Assistant County Prosecutor Runs For Open Ward 4 Concord City Council Seat: Follow-Up

CONCORD, NH — During the past 48 hours, only one new candidate has filed to run for a municipal office in Concord in 2025.

Jeffrey Garrett Tynes, who lives downtown, filed to run for the open Ward 4 seat, currently held by Karen McNamara, who is not seeking reelection. He works as an assistant county attorney for Merrimack County and said he hoped his candidacy would “expand my participation in public service” and his desire to be more involved.

“As a prosecutor, I have seen how resolving my individual cases helps both the victims of crime and the greater community,” he said. “That experience has strengthened my resolve to enact that kind of change on a larger scale. I want to sit on the city council so I can continue to serve the general public in a more direct manner.”

No candidates filed to run for the Concord School District board of education, Patrick Taylor, the SAU 8 clerk, said.

Fisto Ndayishimiye, who now goes by the name Fiston Mututsi, but will appear on the ballot with his old name, signed up to run at-large Monday. He came to Concord as a refugee eight years ago and now lives in Penacook. Ndayishimiye said he knew the struggles families face in the city, especially when they feel disconnected. He wants a city where everyone belongs, thrives, and no one is left behind.

Ndayishimiye said he would like to expand affordable housing options, protect renters, and build strong, inclusive neighborhoods, while also creating a youth advisory council, investing in afterschool programs, and expanding bus routes, and improving bike lanes and sidewalks.

Mayor Byron Champlin, who filed on the first day, said in his newsletter Wednesday he thought he and the council had “accomplished a lot in the past two years.” Adding more affordable housing, constructing a new library and park in Penacook, and growing the tax base by more than $100 million, were just a few of the highlights.

But, he said, there is more to do.

“We will be addressing a number of priorities in the coming years, including a new police station, renovations to Memorial Field, and the first phase of the long-awaited rail trail extending south from Boscawen,” he said. “This, against the challenging backdrop of the forthcoming city employee class and compensation study, property revaluation, drafting a new city Master Plan and continuing to grow the tax base.”

Champlin said he had tried to be accessible and find common ground while responding to voter concerns, and was ready to listen more if elected to another term.

Also Read

• More Incumbents File For Concord City Council; At-Large Race Gets A 3rd Candidate
• 9 Incumbent Municipal Candidates File To Run For Reelection In Concord; Champlin Gets Mayoral Challenge
• Ward 4 Concord City Councilor, Zone C School Board Member Out For 2025 Reelection; Signups Start Friday
• Filing For 2025 Concord City Council And School Board Races Begins Sept. 5
• New Hampshire Officials Remind Granite Staters Living In Cities What Documents They Will Need To Vote
• Do The Mayor, Councilors, And School Board Members Represent Concord?

Candidates Running, So Far

After four days of filing, the following candidates have submitted papers to run.

In the mayor's race, Champlin has filed, as has Kate West, who ran for the office two years ago.

In the at-large race, Ndayishimiye has filed to run against incumbents Amanda Grady Sexton and Fred Keach.

Incumbent ward councilors filing include Brent Todd in Ward 1, Michele Horne from Ward 2, Jennifer Kretovic in Ward 3, Stacey Brown from Ward 5, Jim Schlosser of Ward 7, Ali Sekou of Ward 8, Kris Schultz in Ward 9, and Jeff Foote from Ward 10.

Along with newcomer Tynes, two candidates filed to run for the Ward 6 seat: Aislinn Kalob and Brenna Kehew Sculley.

For the SAU 8 school board, Madeleine Mineau has filed to run for the Zone A (Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4). Jeff Wells has filed to run for the Zone B seat (comprising Wards 5, 6, and 7). Alexander Dubois, who signed up to run on Friday for the open Zone C seat.

How To File To Run

For city seats, the filing fee is $5. The filing period runs through Monday, Sept. 15, at the Concord City Clerk’s office at City Hall at 39 Green St. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours on Thursday until 6 p.m. On Sept. 15, the clerk’s office will be open until 5 p.m.

City ward positions have a filing fee of $1.

Candidates for city offices can also gather signatures instead of paying the $5 fee. The signature filing petition process will run through Sept. 19. See the city clerk for details.

To run for a city position, voters must be registered voters in the city and live in the Ward from which they are running, if they are a candidate for a Ward seat.

Call the city clerk’s office at 603-225-8500 for more information.

Filing for the three school board seats will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays from Sept. 5 to Sept. 15.

To run for a school board position, a candidate must be a registered voter of SAU 8 and be domiciled in the Zone district.

For more information about school board races, call the SAU 8 clerk at 603-225-0811.

City And School Offices On The Ballot

Seats in 2025 include:

Mayor: 1 seat, two-year term.

At-Large City Councilor: 2 seats, four-year term.

Ward City Councilor: 1 seat per Ward (10 seats), two-year term.

Zone A (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4): 1 seat, three-year term.

Zone B (Wards 5, 6, 7): 1 seat, three-year term.

Zone C (Wards 8, 9, 10): 1 seat, three-year term.

Ward seats also include:

Ward Moderator: 1 seat per Ward (10 seats), two-year term.

Ward Clerk: 1 seat per Ward (10 seats), two-year term.

Supervisor of the Checklist: 1 seat per Ward (10 seats), six-year term.

Are You Running?

Please let us know! Email me, Tony Schinella, at tony.schinella@patch.com.

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