2 Of Concord’s 5 At-Large City Council Candidates Appear At Forum: Video

CONCORD, NH — Two of the five candidates running for two four-year at-large Concord City Council seats in 2025 participated in a forum with Patch and Concord TV in its studios in early October.

The candidates — Fred Keach, the longest-serving city councilor, as well as Robert Washburn, a former councilor, addressed many issues, including the city’s budget processes, housing issues, whether the city should have a sanctioned homeless camp, automated trash pickup and the purple bag tax, the tenor of council meetings, homeless crime, and expanding the tax base.

Jeanne Chase, Amanda Grady Sexton, and Fisto Ndayishimiye are also on the ballot. They were invited to participate but did not attend.

Editor’s note: As was pointed out to me earlier this month by a city councilor who is uncontested, the tax rate for fiscal year 2026 was under 3 percent, 2.96 percent, to be exact, down from a proposed 3.96 percent. I misremembered the increase, thinking it was 4.96 down to 3.96. Most previous years were under 3 percent and only above 3 percent when the city added the service of a fourth ambulance.

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