By Patrick Adrian and Jordan J. Phelan
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — City voters will elect new officials for the Claremont City Council on Tuesday, which includes a crowded field of candidates seeking to fill four at-large seats.
Seven residents — two incumbents and five newcomers — filed this year for the at-large ballot, whose seats are chosen by all three of Claremont’s voting districts.
Michael Demars and Nicholas Koloski are the two incumbents.
The challengers are Lucas “Rocky” Beliveau, Adam Fontaine, Raymond Hughes III, William “Bill” Limoges and Matt Mooshian.
Two of the at-large seats will be vacant. Dale Girard, one at-large councilor, filed for the position of mayor. Debora Matteau, another at-large councilor, filed for the assistant mayor seat.
This week, the Eagle Times reached out to the seven at-large candidates. Each candidate provided a brief biographical summary and responded to six questions, which are published below to help inform Claremont voters ahead of Election Day.
In addition to the at-large race, three seats have been recently challenged by write-in candidates. David Pacetti is running a write-in campaign against Ward II Councilor Jim Contois while Tyler Sullivan is running as a write-in candidate against Ward I Councilor Andrew O’Hearne. And Cylan Gosselin is running a write-in campaign for the assistant mayor seat against Matteau.
Voters who reside in Wards I and II will submit their ballot at the Claremont Middle School while Ward III residents will do so at Disnard Elementary School. Both polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Introducing the at-large candidates
Lucas “Rocky” Beliveau, 26, is a Claremont native, a chef and restaurateur, who opened his first restaurant, Rocky’s Taqueria, on Opera House Square in 2020. He previously served in the U.S. Navy and has traveled extensively to further his culinary skills, which he honed in the culinary arts program at Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center in Claremont.
Beliveau has not previously served on any Claremont boards or commissions.
Michael Demars, 50, currently serves on the Claremont City Council, filling the seat of former councilor Erica Sweetser. A graduate of Stevens High School, Demars is owner and operator of CCI Managed Services, a computer and integrated services provider with 20 employees.
In addition to the council, Demars has served on the Claremont Planning Board and the Claremont Conservation Commission.
Adam Fontaine, 49, is a Stevens High School graduate and United States Air Force veteran, with a career background in law enforcement and computer operations. He has lived in Claremont around 20 years in total and is a member of the American Legion Post 29.
Fontaine has not previously served on any Claremont boards or committees.
Raymond Hughes III, 38, is a Stevens High School graduate who returned to Claremont in 2019 after several years in Colorado, where he earned multiple post-secondary degrees, including a bachelor’s of science in international affairs, a master of business administration in corporate finance; and a master’s of science in management and organization. Hughes also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as a Federal Security Contractor.
Hughes has not previously served on Claremont board or commission. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Bluff Elementary Parent Teachers Organization.
Nicholas J. Koloski, 44, is currently the longest-serving councilor and is now seeking his seventh consecutive term. A lifelong Claremont resident, Koloski co-owns the Time-Out Americana Grill on Mulberry Street and is a firefighter for the Claremont Fire Department.
In addition to his 12 years on the council, Koloski has served on the Claremont Planning Board; Claremont Conservation Commission; Claremont 250th Committee; Claremont Charter Commission; New Hampshire Film Commission; and the Governor’s Task Force for recruitment and development of a younger workforce.
William “Bill” Limoges, 61, is a Claremont native who has spent most of his life as a city resident. He is a professional heating contractor with 35 years of experience and a business owner.
Limoges has not previously served on any city board or commissions.
Matt Mooshian, 27, is a community organizer and human services coordinator who has resided in Claremont for the past five year. He currently serves on the Claremont Planning Board and the board of directors at Headrest, a substance abuse treatment program in Lebanon. He is also the program coordinator for Rural Outright, an LGBTQ youth support program run by the TLC Family Resource Center.
Mooshian is credited for organizing Rural PRIDE in 2018, one of the largest annual pride celebrations in the state.
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The following questions aim to gain a better understanding of why each candidate wishes to be an at-large councilor at this particular time.
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Why do you want to be a councilor?
