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Gatsas wins big in mayor's race
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By SCOTT BROOKS
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
MANCHESTER – Alderman and state Sen. Ted Gatsas trounced his opponent in the mayor's race yesterday, ensuring the city's top office will stay in Republican hands for another two years.
Gatsas swept every ward and finished with 56.7 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results released by the City Clerk's Office. His Democratic rival, Alderman Mark Roy, was 2,516 votes behind, with 43.3 percent.
Gatsas, speaking before throngs of supporters at the Derryfield restaurant, described the win as a "clear mandate."
"The people have spoken loud and clear," he said. "With their votes, they've told us that they expect a city government that can do more with less."
Roy conceded the race in a call to Gatsas around 7:45 p.m., shortly after the city clerk finished tabulating the results. "I told him that tomorrow morning he's my mayor-elect, and on Jan. 1 he's my mayor," Roy recounted. "Whatever he needs to move Manchester forward, I'm there to help."
Gatsas' win was more commanding than either of Mayor Frank Guinta's two victories. Guinta, who is running for Congress, never got more than 54 percent of the vote.
If there was one disappointment for the Republican victor, it was that his win came with no coattails. All but one of the aldermanic races swung the Democrats' way, leaving Gatsas to preside over a board that will comprise 13 Democrats and just a single Republican: newly minted Ward 10 Alderman Phil Greazzo.
"Ted has got a board with the knives out, ready to slice and dice whatever proposal he puts in front of them," said Dan Pinard, a Republican who lost the Ward 7 school board race last night.
Gatsas has previously said he would vacate his seat on the state Senate if elected mayor. So far, though, he has not said when he will do that.
"We're going to celebrate tonight," he said at his victory party. "Tomorrow, we're going to put a plan together."
Gatsas' dominance extended to Roy's home ward in the North End. The Republican carried that ward, Ward 1, by 255 votes, despite the fact that voters there have elected Roy three times to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Ward 2 Republican had every advantage going into Election Day, beginning with the name recognition that comes with 10 years in public life and a seat on the state Senate. He also had loads of campaign cash -- more than four times as much as his opponent, according to campaign finance reports.
Roy consistently said he had little appetite for fund-raising, particularly in the midst of a recession. At times, he described himself as a political "rookie" and admitted to making some mistakes along the way.
►Voters oust veteran Manchester aldermen Garrity, Smith (28)
►Incumbents favored in Manchester school board race (2)
►City welfare chief reelected in landslide
►Turnout falls short of predictions (2)
►Many area schools took election day off
►Ward-by-ward results for major races
►Click here to view the Union Leader's photo gallery from the 2009 Manchester mayoral race.
►Official city election results since 1999
►The full list: Manchester's election winners since 1846
►City voters support 'fail safe' tax cap (42)
"I don't know if it came down to money, if it came down to name recognition," he said last night, when asked about the outcome. "I still think we were solid on message. But the voters voted, and you have to respect the people that came out."
Like Gatsas and Roy, many voters who agreed to be interviewed yesterday could be divided into two camps: those who wanted a candidate who would be fiscally conservative, and those who wanted someone to improve the city's schools.
By and large, the Gatsas voters were also in favor of the proposal to enact a cap on taxes and city spending.
"That's what we need right now," said Bryan Starling, a construction worker who voted in Ward 8. "We don't need any more spending. Just like we have to tighten our belts, so does government."
On the issues, the candidates were rarely in agreement. Gatsas favors the proposed cap; Roy calls the proposal a gimmick. Gatsas championed a new rule requiring city department heads to live in Manchester; Roy says it's bad policy and possibly unconstitutional.
Roy's main line of attack during the campaign was aimed at this year's city budget, which Gatsas co-wrote. Roy insisted the budget did not give enough money to Manchester's schools.
The message clearly resonated with a certain bloc of voters, including many parents and teachers.
"I just think Mark is going to give the teachers what they need to do their job," said Carolyn Leite, who teaches in Litchfield. Leite's voiced some concern about Manchester's class sizes, saying her son, a senior at Memorial High School, is one of more than 30 students in his English class.
Gatsas said this year's race will go down as the most positive in Manchester history. "Thank you, Mark, for helping to set such a positive example of what campaigns can be," he said in prepared remarks.
In an interview, Roy noted he was 41 and had plenty of years in which to serve Manchester.
"I'm proud of the campaign we ran," he said. "We ran on the issues. We kept personalities out of it."
And with that, Roy went back to the phones, calling fellow candidates with their poll results. "You are incredible," he told a fellow Democrat. "I would've loved to have worked with you."
New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Dan Tuohy contributed to this story.
