Occupation: I am a Cybersecurity Systems Engineer, and in a past life, a Cyber Defense Analyst. My profession requires me to analyze complex systems, identify vulnerabilities and inefficiencies, and implement robust, long-term solutions. I am skilled at risk management, planning, and building consensus to ensure critical systems remain secure and functional. I believe these same skills are essential to serve the residents of Ward 2 and make our city government more efficient and accountable.
Your Education/Background: My education includes a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Beyond this academic background, I hold several advanced professional certifications in my field, including Digital Forensics, Cyber Incident Response, and Advanced Analytical Skills. This combination of formal education and specialized, technical training ensures I can approach city challenges with expert analysis and a resilient, solutions-oriented perspective.
How Long Have You Lived in Manchester? I have lived in Manchester for more than 25 years, giving me deep roots and a lifelong connection to the city. My experience spans both the West Side, where I grew up, and my current home in Ward 2, where I have resided for over eight years. I have great pride in having grown up here and am very familiar with the opportunities and challenges facing our entire community.
Hobbies/Fun Fact about you/other biographical info: Outside of my career as a Cybersecurity Systems Engineer, I embrace the best of New Hampshire’s seasons. In the summer, I am an avid motorcyclist, enjoying the scenic routes throughout the state. When the snow falls, you’ll find me skiing at McIntyre Ski Area, a true local treasure right here in Ward 2, where I’ve held a season pass for years. I’m also a musician, often playing the piano for weddings, community events, and simply for recreation.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of homelessness in the city?
Homelessness is a serious, complex issue that demands both compassion and rigorous accountability. As Alderman for Ward 2, I will champion a strategy focused on promoting self-sufficiency and restoring dignity while ensuring the safety and quality of life for our residents. While some current or past initiatives have focused primarily on increasing access points for addiction services, my approach is fundamentally different. We must learn from the outcomes of programs that, while well-intentioned, unintentionally drew people experiencing homelessness and addiction from outside the city, placing an unsustainable burden on city resources and our neighborhoods. My focus is on actionable engagement, clear pathways out of homelessness, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
My Strategy for Accountability and Independence: Targeted Solutions, Not Unmanaged Entry: The city’s role is not to simply offer an open door, but to be the chief coordinator between local non-profits, faith-based groups, and regional partners. We must pivot to models that prioritize our residents and ensure city resources are not strained by importing complex social problems from other communities.
Focus on Self-Sufficiency and Purpose: I strongly advocate for exploring programs similar to the successful “There’s a Better Way” initiative in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This model pairs outreach with short-term work opportunities and immediate access to support services, providing people with a sense of purpose and a critical first step toward employment and stable housing. We need solutions that connect people with purpose, not just temporary shelter.
Accountability, Affordable Housing, and Cutting Red Tape: To truly address the crisis, we must increase the supply of safe, affordable housing. As Alderman, I will focus on cutting unnecessary government red tape and streamlining the permitting process to make it faster and cheaper to build or convert housing units. Furthermore, I will demand rigorous zoning enforcement and oversight for all facilities, including sober homes, to ensure they operate legitimately and ethically. By reducing bureaucratic barriers to housing development and enforcing fair, clear standards, we can help people transition into stable, affordable living and ensure our neighborhoods are safe and compliant. By prioritizing resources for those ready to make a change and championing governance that makes housing more accessible, we can move beyond past approaches to implement innovative, proven strategies that truly support recovery and restore individual dignity and community safety.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of housing costs?
The cost of housing in Manchester has risen dramatically, exemplified by the median home price now nearing half a million dollars, which puts extreme pressure on working families, seniors, and first-time buyers. In Ward 2, residents rightly value our neighborhood character, but they also recognize that rising costs are pushing the next generation out of our city. We need a balanced, innovative approach that promotes affordability and expands housing options without compromising the quality of life or overburdening taxpayers.
