YOUR COMMENTS

Dan in Manchester,
Thanks for the correction there, you're right.

Significant NH Bills Senator State Representative
2009 Devries Flurey Pilotte Shaw
HB #648 - Medical Marijuana Y Y Y
HB #1623 - Marijuana Decriminalization Y Y
HB #436 - Gay Marriage Y Y N Y
HB #383 – Seat Belt Mandate Y Y N
HB #415 - Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination N Y Y N
HB #556 - Abolish the Death Penalty Y Y Y
HB #2 - Tax Law Amendments Y Y Y
- Jim, Manchester

Good bye and good riddance to the arrogant absentee alderman Mike Garrity! Maybe now he will have time to return phone calls from his neighbors, if he gets any.
- Scott, Manchester

Jim @ Manchester -

Greazzo won - get over the smear attack already. He won because while George is a nice guy, many people in this ward felt that he wasn't doing enough for them. I also heard many have concern about his age and his health.

The nasty partisan attacks and the rest of the shenanigans that transpired over the past couple of weeks may have cost George the election. 3 separate attack mail pieces went out against Phil in the days just before the election filled with distortions and innuendo - this contrasted with the positive message Phil brought to his neighbors about how he wants to improve things here in Ward 10 and throughout Manchester...often in person when he was at their door. One gentleman told me yesterday that he had lived in the ward for 12 years and never met Smith even once - but had spoken with Phil twice at his house. That is what people seem to want from their alderman - and now that is what they will have.

As far as your concerns about whether Phil is a "real Republican" - ask anyone involved in the Manchester Republican Committee and I'm confident they will say that he is....because he is. Don't lose any sleep over your concerns about some of his "connections"....1. last I checked, the Republicans did not have a requirement that in order to be a "real Republican" you only have friends that are also Republican.....and 2. and more importantly, Phil's character is far above being a follower....of his "connections" or anyone for that matter. Maybe that is something you just aren't used to.

His agenda - it's exactly what he campaigned on.....being an alderman who attentive to his constituents and looking out for them, and being a leader who is willing to ask the tough questions and making the tough votes today so that we can all have a better tomorrow.

No hidden agenda there. Phil will be like a breathe of fresh air here in our neighborhood....and 898 other ward 10 residents people agree with me on that.
- Tammy Simmons, Manchester Ward 10

GOODBYE Mr. Garrity. For the neighbors that still support, lots of luck. Garrity got his due at the polls. You screw the people that you represent, even one time...your done. Your buddy Guinta may need some campaign help.

I am actually looking forward to going to Wal-Mart again and seeing if Garrity is working there now. I find Garrity's comments to the UL amusing that if your in office long enough you will make a decision someone doesn't like. Give me a break, you pushed and pushed and pushed to get this Wal-Mart deal done. I find really strange as a new Super Wal-Mart adds little value to the people of the south end neighborhood.

I for one am glad someone else is representing the ward. The bad thing for Garrity is he still has to live amongst all the people he turned on. The good news is hopefully all those hideous yellow lawn signs can come down now.
- Tom, South Manchester

Jim, Manchester is incorrect when he says that Barbara Shaw voted for mandatory seat belts as a state representative. That issue came up for a vote twice this year, and she voted against it both times.
- Dan, Manchester

Marge S., Manchester ~

I agree and am also sorry to see George not return. Despite the age and bad leg, he is a fighter who cares deeply for Ward 10.

Not sure if this new alderman is a 'Republican' however. Speaking with registered Republicans from the ward many are wary of him and his connections that are "not" Republican. I respect that he worked hard, but I will watch to see if his agenda goes beyond Ward 10 and even Manchester.
- Jim, Manchester

"If find it very perplexing that the party that stuck its neck out to give people the right to vote on the tax cap was not rewarded by the electorate," said Republican city Chairman Will Infantine"

So in other words, the spending cap is a republican initiative that should have mandated people vote for a republican? This is exactly the arrogant stance that voters detest. Mr. Infantine definitely cares about the city and the ward he lives in. Nobody can knock him for being passionate about trying to make a difference. At the same time, comments like the one he made don't attract votes it detracts votes from him.
- Mike Porter, Manchester

