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Andrew Cline has been editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader since October of 2001. His writing has appeared in more than 100 newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Review.Gatsas for mayor: Tame the budget
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Reader commentsManchester needs a dynamic, innovative mayor to challenge the city's establishment and push through new and better ways of doing and funding the city's business.
Unfortunately, the people won't get that this year. They can, however, get a mayor who will work hard to control the rate of growth of city spending while making sure essential services are provided. That man is Ward 2 Alderman and state Sen. Ted Gatsas.
Neither of the two mayoral candidates, Gatsas and Ward 1 Alderman Mark Roy, has an impressive reform agenda. But between the two, Gatsas makes a stronger case for controlling spending, eliminating waste and providing quality services while living within the city's means.
Gatsas probably knows the city budget better than any elected official in Manchester. He was the main author of the last two budgets. We thought those budgets spent too much, but Gatsas remained adamant that with a Democratic supermajority on the board of aldermen, the relatively small tax increases in his budgets were the best possible options.
Gatsas, a Republican, says he will fight hard to keep spending down, find ways to save money and make the city work more effectively and efficiently. His opponent, on the other hand, offers nothing for the city but unending spending and the tax hikes that would necessarily follow.
Gatsas also supports the much-needed spending cap, which Roy opposes.
Ted Gatsas will devote his considerable energy to improving services and keeping spending in check. And nobody who knows him doubts his work ethic. He has served the city well as an alderman and senator over the years and would continue to do so as mayor. Voters should give him that opportunity on Nov. 3.
►City endorsements: Wards 1 through 6 (10)
►City endorsements: Wards 7 through 12 (21)
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YOUR COMMENTS
I encourage Manchester citizens to vote Mark E. Roy for mayor. Mark E. Roy has been serving Manchester for many years and he would make an absolutely great mayor. Throughout his career, he has been fighting for advancment in oublic education as well as promoting the safety measures taken within schools. As a father himself, he has a great concern for the facilities in schools around Manchester and New Hampshire. He was vice chairman of the Citizens Task Force, a group that has advocated for improvemane in our public schools.
Throughout his career, Mark has always considered the future generations and has shown great fiscal responsibility. Mark E. Roy has always shown fiscal responsibility by considering the people before he makes a decision. He has always advocated for a fair tax system that doesn't hurt the middle class.
- Douglas Marino, Newfields, NH
This editorial captures in a nutshell the problems with the political scene today, at all levels - the most popular candidate is "none of the above"
- DP, Manchester
This reader wishes all the candidates good luck November 3rd. However history has a proven track record of electing democrats for alderman and school board members even though the past elections has been considered 'non-partisan'. So come Jan. 1st we will probably see 11 aldermen who are Democrat, 1 Independant and 2 Republicans with a Republican Mayor. For school board side, much will remain the same with the majority being Democrat. What is needed is for the full board of Alderman to vote for four day work weeks in some departments. This would save money in electrical, water/sewer, janitorial and most importantly staff salaries and benefits. Thus this savings could help lower our overall tax increases which are likely to happen since the both boards voted to give raises for the next two years. Good luck to all, May the voters come out and vote for some change. Otherwise it will be more of the same for the next two years.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester
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