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YOUR COMMENTS
ljc...stop your whining. he drives a mercedes because that stupid prius can't go 45mph.
- fpc, bedford
So now that Gatsas is mayor will he begin to obey speed limits or will he continue to drive his big, black Mercedes down city streets at 45 mph?
- LJC, Manchester
Disheartening when a city of 100,000 plus can only field two such uninspiring candidates.
- Frank, Manchester
frank, you should've taken that high opinion you have of yourself and run for office. you must be friends with tom from manchester.
- fpc, bedford
Funny heading. Interesting use of an adjective as both candidates are 'big.' But despite their physical size, both good men with an eye toward a better Manchester, despite Teddy's often bully-like ways.
My only surprise was that Ted's margin oof victory wasn't 'bigger,' considering the amount of money he put into this race. Also revealing his name and campaign didn't carry with him two other "Big" candidates in Hirschmann and Infantine.
- Jack, Manchester
Disheartening when a city of 100,000 plus can only field two such uninspiring candidates.
- Frank, Manchester
The UL missed the opportunity for a great headline title which could have been: "GATSAS GETS IT" if I was to write it.
- Germano, Hooksett
Congratulations to Ted Gatsas, now if we could only get rid of the control freak democratic aldermaen who are obvously more nterested in their chldsh power grab than votng for what is really good for the cty.
Rog. Manchester
- Roger Charest, Manchester
More hand waving fitties. To Molly's point, I wish there were spending limits, especially ones that candidates (cough Obama) mutually agree to and then break. As for polls not being open late enough or low voter turnout, it's one day a year and known in advance, be there or be square.
- Derek, Concord, NH
Now Ted can bully the Alderman from the mayors perch instead of behind his ward seat. This guy is a political THUG!
- Jason, mancheter nh
Congratulations Ted. Manchester is lucky to have someone of your charater and capabilities running the show. You proved yourself as an alderman and especially as our State Senator and hope you'll be able to bring Manchester back to deserving the title of "The Queen City"!
- Bill, Candia
God help us all.....
- Bill, Manchester
typical liberal...have you forgotten, you're not susposed to like god. that's only for bible thumpin', gun lovin' right wing extremists! keep praying, though, you obama lunatics are gonna need it!
- fpc, bedford
Over 75% of Union Leader-endorsed candidates for Alderman went down yesterday. Does that suprise anyone?
- Dan, Manchester
Well, at least I won't have to deal with all that Gatsas junk mail anymore! That man just poured money into mailings that told nothing . . . just pretty pictures. I don't understand why this City, this State, this Country, doesn't impose limits on campaign spending? More money is wasted at election times that it literally is a sin!
- Molly W, Manchester
Congratulations to Mayor-elect Ted Gatsas. Ted and Mark both ran a great race, focusing on the issues. This was a win/win election for Manchester, with two people who had the best interest of their city at heart. The voters had no choice but to pick a good person for the job, as either one would have been a good mayor.
tom,
Where have you ever seen the teacher's union say the students in Manchester are dumb? Your comments are not only crude but also "dumb". Are YOU smarter than a fifth grade? I don't think so.
- John, Manchester
Now we need a public health care option so that we can stop paying for healthcare at the city level and put that money BACK into the city.
- Maria, Manchester, NH
Did either really win? Neither got people to the polls so he wno by default.
21,000 votes in a city of 120,000 people? TERRIBLE.......keep the polls open later next time for the 'common man'
- james, manchester
Too bad when we vote we can't cast a non-vote...meaning the voter doesn't want either candidate in office and if the non-vote wins, both candidates lose and the election starts over with newcomers...
I moved out of Manchester 3 years ago and have no regrets. Stereotypical politicians run and get elected to the alderman spots or mayor's office each time...Manchester doesn't need anymore politicians...it needs a non-political leader...someone from the business world who can make decisions without politics. Good luck finding someone willing...
- Jack, Milford
Manchester, thank you for doing the state a service and electing Ted Gatsas. Now he'll be getting out of state politics! :)
- Mike, Bedford
What an odd election. Peter S. points out the flawed Manchester thinking. Congrats to all that won, but it seems silly that we would put a Republican in the hot seat and Dems all around him. I honestly hope it works, but my initial reaction says it won't. It just seems like the Dems will have to much "power" and there won't be much, if any, balance between ideas. Not a fan of the Tax-Cap thing, but oh well, my only real concern is our schools. Fix them with the input of the teachers and parents, fix them so they have ALL the things they need and most of the things they want, and as long as the students show improvement keep on giving it to them. I'm sure there is correlation between well-funded, quality education and the "livibility" of a city (though i know of no studies to back that up).
