David Schoneman wants to see Nashua's downtown vibrant and bustling. But he's afraid unless the city takes a more conservative fiscal turn, the current efforts to spruce things up will fall flat.
Schoneman has announced he's running for Ward 3 Alderman, a decision already in the works before incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Diane Sheehan announced she would give up her ward seat for a shot at an At-Large board position in November.
"Ward 3 needs a change in leadership, and I want to be representative for the voters and residents in my ward," Schoneman said.
"I think a lot of people in Ward 3 feel Alderman Sheehan didn't represent them the way they wanted her to," he says, noting such hot button issues like allowing Parcel F to fall through, and her support for a new playground at Greeley Park, a Legacy Playground, designed to be accessible to people of all abilities.
"She thinks it would be the best place for that playground, but I don't agree, and I think people in Ward 3 want it to stay as it is," Schoneman said.
Schoneman, 56, never married or had children, although like his recent foray into local politics, he believes timing is everything.
"I'd still like to get married and have a family someday, but so far it hasn't happened for me," said Schoneman, a matter more of choices than opportunities.
He's worked most recently as an instructor pilot for General Atomics, working with unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Predator and Reaper.
He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from 2011-2012 and, while there, saw the microcosm of American life through a global lens.
"At that time there was so much going on in America, like that Wisconsin union budget battle, so much that went unchallenged," Schoneman said.
"It made me want to fight for America; I wanted to serve my country somehow, and felt maybe it was time for me to get involved," he said.
The way he sees it, the same issues that threaten our U.S. economy and security are the same things threatening the citizens of Nashua.
"One of the biggest threats, from my perspective as a fiscal conservative, is that taxes are going up again this year. The mayor says it's less than 3 percent, but it's been that way every year," Schoneman said.
"Year in and year out do we get more services? No, the money is just absorbed into the system," Schoneman said.
He believes the current Board of Alderman didn't try hard enough to reduce the mayor's proposed budget.
"We need to be careful about salaries. No government exists as a charity for employing people. I would say if city workers are not leaving their jobs in droves, then we're paying too much, between benefits and salaries," Schoneman said.
Schoneman ran unsuccessfully in 2012 for Republican State Rep in District 30, which he says was due in part to the Democratic sweep.
If elected he would like voters to know that he's not "in anyone's pocket."
"The Board of Aldermen seems to be divided. There's the Mayor's faction, and then there's Jim Donchess' faction -- a lot of times there are just enough votes for something to go the Mayor's way, and I think that reflects that the people's voices aren't being heard," Schoneman said.
"I don't know anyone in Ward 3 happy that taxes are going up," he said.
In watching the aldermen at work, Schoneman says he'a come to admire Ward 9 Alderman Dan Moriarty.
"I like the way he thinks. He's an independent thinker, and even when we have a difference of opinion, we can talk about our differences in an intelligent way," Schoneman said.
Ditto that for Alderman David Deane, whose conservative outlook is admirable to Schoneman.
As for other hot city topics, like commuter rail, Schoneman says it's OK if it can support itself, but once federal subsidies dry up, it would fall to the people to pay for it.
"I don't think it fits American culture -- rail is more European; our culture is more focused on automobiles," Schoneman said.
Rail would only make sense if it were freight based, with commuter rail as an add on, he said.
The sidewalk project and Broad Street Parkway are both unpopular with residents, from what he has gathered from talking to voters in his ward.
"The sidewalk project should have stayed entirely with the Board of Aldermen and not gone to public works. It would have saved the mayor a lot of grief. I think that was a strategic mistake," Schoneman said.
As for his relative short-term residency in Nashua -- he moved here in 2010 from Massachusetts --Schoneman said he likes to think there is something to be said for choosing to live here rather than being here by birth or circumstance.
"I could have lived anywhere in the country, and did consider my options, but decided New Hampshire was the best place for me, and Nashua, the place to live," Schoneman said.
"In fact, I'd love to see Nashua be voted the 'Best Place to Live' again because we need to attract businesses," Schoneman said.
"Nashua won't be the best place to live because it has great malls -- everyone has them; we need to have a great downtown, and I would like to see the city work on that," Schoneman said.
If he could singlehandedly change one thing about the city it would be to lower the downtown parking rates.
"Aubuchon Hardware is compering with Home Depot, where it's free to park. I'd like to see the parking rates come back down, or have free parking in the garages," Schoneman said.
You can learn more about Schoneman at his campaign website: www.nhthinks.com
This is the first in a series of candidate profiles we're compiling to help you get to know your mayoral and aldermanic candidates. If you or someone you know is ready to announce their candidacy, contact Carol Robidoux carol.robidoux@patch.com.
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