Occupation: Realtor, Salesforce Administrator
Your Education/Background: Mother of 4; GED, soon to be master’s in information technology
How Long Have You Lived in Manchester? 13 years
Hobbies/Fun Fact about you/other biographical info:
As a mother of four my hobbies currently are my childrens sports, activities and birthday party schedules. In our free time as afamily we like to ski, snowmobile and atv in NH.
What is your perspective on the city’s roads, transit system and parking? If you believe improvement is needed, how would you accomplish that?
Our city’s transportation system should move students safely and reliably every day. Roads around schools need consistent upkeep, calm traffic, and clear crosswalks. Transit should be predictable for students and workers. Parking and curb space should be managed so buses and families can load and unload safely during peak school times. The most urgent fix is school busing. Driver shortages are the choke point. I would build a driver pipeline with paid CDL training, faster background checks, split-shift premiums, attendance incentives, and a reliable substitute pool. I would partner with community colleges, workforce programs, and veterans’ groups to recruit year-round.
What is your opinion on the city’s parks, library and entertainment offerings/public events? If improvement is needed, what should be done?
Manchester has a strong base to build on. Families use Livingston Park, Derryfield Park, Rock Rimmon, and the riverfront. The Manchester City Library system is a civic anchor with programs for all ages. The Currier Museum, Palace Theatre, Rex Theatre, and SNHU Arena give the city real arts and entertainment depth, and seasonal events bring people downtown. The challenge is making sure every public space feels clean, safe, and easy to use, especially where homelessness and public drug use have become visible. My focus is practical care for places and care for people at the same time.
What is your opinion on the city’s policies regarding property taxes and other fees (i.e. – pet licenses, parking meters, etc.)
I do not believe our city should balance the budget with nickel and dime fees. Parking meters and pet licenses have become stand-ins for real spending discipline. They burden families and small businesses while doing little to fix the underlying problem, which is how we spend, not how much we can charge. How I would improve things First, open the books. Publish a simple line by line budget spreadsheet online with actuals, vendors, and timelines so residents can see where every dollar goes. Second, start with needs, not last year’s baseline. Use zero based budgeting for non essential accounts and require every program to show results.
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 on the right track. The state’s low-tax, pro-business stance and the city’s growing tech and healthcare base make this a good place to start and grow a company. You can feel it in the Millyard, along Elm Street, and in the small shops that keep opening in our neighborhoods.
To build on that momentum, I’d make it easier and faster to do business here. Create a one-stop permitting desk with a clear checklist, a single point of contact, and a public “permit tracker” so applicants can see where things stand. Set a 60–90 day shot clock for routine approvals and offer pre-application meetings to prevent rework. Stand up a small storefront and façade grant to help fill vacant spaces, paired with a simple micro-grant for first-time owners. Talent drives everything, so I’d expand internships and apprenticeships with local employers through MST, UNH Manchester, SNHU, and MCC, and align training to the jobs that are actually open. Clean, safe streets, reliable school transportation, and predictable city services matter to employers too, so I’d keep basic services tight and transparent.
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?
Let’s use the data, not sugarcoat any facts we don’t want to face. State tests (NH SAS): Manchester students are well below the state average in ELA and math, though scores have climbed or held steady since the immediate post-COVID dip.
Graduation: District four-year graduation rose to ~74.35% (Class of 2024); MST hit ~87.7%. Progress, but still trailing many NH districts.
Attendance/absenteeism: High-school attendance in 2022–23 was ~85.7%, among the lowest in NH—chronic absenteeism is a real drag on achievement.
Learning recovery: Independent analyses (Harvard/Stanford Education Recovery Scorecard) show NH as a whole is still below 2019 in both reading and math; Manchester trails the state curve.
Spending: Per-pupil costs keep rising statewide. For 2022–23 Manchester’s was about $16,636 vs state spending north of ~$20k+ and FY2023 figures around $21.7k statewide. Manchester is spending less than peer large districts but still up from prior years.
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?
Unlike my oponent and current chair of the school board, I stand with Charlie and against portraying that free speech and belief in one’s religious or political view points should be labeled as hateful rhetoric or have consequence.