Beliveau: I want to be a councilor because I have always felt Claremont has potential that it hasn’t lived up to in my life so far and would like to see it reach its potential. The most important personal attribute that I bring to the city government is persistence. The only reason that I have accomplished what I have in my life has been credited to the persistence I have for my goals. Bringing my level of persistence to the council, will ensure changes that directly affect the livelihoods of its constituents are being addressed.
Demars: I have been filling the vacant seat of Erica Sweetser since around May and I would like the opportunity to take what I have been learning in that capacity and put it to use over the next two years. I believe I have a proven record in business with fighting status quo thinking. I seek continuous improvement from myself and the people in my organization. Communication, respect and collaboration are all areas I have a strong record using in my past that I believe are needed in a city leadership role.
Fontaine: I feel there is a need for an individual on the council who wishes only to do good by Claremont and has the foresight to see issues with plans being made. In my positions in the Air Force, I was required to identify problems as well as the solutions to those problems for the good of the Air Force in a limited amount of time.
Hughes: I have a vested interest in our local government operating in an efficient, transparent, and cost-effective manner. From my standpoint, we have identified the concerns but are unable to agree about how to execute solutions. The personal attribute that I offer is my ability to interact with and bring people together to accomplish common goals no matter how diverse or different we may all seem.
Koloski: The most important attribute is I never give up. I enjoy helping people navigate their troubles and concerns. I have become very fluid in connecting people to goods or services that can help address issues they may be facing. I truly make time for people’s issues and enjoy meeting people. I am stubborn and do not give up on our community and issues that are important. During my tenure, I fought for the acceptance of credit cards by the city. It is about being user-friendly and providing common convenience to our businesses and citizens.
Limoges: I want to be a councilor because I believe that I can bring steady, strong leadership to our city. I see Claremont’s future as a thriving, safe, and growing community, which needs leadership that wants to work with each other to accomplish this goal. I will encourage citizens to contact me with their concerns, and ideas – I will always be willing to listen. My priority is Claremont, with no personal agenda.
Mooshian: I’ve been lucky to call Claremont my home for five years. Our city has come so far since I first moved here! I am running for council to build on that progress because I believe our best days still lie ahead. As a councilor, I will bring a spirit of service and civility, a real passion for our city, and a vision for its future. I pride myself on my ability to collaborate effectively and will work diligently with my fellow councilors to address the issues that matter most to the people of Claremont.
What are your top three most pressing concerns?
Demars: The three pressing concerns I have are as follows. Building a cohesive team with our council, city manager, and department heads and staff. Nothing will get done until we start working together. Through a series of strategic planning sessions beginning this January, find and fix efficiency problems in many departments to create cost savings needed for No. 3. Budget at least $1 million for roads. Face all other capital improvement projects and look at how we plan to pay for them without a never-ending series of bond issuances. Tax rate increases are not a part of this conversation either.
Fontaine: I believe the top three pressing concerns to Claremont are taxes, roads, and commerce. I would like to spend my time working towards a beneficial fix to these issues.
Hughes: Roads and infrastructure; housing, whether it be an imbalance between fair market housing, subsidized/low-income housing, or just not enough in general; and identifying creative solutions for these problems or any problem requiring additional funding without raising residential property taxes.
Koloski: Housing, taxes, and roads. Addressing the housing concern that has a chokehold on development and is causing issues for employers. I am hearing from employers that are struggling to house employees. Secondly, operating smarter and within our means. A priority is tax relief for our citizens. Councils need to be mindful of taxes while increasing the tax base with new development. This can and should be done without driving folks from their homes. We have two budgets in this community to watch — school and city. Both have needs that come from the same pocket. Yours and mine.
Limoges: We’ve invested a lot of money into some major changes to Pleasant Street, and we need to follow up with that by doing what we can to improve the surrounding neighborhoods to make that investment work. I would like to work with property owners and create incentives that would encourage them to invest in their buildings. Housing and homelessness are also huge issues in Claremont. It’s not an easy fix, but it has to be pursued as a priority. Keeping our tax rate as low as practically possible, while keeping essential services well-funded.