I agree with Ruth. All those people were for Home Depot and the by-pass at that time because Home Depot was buying some off the homes. They all got to keep $20,000 good faith money that Home Depot gave them. Iit fell through because Home Depot had no money to contiune the project. So what is the differnece here....Those same people are not getting bought out by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart wants to use the money instead to fix up S. Willow Street ..which needs it badly..and to fix up Gold Street..to make it safer...Oh and by the way I live on Gold Street....To all you that did not vote for Mike, we just lost the only one that was for the people in our neighborhood.
- Pam, Manchester

Alderman Garrity will have more time to spend at "the fish" with Hizonner, who will also not likely prevail next year.
Didn't help Mike to go "pro-Walmart". Ahh, but he knows that now.
- Johnny B, Manchester

What an interesting election. From what I can see more democrats voted than Republicans, however, they obviously want more fiscal responsibility so a lot of democrats voted for Ted and the tax cap. But to be on the safe side and to send a message to all they voted for a democratic aldermanic board so that if there is something (for instance the airport) that is needed they can easily override the cap. Safety nets everywhere with this board. Democrats who care about schools and what not and republican mayor to monitor the spending. It seems like a good fit. I don't know if the end result was just a coincidence but it seems as if the city voters voted with one mind.
- Joanne P., Manchester

Generally off year elections see a very high percentage of politically connected people and older retired people. I think yesterday's tax cap vote vote brought out union activists and sheeple more heavily than angry conservatives. So the unintended side effect of having the tax cap on the ballot was the democratic aldermanic super-majority. Why almost a thousand people voted for the tax cap and the people who opposed it is really inconceivable.
- Jim, Manchester, Ward 9

wow...what a sound byte coming from Chris Pappas...So Chris...let me see if I understand what your quote says in the inverse...If a candidate is a democrat then the candidate wants "good city services, good schools and safe streets..." Conversely, if a candidate, who calls himself or herself a "Republican", then said candidate wants bad city services, bad schools and unsafe streets...PLEASE!

These races were obviously very personal races. Garrity got thrown out obviously because of the Walmart/God Street Issue. George Smith A Democrat, was replaced by Greazo, a Republican. What does that mean? Well, these are supposedly "non-partisan" elections.

I believe a number of races here in the city reflect that. Most of the races ended with fairly tight margins.

How about that Gang of Eight? Devries kept her seat...48 votes; Bill Shea? 246 votes? He should have totally trounced! his opponent! these margins were tight!

Yet, the tax cap passed, Chris? the very tax cap you and your ilk were calling a "gimmick?"

With results like this I would be afraid...very afraid...and perhaps a bit more humble...OH schucks! thats right! you are matriculated from the Ray Buckley School of Politics...truths and realities are for losers.
- Rick Olson, Manchester

Chris,
As another ward 9 republican supporter of Alderman Garrity I find your vote against him completely baffling. That is one issue that will be decided by the planning board, not the Aldermen. Barbara Shaw is dyed blue liberal who has never voted against a tax increase that I know of, voted for gay marriage, and mandatory seatbelts. Barbara Shaw has never listened to me on any of those issues. You just cut off your face to spite your nose!
- Jim, Manchester

The number one reason why my wife and I went to the polls yesterday was to replace Alderman Garrity with someone who actually represents their constituents when it comes to major issues. If Alderman Garrity really thought the Gold St. Wal-Mart project was supported by his constituents as he often claimed, he learned something last night.
- Dan, Ward 9

It happened in my life time, not Cashin, not Smith, a Republican in Ward 10. Gee George do you suppose enough people saw through you and your little buddy Mike. "Tax them till they drop" I wish you a long and healthy retirement, with all the pensions and property investments you should be pretty comfortable.
- Russell, Manchester, Ward 10

What's the point of non partisan elections if the candidates are completely and fully supported by their party?

