By CHRIS FROST
Eagle Times News Editor
and KATLYN PROCTOR
Eagle Times Associate Editor
CLAREMONT, NH — The city council election is in the rearview mirror, but only after plenty of debate, effort and different visions for Claremont came together, ready to make the city a better place.
The latest city council lineup will feature two new members, based on the unofficial results, and featured considerable get-out-the-vote efforts.
The closest race of the evening was in Ward III, where challenger Jonathan Hayden defeated incumbent Jonathan Stone 247 to 241. Hayden was seemingly absent from Election Day activities, but for good reason. He and his wife brought home their newborn son, but not without hitting the polls Tuesday night with just minutes to spare.
“Everyone’s super healthy,” Hayden said. “I’m actually super excited to be a voice for my community. We are a low-income family. We have a lead abatement in a few weeks where we have to move out of our house for lead issues. All those things introduce a reality that a lot of folks in Claremont face.”
Stone, who sat for three terms on the council, has asked for a recount. City Clerk Gwen Melcher said even with a close vote, a recount is not mandated.
“The person that didn’t win has to request a recount; it’s not automatically done,” Melcher. said
At-Large Councilor Bill Limoges received 956 votes and said the election required lots of effort, but Claremont is worth it to change the community for the better.
“I am very grateful to be re-elected, and I want to thank the voters of Claremont for that,” Limoges said. “I hope we can continue to move Claremont forward and improve what we’ve already started.”
Assistant Mayor Deb Matteau, with 776 votes, defeated challenger Brian Zutter with 740. Matteau said she is grateful Claremont’s voters have given her the privilege of serving a second term.
“I will do my best to serve them with the dedication they deserve,” Matteau said.
At-Large Councilor Nicholas Koloski said it’s an honor to be elected to his eighth two-year term.
“It was a bittersweet moment finding out as I was out collecting campaign signs,” Koloski said. “One of my first calls would have been traditionally to my mother, who we recently lost. She was as proud of Claremont as I am. Thank you, Claremont.”
Moderator Bill Blewitt said they unofficially counted 506 votes for Ward III, saying he believed just under 1,300 were registered to vote. He says election integrity is important.
“I try to be non-partisan about those things,” Blewitt said. “I’m a registered Republican, but that doesn’t matter to me which party they’re affiliated with. I’m just there to ensure the vote is accurate and legal. We have to do it right; that’s important to me.”
Mayor Dale Girard said he appreciated the candidates who came out and ran for the council.
“There were a lot of close races,” he said. “We’re waiting for the official results, but it appears that we had a change in the Ward III seat at the moment, and the at-large seats came down to close races, as well.”
He’s excited to work with the group.
“I look forward to two good years,” Girard said. “We’ll meet with the council on Thursday evening to canvass the votes.”
Newcomer Jonathan Hayden is excited too.
“I’m looking forward to working with the council, meeting them and being a part of that,” he said. “Being new to it is going to be a lot of listening and figuring out a lot.”
Voter turnout was surprisingly better than it had been.
“I think we are in the 1,500-1,600 range, but I would love to see more people get out and vote,” Girard said.
The first order of business? Making sure new council members get started properly.
“In the past, we’ve had the New Hampshire Municipal Association come in and speak,” he said. “They go over our charter with the whole council, and all of us can use a refresher to make sure we haven’t forgotten something.”
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