Concord Ward 9 Race Highlights Divergent Views on Councilor Role,Homelessness
CONCORD,NH – A closely watched โrematch in Concord’s Ward 9 pitsโค incumbent Councilor Bethany Schultz โฃagainst challenger Fred Georgevits,focusingโ debate on the responsibilities ofโ city councilors and approaches to local issues like โhomelessness.The election comes as Loudon Road, a โฃmajor thoroughfare largely within Ward 9, hasโ seen recent fatalities prompting callsโ for increased trafficโ safety measures.
Schultz, a current Democratic stateโข representative, โdefended โฃher engagement in the ward despite acknowledgingโ a recent decrease in activity due to her father-in-law’s illness. She highlighted her past service as a state representative and on four โฃcityโ committees, noting the challenges of balancing multiple civic duties. “So if you don’tโค show up, we’re voiceless,” said Vits, seemingly referencing the importance โขof consistent โcouncilor presence. Schultz aims to serve on the city’s traffic committee if re-elected, prioritizing safety improvements on Loudon Road.
Georgevits, chair โof the Concord City Republican Committee, has unsuccessfully run for โthe New Hampshire House several times. Heโค argues Concord already possesses adequate resources for those experiencing homelessness, asserting the focus should โshift to โคenforcing existing laws. “You’re not going toโค go downtown if there’s homeless people sprawled out on theโฃ block or ifโ there’s feces or needles,” Georgevits โขstated, emphasizing public safety concerns.
Schultz proposes a “one-stop shop” for resources, advocating for greater collaboration between the city’sโ welfare office and local nonprofits to streamline assistance for those in need. “For people who are alreadyโ stressed out and โขtrying to doโฃ what they need to doโฆI think that we need to do a much better job at being there for them,” sheโฃ said.
Both candidates agree cityโ council positions should be โคnonpartisan, focusing on budgetary matters rather than ideology. Georgevits urged voters to “vote for the person,” dismissing party affiliationโ as irrelevant to local tax bills, characterizing the election as “local, local as it comes.” Schultz acknowledged thatโข while constituentsโ desire a focus on local issues, a candidate’s values inevitably influence their decision-making.
