As a “fellow Nashuan,” U.S. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander told present and future city office holders at Sunday’s city inauguration ceremony that she “couldn’t be happier to be here with you today,” and went on to praise them for “coming into this work with a love for the city, the state, and one another.”
“What I see in you, I wish I saw more of in the United States Congress,” Goodlander added.
Chosen by the Inauguration Committee as master of ceremonies for this year’s 113th inauguration of city government, which took place at the Nashua Center for the Arts, Goodlander described an inauguration as “a formal beginning … people coming together to bear witness to the peaceful transfer of power. There’s nothing more solemn than taking that oath,” she added.
City Clerk Daniel Healey and City Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton split the swearing-in duties, with Healey administering the oath to ward selectmen, ward clerks and ward moderators, while Bolton swore in members of the Fire Commission, Board of Public Works, the Board of Education, the ward aldermen and aldermen at-large.
Newcomers to the Board of Aldermen include Stephen Chess, who won a tight race over Hailey Gallagher in Ward 1 to replace Tyler Gouveia, who ran unsuccessfully for alderman at-large; Paula Johnson, who won a four-way race in Ward 5 to replace Ernie Jette, who didn’t run for reelection; Vengerflutta Smith, who defeated Ward 6 incumbent Chris Thibodeau; and Alderwomen at-large Amber Morgan, who defeated Gouveia, and Alicia Gregg, who was elected to the seat vacated by Gloria Timmons’s death.
As for the board leadership, veteran Alderwoman at-large Lori Wilshire’s fellow members voted unanimously to retain her as board president. But they then voted to replace longtime Vice President Michael O’Brien Sr. with fellow Alderman at-large Ben Clemons. Both O’Brien and Clemons were unable to attend Sunday due to family and health issues.
Mayor Jim Donchess offered brief remarks, in which he described participating in city government as “rewarding for all of us.
“Many seated here on the stage have a calling to serve the city. They have worked very hard over the years to make Nashua a better community.”
One such person “I do want to recognize is Lori Wilshire … she’s been on the board for many years, served as president for several years,” Donchess said.
Confident that “we can build on the progress we’ve made,” Donchess mentioned the ongoing affordable housing initiative and the Riverfront Masterplan as examples.
Before she conducted a brief organizational meeting — at which the aldermen elect a president, vice president and draw numbers for the seating arrangement — Wilshire said she takes “this role very seriously.
“As president my goal is to make sure meetings are fair and respectful, and that every alderman has the opportunity to speak” on any issue. “Discussion done with respect leads to better decisions,” she said.
Looking up at the audience, she reminded everyone that “this board works for you. Your voice matters.”
