Why should someone vote for you? (i.e. – what’s your “elevator pitch” when talking to voters?)
I’m not a career politician – I’m a young professional who is invested in our community and fully dedicated to making Manchester a better place to live, work, and play. We deserve bold leaders who are willing to stand up for our values. I have a strong record of speaking out at City Hall on a variety of important issues. While some things are headed in the right direction, there is still more work to do. I believe that we need to:
• Build more housing so families of all backgrounds can afford to call our city home.
• Demand fiscal responsibility so we can sustain critical services and fix our roads.
• Support our schools so that every student in our city has the opportunity to succeed.
If elected, what steps would you endorse to address the issue of housing costs?
Manchester desperately needs more housing. Young professionals, working families, and seniors on fixed incomes should all be able to live here without breaking the bank. We need an all-of-the-above approach to increase both supply and affordability.
I have been working to address the housing crisis for years. Under my leadership as Chair, the Manchester Planning Board has approved more than 2,000 new housing units. I have pushed for zoning reforms that restore the ability to build traditional mixed-use buildings and create vibrant, walkable communities. I also strongly support expanding our Affordable Housing Trust Fund. My leadership on this issue will continue if I have the opportunity to serve as Ward 1’s next Alderman.
What is your perspective on the city’s roads, transit system and parking? If you believe improvement is needed, how would you accomplish that?
Street maintenance is a basic responsibility of local government. We need to fill more potholes, repave more streets, and even redesign some roads to discourage speeding. I support adopting a Complete Streets policy so we can bring all our streets back into good condition for everyone, regardless of whether you walk, bike, drive, or ride the bus.
Additionally, I believe that Manchester should be a more walkable community. We need to repair our existing sidewalks and bring new ones to neighborhoods where they are needed. This will make it easier for kids to walk safely to school, and for people of all ages and abilities to travel safely around our neighborhoods.
I am also a consistent advocate for public transit. I support improving our bus service and want to see the return of passenger rail to the Queen City.
What is your opinion on the city’s parks, library and entertainment offerings/public events? If improvement is needed, what should be done?
Our beautiful parks and other green spaces are a big reason we all love Ward 1. I’m committed to keeping our parks clean, well-maintained, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. I support building multi-use paths along River Road and Hooksett Road so families can safely walk or bike to both Stark Park and Livingston Park.
I also strongly support the Manchester City Library. I appreciate the great public events hosted there and elsewhere in the city by organizations like the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. The annual Taco Tour and Cruising on Elm events are great examples. These events make our community more vibrant, more dynamic, and more enjoyable for visitors and residents alike.
What is your opinion on the city’s policies regarding property taxes and other fees (i.e. – pet licenses, parking meters, etc.)
Building a financially sustainable and resilient city is critical for our long term success. We need to focus on growing the tax base responsibly, investing wisely, and making sure every tax dollar is put to good use – for things that actually improve our community.
I have encouraged the pursuit of federal and state grants so we can do more for residents without burdening the local taxpayer. I have also supported new walkable mixed-use development downtown in order to build our tax base, strengthen small businesses, and improve our local economy. Taking a Strong Towns approach will help us avoid deferred maintenance and build a stronger Manchester.
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?
Manchester is a great place to open a small business – and we need to keep it that way. I’m grateful that the Manchester Economic Development Office (MEDO) was recently brought back into action with Jodie Nazaka at the helm. I fully support her office’s efforts and believe that we can do even more. For example, we could reduce operational costs for small businesses by getting Manchester onto community power, which can greatly decrease the cost of electricity as demonstrated by the success of the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH).
We also need to make sure that our small businesses continue to have places to exist in the first place. In my time on the Planning Board, I have worked to ensure that all new developments in the Central Business District include street-facing commercial spaces so that our local
establishments have a place to do business. The only exception has been when a developer plans to provide affordable housing, which is also essential for the economic health of our city.
Last but not least, we should continue to support the growing biofabrication industry which is powering much of our downtown revitalization. I’m glad to have recently participated in an official working group for the Manchester Biofabrication Cluster Transportation Equity Study, which explored how we can get people to and from the Millyard without exacerbating the ongoing parking challenges. I want to see additional thoughtful initiatives like this in the future, exploring how to build a more prosperous and resilient future for our community that balances everyone’s needs.
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?
I believe our city leaders need to work together, and I am proud of my strong collaborative history with Ward 1 School Board Member Julie Turner. One of my favorite quotes from Julie is that “strong schools build strong communities.” I couldn’t agree more.
As an unwavering advocate for public education, I understand that our local schools exist to serve everyone, of all backgrounds and abilities. I also recognize that in order for Manchester to reach its full potential, we must provide our students and teachers with the resources they need to succeed. That is why I support making careful investments into the Manchester School District for updated teaching lessons, new books, appropriate facilities, and enriching extracurricular activities like sports and theatre – because each child deserves the best possible education that we can provide.
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’m proud to be running a people-powered campaign, and I’m grateful that my sustained hard work over the years has earned me the enthusiastic support of respected local leaders in Ward 1. I truly appreciate the support of School Board Member Julie Turner, State Rep. Christine Seibert, and State Rep. Erin Kerwin, among others.
And while I believe we need a Ward 1 Alderman who is proactive, I also believe we deserve an Alderman who is responsive, too. So I welcome you to contact me anytime. The best way to get in touch with me is to simply email bryce4manchester@gmail.com. You can also text or call me
at 603-506-4028. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas that you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out! You can count on me to reply to your email or return your phone call.
Last but not least, you can learn more about my candidacy at www.bryce4manchester.com – thanks for your time and consideration!