Aislinn Kalob, Ward 6 Concord City Council Candidate

CONCORD, NH — Aislinn Kalob

Position Sought

Ward 6 City Council

Family

I grew up just down the road in Henniker, where my parents and siblings still reside. All work within the field of education: pre-k, elementary school, and the university level.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education and-or work experience

Bachelor of Arts, History, McGill University in Montreal, QC (2012-2016). AmeriCorps Member, Rochester Middle School (2017-2018), 21CCLC Program Director, Rochester Middle School (2018-2021), Program Officer for Events and Communications, Volunteer NH (2021-2024)

Previous or current elected or appointed positions

N/A

Campaign website

Aislinn4Concord

The single most important pressing issue facing the community is _______ and this is what I intend to do about it

The housing crisis. We should tackle this in a variety of ways to increase the volume of housing and expand the tax base, such as:

• Examining where we can re-zone, especially as we enter the new Master Plan period where we have an opportunity to do this very thing to plan for the future.
• Supporting diverse housing developments to increase the volume of housing. Single-family homes, age-restricted senior housing, affordable housing projects, and even luxury condos all play a role in addressing the housing crisis while expanding the tax base.
• Strategically selling off city land to developers for these projects.
• Leveraging RSA 679-E to encourage developers to re-develop existing properties.

List three other things you would like to work on if elected or re-elected

1. Increasing government transparency and accessibility. Civic engagement at the municipal level is low, and especially so in my ward. But when I talk to friends, neighbors, or voters I'm just meeting for the first time, it is evident that everyone has many opinions on the city's spending, priorities, and operations. People want to voice their opinion to someone who will listen, and I will happily do so. I will synthesize and disseminate information on council matters using social media and in-person meetings. I will also encourage the city to look at implementing an educational program on how to get involved in our boards and commissions, in the hopes of reducing or eliminating the many vacancies there. As we head into our new Master Plan, it is critical that we develop a plan that accurately reflects the perspectives and dreams of all residents. We cannot do that without actively promoting civic engagement at the municipal level.
2. Prioritizing smart, community-focused investments. As our city grows, I want to focus on improving essential city services and amenities as needed to support the diverse needs of our communities. Our library needs a larger space- I support this project. Our public transportation system is a vital resource, free for riders, but relies on support from the federal government, and if that funding is in jeopardy the city could need to pursue alternative methods of funding. Our parks, trails, and green spaces are potentially our biggest asset, serving residents of Concord and drawing in tourists, and should be protected, expanded, and made more accessible. The White Park playground rebuild is a great example of the city taking initiative here.
3. Tackling our crisis of homelessness with compassion and an understanding that solutions must involve input from the unhoused community. With around 350 chronically unhoused individuals in Concord, the city needs to take some responsibility for this issue and consider it an emergency worth addressing as soon as possible. My number one priority would be sanctioning an encampment with sanitation and waste disposal services - a legal place for them to camp while pursuing pathways to housing.

Name a couple of accomplishments in the past that show you can handle this position

"City Councilor" is a customer service job — or, it is when it's done correctly. I am a young professional with a background in nonprofits, education, and working under federal grants. But right now, I serve food and drinks at restaurants. I make my entire living based on my ability to connect with people and provide outstanding service to every single guest, for anywhere from 4-12 hours at a time. My abilities here are exceptional, so I live comfortably and I genuinely love what I do.

City councilors must be willing and able to: educate the public on municipal matters, discuss issues with residents, answer questions in the media, and develop a strong working relationship with other members of the council. Half of the job of a city councilor is showing up to meetings and voting. The other half is to be present in the community and to be a level-headed, active listener when it comes concerns or feedback from constituents or colleagues.

When city councilors are present and accessible, everyone benefits. I have no doubt that I would not only be able to handle this position, but thrive in it.

Share any other thoughts or ideas you would like voters to know about yourself

Ward 6 has seen between 6-10% voter turnout for municipal elections in the last three cycles. I hope to change that this year by running an effective campaign and getting out the vote.

My goal is to attract more than 400 voters to the Ward 6 poll on November 4th. Whether you cast your vote for myself or for my opponent, I'll consider it a win that you care enough to participate in the first place!