- Hogan, Manchester
Congratulations Ted. You really deserve it. I can't wait to see the changes that this man and his team can implement. We have some exciting times ahead of us now. It's also nice to see another Greek in office. Yasoo!!
- Johnny, Manchester
"do more with less" What, do you think people are machines?
Sue in Bedford,
People can do more with less, precisely because they are NOT machines. It's called working smarter, among other things.
Congratulations to Mr. Gatsas. I wish another Republican or two had wound up winning an alderman race; as Peter Sorrentino points out, the Democratic dominance means they can override the cap whenever they want to. At least it forces them to go on record, I guess.
- Eric, Manchester
Wow Democrats are sore losers and pull fist waving fitties like my 3-year old nephew. Breath, relax, and drink more coolaid for next time.
Buying an election? That's a funny one. While we are on the spending subject, we should all be proud we elected Batman and Robin (Obama+Joe) and their cape brigrade to spend MASSIVE amounts of money USA doesn't have for programs that don't work. TARP? Aren't banks continuing to fail and not lending money? Wasn't that TARP's purpose? Stimulus? Isn't unemployment at highest in almost 30 years?
Enjoy coolaid and the spending spree while it lasts.
- Derek, Concord, NH
Hard to believe that someone who graduated from a Manchester school could lead the city. Heck, the school teachers union tells us that our students are so dumb it takes them 2 hours to watch 60 minutes. Guess we will just live with our special ed mayor until the enlightened in our community can find a more intellectual candidate to teach us how to live.
- tom, Manchester, NH
If you're going to make a big deal about coat-tails, maybe you ought to put R's and D's after names!
I voted for Gatsas because I'm sick of greedy unions and wasting money on things like more watch group cops. We need cops on patrol, better teachers, do something smart about West. Go get 'em, Ted!
- Cindy, Manchester
"do more with less" What, do you think people are machines?
That is fine to do the same with less, but more? Does he know what stress that puts on people physically and mentally? What an unrealistic goal. As soon as the economy rights itself people will be running out of Manchester...
- Sue, Bedford
From all I have seen, Gatsas is a good man. I wish him and Manchester the best of luck.
- Steve B, Derry
My congrats to the new mayor. Teddy will do good things for a great city. I look forward to his term as mayor.
- Chris, Manchester, NH
Good campaign on the issues of the day, congratulations to Mayor-elect Gastas, you worked hard to achieve this and the people of Manchester recognized your strong work ethic. I believe that the citizens of Manchester will be well served by Mayor-elect Gastas. He is a wise man that understands the needs of the people as a whole not the individual needs of select groups. It is time that voters need to consider the health of their community over any personal agenda. These are tough times and now you have a tough man to deal with it.
- Bob Letourneau, Derry
God help us all.....
- Bill, Manchester
The real story of this election is that the voters put in place a Republican mayor who’s for the tax cap. The voters also voted for the tax cap. What the Union Leader seems to have missed is that the board of aldermen are all, except one or maybe two, Democrats, and not for the tax cap. So the override should be a walk in the park for the aldermen.
A “clear mandate,” what’s Gatsas smoking? What Obama got was a clear mandate: 60 in the Senate and a wide majority in the house. Gatsas got a rookie republican aldermen, and a veto override even if several Democratic aldermen are absent or vote against the veto override. As the tie breaker, Gatsas will probably not get a chance to vote.
Trying to interpret what the voters of this city want from this election is impossible. Obviously, there is no mandate. The city now has a more Democratic board than I have ever seen, a Republican mayor and a tax cap. This must be ‘Manchester’ rationale. I guess the Democrats rule the day, but the UL article does not indicate that. What am I missing?
This city gets exactly what it deserves.
- Peter Sorrentino, Manchester
Congrats to Ted. I hope Mark stays around and continues to work for the city. We need both of them. And I hope that someday I have to show positive ID at the polls in order to pick up my ballot.
- John, Manchester NH
Great job buying the election Teddy!
You're now officially the New York Yankees of Manchester politics!
- Patrick, Manchester
No coattails. That's because, people know who Gatsas is. So, He won big. Most people go to the polls in Manchester and don't have any idea who is who and what party they belong to. So, they vote for the names that they recognize. How else could you explain "no coattails"?
- Rich, Manchester
I breathed a second sigh of relief last night. Nothing against Mark Roy, I think his time will come, I think we needed someone a little older and a bit wiser to take the reins to get us through these tough economic times.
Combined with the passage of the tax cap this is a win-win situation for the taxpayers. We get someone who is willing to reach across party lines, has a realistic attitude about what is affordable and whats not, that works for me.
- Jack Alex, Manchester
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