxpayer.

What are some other issues that define your campaign platform?

The issue most fundamental to city leaders is to be ever-vigilant about the fiscal well-being of our community. There should always be responsible, transparent collection and spending of taxpayer dollars.

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

I actively followed changes proposed by the city regarding parking restrictions, permits, and fees in our ward. I successfully led a petition drive to significantly lower the proposed parking fees for residents on the streets adjacent to the UNH Law Center.

As a young professional, I volunteered countless hours helping children, youth, and business leaders in our community. I’ve also been formally recognized with awards for community service, association leadership, and implementing new cost-saving programs.

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

I’ve invested many evenings and weekends going door-to-door on every street in Ward 4. So many residents I spoke with share my vision to uphold our peaceful small-town culture with the convenience of city services.

I care about preserving historical structures to complement practical community development. I believe in neighbors caring for neighbors – maintaining generations of families and individuals respectfully sharing knowledge, experience, and innovation.

I have the ability to observe, listen, reflect, and make tough decisions to improve the fiscal well-being of individuals and small businesses. I believe we can find balance in the range of interests in our community and remove restrictions that create discrimination and undue hardship.

Campaign Website:

http://www.edithforconcord.com

Edith Chiasson, Karen McNamara, and Connor Spern are running in the special general election for Concord City Council Ward 4 on July 13, 2021.

Polling Location:

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Concord
55  Bradley Street, Concord NH
Hours: 7am to 7pm