As Alderman, I will focus on a two-pronged strategy that champions efficient, responsible growth:
1. Actively Promoting Small-Scale, Neighborhood-Friendly Housing The city already allows Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), but the process remains complex and costly. I will fight to make it simpler by proposing that the city explore offering a set of pre-approved, architectural ADU plans. This idea would drastically reduce the initial design, permitting costs, and time for homeowners, making small-scale development more accessible while ensuring new construction aligns with the aesthetic character of Ward
2. ADUs are a proven way to create affordable housing units without altering the look and feel of our residential neighborhoods. 2. Cutting City Bureaucracy and Aligning Regulations The City of Manchester is currently undertaking a process to draft a new Land Use Code, which is a generational opportunity to address the systemic issues driving up housing costs.
As Alderman, I will be a technical voice demanding we use this process to significantly reduce red tape and excessive delays, as time is money and bureaucratic delays unnecessarily increase the cost of every unit built. Furthermore, we must scrutinize all city impact fees to ensure they are fair, not acting as financial barriers to modest housing development, and proactively modernize zoning regulations, including height, setback, and density requirements, to align them with established goals and eliminate outdated rules that inhibit efficient construction. By focusing on responsible growth, utilizing data-driven solutions like simplifying ADUs, and championing a more efficient, less costly city governance structure, we can help make housing more attainable and preserve the strong community character that makes Ward 2 such a desirable place to live.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of attracting and retaining quality city employees?
My strategy for attracting and retaining quality city employees recognizes that competitive pay is only the essential first step and must be followed by a long-term resilience plan. This plan is built on three pillars: maintaining continuously competitive compensation for critical roles like police, fire, and public works to eliminate staffing shortages and boost morale; implementing strategic financial risk mitigation by modeling future health care and pension exposure to safeguard the budget against unforeseen shocks; and fostering a culture of accountability and respect by investing in modern tools, continuous training, and clear performance goals that instill pride and ownership, thereby ensuring Manchester becomes the preferred employer for top public service talent.
What is your perspective on the city’s roads, transit system and parking? If you believe improvement is needed, how would you accomplish that?
My strategy for improving Manchester’s roads, sidewalks, and neighborhood parking centers on fiscal discipline and shifting resources toward core infrastructure needs to ensure long-term stability and enhance neighborhood quality of life. This high-level strategy commits to prioritizing infrastructure funding over less necessary expenditures and minimizing debt. To maximize these road investments, a mandatory “Dig Once” policy should be enforced to coordinate utility work and prevent costly re-excavation.
Addressing community safety is paramount, requiring the implementation of targeted traffic-calming measures and stronger enforcement in problem areas. Finally, I plan to address residential parking issues, particularly those impacting safety and snow removal access, by committing to a comprehensive review of residential permit parking zones and exploring neighborhood-specific solutions to maximize safe on-street access for Ward 2 residents.
What is your opinion on the city’s parks, library and entertainment offerings/public events? If improvement is needed, what should be done?
Our libraries are indispensable community resources. My appreciation stems from growing up with the West Manchester Branch Library and on special occasion, visiting the historic Manchester City Library. They offer far more than books, serving as essential venues for civic activity and providing crucial educational and social programs, especially for our children.
As Alderman, I will be a steadfast advocate to ensure our libraries continue to receive the operational funding necessary to maintain and expand these vital services for all Manchester residents. I am proud that Ward 2 is home to the extensive Derryfield Park, the Weston Observatory, and is adjacent to Livingston Park in nearby Ward 1. I will support and continue efforts to make certain all our green spaces are well-kept, clean, and safe for families and children. I will seek and prioritize private-public ventures to improve and expand the parks throughout our city, while keeping taxes and debt in check.
What is your opinion on the city’s policies regarding property taxes and other fees (i.e. – pet licenses, parking meters, etc.)
My primary stance on fiscal policy is that maintaining a budget under the current tax cap is imperative, as both property taxes and existing fees place an undue cost of living burden on Manchester residents. I will champion radical transparency regarding all operational costs and income sources, ensuring every tax dollar is accounted for. Crucially, my focus will be on prioritizing efficient cash flow expenditures over incurring new debt, as interest payments unnecessarily erode funds available for essential city services.