Mooshian: I’ve been meeting with and talking to so many voters in Claremont. Some of the top issues on folks’ minds are housing, infrastructure, and economic development. I think Claremont is in an exciting time of growth and development, we’re at a tipping point and we need to keep building momentum to move in the right direction. The way I see it, addressing housing and infrastructure concerns, and bolstering economic development are essential to Claremont.
How will you involve residents in your decision-making process?
Fontaine: I will be available to the citizens of Claremont to hear their opinions and desires both through email and in person. Being retired I can make myself available at almost any time it is needed.
Hughes: Email me at [email protected] or message me on Facebook. If you recognize me, approach me when you see me in town. Speak up; I talk to anyone and everyone. While I monitor social media and occasionally post, what I will not do is engage in public arguments over social media. I like to meet up with people for more in-depth questions about me and for political discourse or debates.
Koloski: I am told I am one of the most vocal and responsive council members. People call me, visit me, and trust that they are heard. I am one of the few that engage citizens online while directing people to factual information to keep people engaged in the process. After all, it is their community. Decisions are guided by community members and not just a group of nine people who volunteer their time. The proposals I have set forth in the past have been guided by citizen feedback and hearing concerns. That would continue to be the case.
Limoges: My door will always be open. This time in history offers more ways to communicate than ever before, and I will use any method, such as social media, telephone calls, and emails that facilitates good communication between Claremont citizens, and myself . It is crucial that I know what the citizenry of Claremont is thinking, so I am encouraging them to contact me with their ideas, comments, and opinions on all topics. I want to be an effective councilor, and to do that, I need to be open to all citizens’ communication.
Mooshian: I believe that we can solve even our toughest problems by building community — and I have already proven my commitment to community engagement. So far during my campaign for council my team of volunteers and I have knocked on hundreds of doors to talk with our neighbors about the election. Once elected to the council I will make myself accessible to the community by phone and email, as well as through my website and regularly scheduled in-person and virtual events. Strengthening community engagement, increasing transparency and enhancing the accessibility of our local government are vitally important to me.
Beliveau: I have been placed in a very good position with my restaurant that I am very easy to find for one-on-one conversation. I will also be looking at what our current marketing strategy is to get the word to our residents and making suggestions where I feel we may be lacking. I will be attending sporting events, and public affairs when available to get out and speak with residents face to face. Update them on anything they’ve been missing or address any questions they may have.
Demars: Citizen involvement for me is not on Facebook. I don’t use it. I’m very willing to respond to any email I get from a constituent and have regular face to face conversations with people around town. I’m happy to meet with anyone that has ideas or concerns but I’m not interested in playing the social media popularity game. My interactions with people tend to be healthy and traditional and not virtual or confrontational.
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The following questions aim to gain a better understanding of where each candidate stands on a range of issues that have either been previously discussed by the council or may potentially be discussed in the future.
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What are some ways the city can attract visitors and keep young residents here?
Hughes: We need lower property taxes; higher paying jobs; better run indoor and outdoor recreational programs for youth, teenagers, adults and seniors; and legalized cannabis and hemp. These are four of my ideas. However, as a potential councilor, none of these ideas are an agenda. In my opinion, one of the primary roles of the council is to supervise the city manager and the municipal budget, not to figure out strategies to attract and retain younger residents. That being said, as an elected representative I will always take the time to help any individual or organization that reaches out to me for help or insight.
Koloski: I was knowledgeable enough in this area to be tapped to serve on a Governor’s Task Force that tackled the same topic. There need to be fun things to do and reasons to stay beside the fact you grew up here. Being in the business that I am, we attract tourism. From that, I am able to gather feedback from not only those living here but out-of-state guests. I put my money where my mouth is and our family is opening yet another family amusement attraction in our community. The city has made strides in the right direction. I have been involved with city events and continue to support what we have for offerings while aggressively working to recruit more. There is more to this issue than fun things to do. People have to have safe, quality affordable housing and employment opportunities. Our recreational opportunities rival that of other communities.
