MANCHESTER, NH — Mayor Jay Ruais and challenger, School Board Committewoman Jess Spillers, met Oct. 28 at the Manchester City Library auditorium for a spirited, issue-driven forum moderated by Manchester Ink Link Assistant Editor Andrew Sylvia, covering topics from homelessness and housing to school funding, decorum at City Hall, and property taxes.
The free event, organized by Ink Link News as a public service, drew an attentive audience of about 100 residents eager to hear how the candidates would guide the Queen City through the next two years.
Below is a topical recap. You can watch the full video of the hour-long event below, thanks to Manchester Public TV.
Housing, Homelessness and Affordability
Housing was front and center, with Ruais citing measurable progress and Spillers emphasizing persistent inequities.
Ruais pointed to new development and data trends under his administration: “We were ranked the third-best run city in the United States. Overdoses fell by 24 percent, and we have nearly 1,000 new units coming online. We also effectively ended veterans’ homelessness by housing 140 previously homeless people in the past 21 months.”
He argued that zoning reform now under review by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is key to “adding density and driving down costs.”
Spillers, a social worker and member of the Board of School Committee, said housing is part of a larger “quality of life” challenge. “We need to make sure folks have affordable housing—not just ‘affordable’ in name, but actually within reach for the average income,” she said. “We also need to ensure our homeless population can access help and resources in a safe, accessible location.”
Both agreed on the need for a sustainable long-term solution for the city’s Engagement Center on Beech Street, which provides shelter and services for unhoused residents but which is set to close in February of 2026. Ruais noted he helped secure $500,000 in private donations to keep it running, and that it is a bridge for the time being, as the city plans to open a shelter for the aged and infirm at 200 Elm St. in March. “Every mayor for 25 years has faced this same issue,” he said. “We need a long-term fix so we don’t keep repeating the same cycle.”
Decorum at City Hall
Sylvia pressed both candidates on the heated tone of recent aldermanic meetings and the adoption of new rules of decorum.
Ruais defended his leadership, saying, “I’ve worked hard to build consensus. I can count on one hand the times I’ve had to break a tie. It’s important that we treat each other with respect.”
Spillers said she’s been troubled by the tone of city politics. “We need to calm down and get back to business,” she said. “As a mom of three kids, I don’t mind telling people when it’s time to take a breath and move forward.”
She contrasted the current board’s tension with the more cooperative environment of the school committee: “We’ve had disagreements, but we come back to the center and do the work. That’s what’s missing at City Hall.”
Education and the School Budget
As a school board member, Spillers took issue with recent funding cuts. “We underfunded the school district this year,” she said. “Crossing guards, teachers, specialists—these are real people we rely on. We have to invest in our schools if we want our kids to succeed.”
Ruais countered that the district has received $11 million more since he took office, and that Manchester schools have gained $46 million in new funding over the last three years. “There have not been any cuts to education funding,” he said. “We reduced requests to balance the budget and protect taxpayers, but didn’t cut existing funds.”
On literacy rates—where fewer than 30 percent of students read at grade level—Spillers urged more reading specialists and after-school support. Ruais said the key was “identifying students who fall behind early and providing the resources they need before small problems become big ones.”
Infrastructure and Transportation
On roadwork, both candidates acknowledged the city’s aging infrastructure. Ruais highlighted his administration’s record $7 million road budget, while Spillers said repairs still lag unevenly across neighborhoods. “People shouldn’t have to dodge potholes,” she said.
They also discussed bike lanes and multimodal transit. Spillers supported bike lanes as “a simple and inexpensive way to calm traffic,” while Ruais noted the city’s “master plan includes improving non-motorized routes as part of broader infrastructure upgrades.”
Taxes, Seniors, and Affordability
A question from a resident about senior property taxes drew differing responses. Ruais cited existing exemptions and said his administration has kept budgets under the tax cap without cutting essential services. “Eighty percent of our budget is police, fire, and DPW,” he said. “You have to be careful where you cut.”
Spillers proposed exploring a housing trust fund modeled after Atlanta’s, which would help seniors cover the difference when property taxes rise. “It would allow older residents to age in place,” she said.
Campaign Finance and Public Conduct
Asked about limits on campaign spending and out-of-city donations, Ruais said he’s open to more frequent reporting: “No reason we couldn’t have quarterly disclosures, like in Washington.”
Spillers said campaign costs can be prohibitive for ordinary citizens: “Democracy should be of the people—not just those who can afford to run.”
Looking Ahead
In their closing statements, both expressed optimism about Manchester’s future.
“I’ve never been more convinced that Manchester’s best days lie ahead,” Ruais said. “We have everything it takes to be the best mid-sized city in the United States.”
Spillers said she’s running to center city government around everyday people. “I’ve walked alongside residents who are struggling. I want my daughters to be proud to grow up in Manchester. Every decision I make will keep the people of this city at the center.”
Manchester voters will choose between Ruais and Spillers in the city’s municipal election on Nov. 4.