Regarding specific local fees like pet licenses, parking meters, and vehicle registrations, my approach will be to conduct a comprehensive audit. I believe any fee should be cost-neutral, meaning it only covers the service it funds. I will work to eliminate or significantly reduce any fee that generates a substantial surplus, ensuring we are not using regulatory charges as hidden tax mechanisms. The goal is to streamline charges, reduce unnecessary administrative costs, and ensure fees are applied fairly across the board.
What are your thoughts on the city’s business climate and how would you attract more businesses to come to Manchester or convince more people to start businesses in Manchester?
My approach is to ensure the economic climate fosters growth by prioritizing proactive municipal support and fiscal predictability. This means actively streamlining the licensing and permitting processes across all departments to reduce the administrative burden on local businesses, allowing them to dedicate resources to innovation and expansion rather than bureaucratic hurdles. We must continue to build upon the strong momentum already established, particularly the successful growth in key sectors like biofabrication, healthcare, and technology within the Millyard.
Leveraging federal investments that have designated the region as a Tech Hub for regenerative medicine is crucial for attracting further high-value corporations and ensuring our city remains a dynamic epicenter for innovation. Furthermore, sustainable growth relies on a vibrant community that attracts and retains top talent. I will champion responsible fiscal policies that maintain competitive local tax structures while strategically investing in our public education system and infrastructure.
My focus is on fiscally responsible school investment that directly supports student outcomes. This dual focus on reducing friction for employers, continuing to attract cornerstone businesses, and enhancing the overall quality of life is essential to building the skilled workforce needed to support these burgeoning industries and ensure long-term municipal prosperity.
What is your opinion of the state of education in Manchester and what should the relationship be between the Board of School Committee and Board of Mayor and Aldermen?
The state of Manchester’s education system demands a balanced approach, recognizing both the high needs of our student population and the urgent need for fiscal accountability. While our schools educate some of the neediest children in the state, which requires robust support for special education and student services, the significant increase in school funding over the last decade has not translated into proportional academic gains. Proficiency levels remain well below state targets across core subjects, indicating that simply allocating more money is insufficient; the focus must shift to the effectiveness and efficiency of resource deployment within the classroom.
My priority is to forge a cooperative, results-driven partnership between the Board of School Committee (BOSC) and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA). The BOSC must lead on setting clear educational priorities and performance metrics, while the BMA must serve as the disciplined fiscal partner ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely. This requires establishing direct, data-driven communication where every budget request is tied to measurable student outcomes and demonstrable efficiency improvements, rather than political alignment. We must move beyond the cycle of framing any budget increase less than requested as a “cut.” Instead, we need to focus on a value-for-money proposition for every resident. This means demanding transparency in administrative spending versus classroom spending, ensuring that the dedicated work of our teachers is supported by resources that actually impact learning, and ensuring that governance boards work in concert to support every child’s success while respecting the financial concerns of the entire community.
Anything else you’d like to add not mentioned here and what is the best way voters can reach you if they have more questions?
I want to reiterate that my core mission for Ward 2 is responsible governance focused on quality of life and smart resource management. My campaign is about bringing transparency to City Hall operations so residents can see the direct impact of their tax dollars, and driving measurable results in public safety, infrastructure, and community services. Beyond policy, what truly drives me is my genuine love for this city. I’m running because I want Ward 2 to be the best place to live, raise a family, and do business. Serving you isn’t just a title; it’s about being a responsive neighbor who tackles the tough issues, like ensuring our streets are safe and that we’re getting the best value for every tax dollar, with honesty and focus. I want to bring a sense of trust and positive momentum back to City Hall, focusing on outcomes that matter for each and every one of us. I hope to earn your vote on November 4! You can reach me via email, phone, or my campaign Facebook page! facebook.com/prescott4manchester Prescott4NH@proton.me (603) 945-1411