Limoges: We need to keep moving forward with what we’ve started on Pleasant Street. It doesn’t do much good to have one street done over when the rest of the area is still in need of some pretty significant repair. I would like to see the city aggressively pursue grant money for infrastructure improvements, parks and recreation, and housing development. We need better housing. I’m impressed with what Chinburg is doing in the city, from developing housing at the old mill building to its recent purchase of the Moody building. Chinburg is a class act, and I would like to see more companies like that invest in Claremont. And we need to encourage desirable industries and businesses to come to Claremont. We need high-quality jobs in order to keep our young citizens here, and attract others to come, and make Claremont their home.
Mooshian: Claremont truly has so much to offer. One way we can draw more visitors to our city and keep more of our young people here is to strengthen our arts & cultural assets. I’m a proponent for establishing an arts & culture commission to promote community engagement, foster pride in past and present residents’ artistic and cultural accomplishments, and bring more diverse events to Claremont. I am excited that the West Claremont Center for Music & Arts is moving into a historic building downtown, Amplified Arts has emerged as a leader in the creative community, and our premiere theatre destination, the Claremont Opera House, is working toward a renaissance. The pop-up concert series hosted at Arrowhead this summer is just one example of this.
Beliveau: We need to determine what our strengths and weaknesses are and start focusing on our strengths. We have beautiful outdoor resources, arrowhead and moody, plus much more land untouched behind tractor supply simply because we can’t access it, but yet underutilize these resources for revenue building events. Although we are starting too. We have artists that leave because there is no art scene which is proven to help build cities. We need to start working more with OHRV on how to expand their limits due to the economic impact that this would bring to all of our businesses.
Demars: My view is that the solution to our socioeconomic woes will be found in doing two things better in the years ahead. First, we need to do less to push the young, active working people away from Claremont. Second, we need to attract more young, active working people to want to live here. Recreational opportunities, especially at the Arrowhead site are a key to this. Imagine what Arrowhead would look like in a prosperous city and then we need to work toward that. A three season approach. Obviously good jobs are a key to this equation too. Small companies thriving are the solution. Gone are the days of expecting or wanting one large employer to save us. A diverse economy is more resilient and offers more to our citizens.
Fontaine: Holding different events such as races, Brewfest, and fairs are great to bring in visitors and guests if properly advertised through the different media available in a timely manner. Some very important items to commerce that are being ignored are the industries and larger businesses. Commerce should not be restricted to the center of town for small businesses and bigger businesses to Washington Street. Unless we intend a more robust public transportation system that travels to places like the Manor, Sugar River Mills, and other large populations without transportation there needs to be businesses such as grocery stores within a reasonable walking distance. In order to encourage the younger residents to want to stay in Claremont there needs to be a better job market which entails careers that are not in retail such as businesses like Red River.
How do you feel about the ongoing Pleasant Street revitalization project?
Koloski: The council did unanimously decide to proceed with this project and my decision was based on the need for repair to infrastructure under the roadway. It made no sense to do a part of the project and ignore the rest. You can’t just ignore failing systems and hope the problem goes away. The sewer system was around 100 years old. There were many public meetings that shaped the project down to the color of trash cans that would be used. The street design and end result were citizen-driven. I am always watching project status. Once the plan was announced several downtown blocks started the upgrade planning process and a few underwent change of ownership. Speaking with developers as to why they had not been fixing up their buildings, they wanted to see investing in that area and it cleaned up. I understand that.
Limoges: Well, to be honest, I wanted to keep the traffic pattern, parking, and sidewalks in the same configuration; but that being said, since the city has chosen to make the changes, I think we should move forward. I am concerned about the businesses that I know are struggling to survive during this project, but I think that the worst will be over soon, and they will rebound, and be prosperous. I do think that the project could have been thought out better, in addressing the surrounding areas, but what’s done is done, and we have to move forward, and focus on improving the whole area. I’m not advocating spending on other major construction projects, unless we get good grants to pay for it, though. Claremont has incredible potential, but unrealized potential does nothing; we have to act in a way that is effective, while minimizing any impact on the taxpayers.
