In an election marked by slim turnout, Ward 5 voters choose Bogert

LACONIA — Voters in Ward 5 seem to have approved of the job Steven Bogert has been doing for the past few months, as they chose him over his challenger, Breanna Neal, in Tuesday’s election.

Bogert was appointed in July by a majority of city council to fulfill the remainder of the term vacated by longtime Councilor Robert Hamel after his death in June. When Bogert was appointed, the only other applicant was Neal, who started and built a barbershop on Main Street before selling it earlier this year.

Ward 5 voters sent Bogert into his first full term as a city councilor on Tuesday, with 98 votes in comparison to Neal’s 75.

In the only other contested race on the city ballot, incumbent Police Commission candidates Scott Davis and Doug Whittum kept their seats, easily fending off challenger Dave Ouellette.

Perhaps due to the lack of competitive races, turnout was low. There were 9,589 registered voters in the city, and only 1,220 — 13% — filled out a ballot on Tuesday.

During the 2021 city election, when the mayor's race as well as several city council seats were contested, nearly 3,000 votes were cast citywide. In 2019, during another competitive mayoral race, the voter turnout was about 29%.

"I thought it was a very long, hard day, and I was saddened that only so many people came out to vote," said Bogert. "It was a long, hard fight. We both stood there and encountered with the people, we both did the best we could with what we worked with," he said, referring to himself and Neal campaigning at the poll.

Bogert said his priority for his first full term on council would be to continue the city's progress, with an even keel.

"Just trying to keep the city functioning at a reasonable cost. Don't get crazy with spending, but then again, everybody knows you've got to keep things running." He noted that the city is preparing to make certain expenses, such as new emergency vehicles, as well as infrastructure maintenance projects, that will require some spending.

He said he plans to hold quarterly "town hall meetings" within the ward, to allow his constituents to express their "wants, needs, desires or problems" without having to make a trip to City Hall during a council meeting.

"It's a good, working-class ward, everybody works hard. By the end of the day, they're tired," he said.

"I just want to thank all the Ward 5 voters that did come out to vote, thank them for supporting me and I hope I do the right thing for them all," Bogert said.

Neal, reached on Wednesday, said that she was “content” with the result.

“I ran to give people an option. I had no agenda of my own to do anything with, so I’ll continue to keep doing what I’m doing,” Neal said.

She said the fairly narrow margin separating the two candidates should be seen as a signal to Bogert.

“There is a desire to have change in his ward,” she said.

Neal mentioned she and Bogert spent Election Day standing side-by-side outside Woodland Heights Elementary School, which was their ward’s polling place.

“I think we had a very productive and good conversation throughout the day, that’s the fun part of electioneering together,” she said.