Why are you running?
I am running for City Council because I believe in Rochester and its potential. Many good things are happening here, and I want to be part of making it the best place to live, work, raise a family and play.
Do you support the city’s tax cap and for what, if any, reasons would you support going over it?
I do support the tax cap. Rochester has a good history of not going over, or even near the tax cap. Over the last 5 years, Rochester remained under the tax cap by a cumulative value of $14.5 million. That is $14.5 million that could have been collected from taxpayers, but it wasn’t. That indicates budgets have been maintained well.
For me to vote to go over the tax cap, it would have to be for a very good reason that would provide massive benefit to taxpayers, and those reasons are few and far between.
How can Rochester ease the burden on residential property taxpayers?
The only way to reduce individual property taxes is to find ways to cut spending or expand the tax base with taxable new development that spreads the burden over a greater number of property owners. So, we must continually look at the spending and keep it as lean as possible and foster new opportunities to expand the tax base via commercial development and building new housing.
How can the city further the affordability and availability of housing? Do you support efforts in the state legislature aimed at reducing local control of zoning rules and regulations?
Supply and demand work here. The city must remove roadblocks to development. When a company asks to build 156 housing units, we should do all we can to make the project happen rather than tell them “NO”. If we keep saying no to every project, we’ll have a reputation for not being friendly to growth. We can talk about the problem, or we can take real action to solve the problem. I love to take action to solve problems.
I do not support reducing local control of zoning rules and regulations. The people that live in the city are in the best position to determine what is good for the city. If the zoning rules and regulations go to the state, there’s often unintended consequences at the local level that stymies development, and the locals can’t do anything about it. It’s just adding another layer of bureaucracy to an often already cumbersome process.
What can Rochester do to attract new small businesses and support the small businesses already in the city?
Rochester already has a very well-functioning Economic Development Office that works hard to attract new businesses to the area. We also have the volunteer organization, Rochester Main Street, that does a great job of promoting small businesses in the downtown core. I believe we need to be careful with planning, zoning and permitting to make sure we don’t put up too many barriers to small business startups.
Rochester purchased the old Care Pharmacy and nearby properties for more than $3.3 million? Do you agree with this purchase and what should Rochester do with the property it now owns?
I really dislike the way this purchase happened. There was a purchase and sale agreement in place even before it was announced to the public and a public hearing was held. This is the wrong approach. If property is being purchased with taxpayer money, the taxpayers should have a say in the matter before it happens, not after the fact. I also believe the timing was all wrong. Our most economically challenged citizens had just received massive tax bills, we had just spent $30 million on a new elementary school, and we were being bombarded with news that tariffs were going to cause prices of everything to go up. The last thing citizens wanted to hear was we spent another $3.3 million on some property with no firm plan in place for it.
I believe now that we own it, there must be clear communication from city officials on what the plan is, what the payback will be, and how long it will take for that payback to show up in the property tax rate.
I believe the best course of action for the property would be to create a business / residential model with an affordable housing component. It should be complementary to the Rochester Commons and be an anchor to that end of the city.
Short-term and long-term, what should the mayor/council do about the growing homeless population in Rochester?
Homelessness is a complex problem to solve. There are multiple definitions for “homeless”, from someone living in a tent in the woods, to someone couch surfing, living in their car or living in a temporary shelter. There is no single cure for a range of issues.
Rochester already does a great deal of work with the unhoused population. There are several resources available such as Home for Now, Waypoint, SOS Recovery and partnership with the warming shelter in Somersworth. There has also been a dedicated position that provided outreach specifically for the unhoused population. Our Director of Municipal Welfare, Todd Marsh, is one of the best in the business of helping provide services to the homeless population.
I feel that we must use all available resources to the best of our ability to continue providing services to affect positive outcomes.
The Legislature has empowered cities to create “social districts” where outdoor drinking of alcoholic beverages is allowed.
Do you support bringing social districts to Rochester?
I do support this initiative. There are several new establishments downtown as well as the Opera House. In the summer we have Porch Fest. I believe that creating a “social district” in the downtown area will foster more outdoor festival type activities that would bring more citizens to the downtown core.
What will you do for those on fixed income that had a massive tax increase last year?
This big increase was really shocking for the folks that could least afford it. I understand that. Assessments are calculated based on market conditions and these were the market conditions at the time. I'll advocate for a more level and steady assessment program. With my plan for an automatically triggered revaluation, we won't see these big swings in assessments.
What else would you like voters to know about you?
I am an Air Force Veteran and served another 22+ years with U. S. Customs and Border Protection. I’ve always believed that we can’t keep doing things the same way because we’ve always done it that way. I like to explore better and more efficient ways to accomplish stated goals.
I think Rochester has a bright future ahead and I want to be part of shaping that future.
I’d appreciate your support on election day.