And I am so grateful that the tax cap passed now that I see who has been elected to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. With this group, its probably about the only thing that will help keep spending in line.
- Mike E, Manchester

As a republican supporter of Mike Garrity he has done a lot of positive things. Unfortunately Mr. Garrity turned his back on the people he represents and supported Wal-Mart and a bypass on Gold Street. The worst part was Garrity's constant pushing for the potential Wal-Mart property to be rezoned against the 'peoples' interest.

Garrity continues to this day to try and sell the Wal-Mart project to city residents, this is completly baffling to me. This drove me to the polls yesterday and I am proud to say that I voted for Ms. Shaw. While I don't agree with Ms. Shaws stances on a lot of things I do believe she will listen to and more importantly back the residents of Ward 9.

I take satisfaction that Mr. Garrity can no longer cozy up with Wal-Mart reps and attempt to further ruin our great neighborhhod with more bad decisions. If nothing else Mr. Garrity can go get a job at Wal-Mart, I heard they are hiring for Christmas, good pay and good benifits (sarcasm).
- Chris, Ward 9, Manchester

ruth, it is not walmart that the residents were opposing, it was the dangerous increase in traffic through all the residential neighborhoods. too bad their alderman didn't keep his constituents in mind, perhaps they would not have voted him out. That's how it works.
- barbara, bangor maine

Perhaps, former Alderman Garrity can get a new job at the Wal-Mart supercenter?
- Dan Smith, Manchester

How lucky the residents of Ward Ten, that Phil Greazzo has been elected Alderman after far too many years of "do-nothing" Smith (thank goodness that man is finally GONE!)...I'm so glad that Ward Ten and, indeed, all fiscally conservative residents of Manchester, will finally have a strong, reasonable and enthusiastic voice coming out of West Manchester.

Congratulations Mr. Greazzo, I cannot wait to see your level hand and excellent communication skills put to the test! Congrats also to Mr. Gatsas....he's got a long hard road ahead of him, but I know he is up to the challenge of pushing through with a mostly Democratic board and I hope sincerely that party politics can take a back seat to the entire board coming together to try and take Manchester in a good direction!
- Natalie Mitchell, West Manchester

Remember what the late 70's were like around here? Pretty bleak. Now we have an aldermanic board dominated by yellow dog dem's. Maybe we can get the peanut farmer back!
- Tom, Manchester

Garrity sided with Wal-Mart over his own people and paid the price for it. A heavy price.
- Henry Swanson, Manchester

Thank you,ward 9..NO more GARRITY!!!
- Andrew, Manchester

Sorry to see Alderman Smith gone. I'm thankful that he was my Alderman. I just hope this newly elected Republican lives up to as good as he's campaigned about.
- Marge S., Manchester

Mike Lopez said:

"He said it won't be easy to get 10 votes to override the cap."

How insane that he's already looking for how they will override the cap! This is what is wrong with so many of that board, they always are looking on how they can spend more. No wonder the cap passed!

Congratulation to Phil Greazzo for breaking the Democrat stronghold in Ward 10! An outspoken advocate for the spending cap, Greazzo won with almost 54% even after the NH Democrat Party did their usual smear campaign on him in the finals days before the election.
- Ben, Manchester

I find it very amusing that the Gold Street residents who were getting their homes bought at one time by Home Depot were eager to have them come in but I guess Walmart didn't offer them the same deal...hence yellow signs and an outed Alderman.
- Ruth, Manchester

There's certain things that do you in as an alderman, Mike was a good friend during the budget process and kept spending in check. The thing that hurt him was that he really PO'd his constiuents, especially his neighbors with the Wal-Mart deal.

From the looks of the south end and all the yellow sign he fragmented the entire neighborhood and pitted one neighbor against another.

South Willow Street and the immediate surrounding area doesn't need more development, it's had enough. Theres so much there now, I don't know what's keeping everything from collapsing into a big hole.

City of Manchester, want something nice up there, put a nice park in for residents of Ward 9. It would go nicely with the rails and trails project and we could use some trees and flora and green grass that will change the air.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

Thanks for nothing, Alderman Garrity.

While I never questioned your claim that you were working hard, I did question who you were working FOR.
- Alan, Manchester