Mooshian: I think the project is great for our city, but our revitalization efforts can’t stop there. We need to channel the same energy and forward thinking attitude into other areas of our city to improve the quality and accessibility of more of our public spaces. I also recognize the strain business owners have felt due to COVID-19 and the construction happening outside their doors. We’re presented with a unique opportunity with American Rescue Plan funds coming to the city, and I’m interested in how we can use those dollars to support our small business owners on Pleasant Street. Overall, I know that rebuilding our city, strengthening our economy and improving our infrastructure is going to be hard. It takes time, investment, and teamwork. But I also know that we can do hard things. We need positive, collaborative council members to keep our city moving forward. I’m optimistic about Claremont’s future!
Demars: I was not part of the planning process for Pleasant Street but I believe it was overdue. I empathize with the businesses that are being impacted and have tried personally to go out of my way to patronize them over the past few months. The project is moving toward a winter pause before we finish it in the spring. The infrastructure upgrades were overdue, and the surface changes should help revitalize the downtown in the years ahead. I commend my predecessor, Ms. Sweetser for her role in this project.
Fontaine: While the infrastructure upgrades are a necessary evil that must be done to keep the city in good repair and modern, there are many other parts of the revitalization project that were poorly planned and unnecessary. Turning Pleasant Street into a one-way road will cause multiple traffic issues both for Pleasant Street and Broad Street. There will be an unnecessary strain on Broad Street as traffic will be building up on a street the city has rated as 20 mph for a large chunk by adding a traffic light while maintaining the egresses in the median as well as the parking along the street used by students. There will also be issues with parking on Pleasant Street of people who insist on backing into spaces opening the street up to multiple accidents.
Hughes: My current feeling about the project is that I hope Ed Morris can continue to oversee the project to ensure that it stays on schedule and budget. My thoughts on whether or not it was a good idea are irrelevant at this point and not worthy of being shared on a public platform. I think that if the revitalization project vision comes to fruition as it was envisioned to, it will make downtown Claremont a more desirable destination for commerce.
What is your view on censuring an official? If elected to the council, how would you go about holding a fellow city official accountable?
Mooshian: Public health and safety issues should be taken seriously. Elected officials have a duty to be responsible and respectful. In regard to censuring an official, if someone uses their position as a public official to spread misinformation in a manner that is harmful to public health and safety, measures should be taken to hold them accountable. Once I am elected, I will advocate for transparency and accountability on the council. I will make myself available to constituents and encourage greater community involvement. I will also work to build relationships with my fellow councilors so we can engage in productive communication and get what needs doing done.
Demars: Misconduct by councilors can be an issue. This is one of the reasons I refrain from using social media. I feel the professionalism needed for a successful public process is routinely undermined by what goes on between meetings on these various platforms and I’ll have none of it. With that said, people have a right to their views and to share their opinions under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I am not interested in wasting time trying to police that. I’m not afraid to confront a councilor over inappropriate behavior in a meeting or for any direct violation of the city charter.
Fontaine: The first thing that should be done is to take the individual behind closed doors along with the rest of the council to discuss the issue in private. If this does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to collect evidence and ensure validity of the issue to either take legal actions if appropriate or ask the individual to resign.
Hughes: If, under my tenure, a fellow city official uses their platform as a councilor to spread misinformation or irrelevant information in an official manner or during council meetings, I will initiate the accountability process then and there. However, if this type of issue never leaves one’s personal social media or the internet, I do not see it as the council’s responsibility to intervene. If public pressure causes a resignation, then that is outside of the council’s responsibility, in my opinion. We cannot throw somebody off council just because there is a noticeable opposition; it is up to the residents to contest elections and to the voters to solve it one way or another.
Koloski: Censuring an elected official in Claremont’s case is nothing more than publicly announcing as a unified body that you don’t condone certain actions. Despite legal opinion guidance on censure causing hurt feelings. I do not allow that to stop me from making my own decisions on the matter. I believe the council should be nine separate voices that discuss issues and arrive at a decision. I have often said I rather have nine differing opinions versus nine rubber stamps who don’t question things. I have always held councilors accountable and can also appreciate the freedom of speech. Once you take a council seat you do not give up your rights. I don’t condone things that happened and have made that clear as I would with anything I don’t agree with. That may mean an adult conversation directly with the person which did happen in this referenced case.
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