City to hold primaries for mayor, 2 council seats

LACONIA — While all but one city council seat will be contested in the November election, the September primary will be for only the office of mayor, and council seats in wards 1 and 2.

The filing period for municipal elections closed Friday for mayor, city council, ward moderator, ward clerk, supervisor of the checklist, selectmen, school board and police commission. A municipal primary election is triggered when three or more candidates file for election to any of the council’s six seats, or for mayor. 

Mayoral candidates competing in the primary include Joseph Hart, Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney and State Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia).

Seeking to fill Cheney’s current seat are Jon Hildreth, Michael MacFadzen and Ronald Judd. Ward 2 candidates are incumbent Robert Soucy, Gregg Hough and Nicole Arsenault.

The mayor is compensated at $2,800 per year, and councilors at $2,400 per year. Municipal elections are nonpartisan, meaning no ballot can display a designated party affiliation for any candidate, as defined by city charter.

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the two candidates with the most votes will move on to the Tuesday, Nov. 4 Municipal Election.

Eric Hoffman is running uncontested for re-election in Ward 3, and Wards 4-6 will also have November elections.

Ward 4 candidates are incumbent Mark Haynes and Sheri Minor; Ward 5 is Douglas J. Robinson and incumbent Steven Bogert; and Ward 6 is incumbent Anthony Felch and Mike Conant.

This year, there are three open seats on the school board: one in Ward 2, another in Ward 3, and a vacant seat in Ward 5. The seats for Wards 2 and 3 are both three-year terms. The Ward 5 seat is a one-year term to replace former Chair Nick Grenon, who resigned in early August.

Incumbents Laura Dunn (Ward 2) and Karin Salome (Ward 3) filed for reelection. Nobody filed for Ward 5. Members of the school board are compensated $1,200 per year.

Also lacking candidates are two positions for Ward 2 selectmen.

Three candidates filed for police commission including incumbent Frank Mello Jr., James Lowell, and David M. Roberge.