Carrier to challenge Weston for mayor

DOVER — Bob Carrier formally launched his campaign for mayor Thursday evening, declaring he’s running to make Dover “more accessible to everybody.”

Carrier, an at-large councilor and the city’s deputy mayor, will challenge three-term mayor Karen Weston in November’s municipal election. In addition to increasing opportunity for the general public, Carrier said his desire to bring more accessibility to the Garrison City also extends to the mayor’s office itself.

“I am running for mayor for all the hard-working women and men in this city,” Carrier said, speaking on City Hall’s front steps before a crowd of roughly 75 people.

Carrier, 67, who has spent nearly 12 years as a city councilor, had mulled a run in 2017. However, he said he ultimately struck a pact with Weston, 68, that he’d hold off so Weston could serve one more term.

Weston then declared this past June she would again seek reelection because she wants to see projects through.

“I thought this would be my last term, but I have had an overwhelming request to run at least one more term,” Weston said in June. “It made me rethink my position.”

Carrier said he holds no animosity toward Weston, but told supporters Thursday feels he must run because he believes it’s time for a leadership change.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” said Carrier.

If elected, Carrier said he would be more transparent and accessible, do more to ensure seniors aren’t priced out of their homes by new development, work to ensure the city’s tremendous growth is “sustainable,” run a more professional and efficient public meeting, and invest in teachers, first responders and road infrastructure.

“Sometimes the city needs another set of eyes,” said Carrier, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Citizen of the Year. “It's time.”

Weston has said she’s “very concerned about the tax impact” of debts the city has accumulated from recent projects, such as the new Dover High School and Garrison Elementary School’s renovation. She’s also cited commercial development, homelessness, downtown parking and the city’s waterfront development project as key areas of focus.

Dover’s candidate filing period begins Monday, Sept. 9, and ends Friday, Sept. 20.

In addition to Weston, the mayors of Rochester and Somersworth have each said they'll run for re-election in November.

Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard announced his bid for a fourth term in July. Somersworth’s candidate filing period will be open from Sept. 11-26.

Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley confirmed in a phone interview Wednesday she plans to seek a third term. Rochester’s candidate filing period is the earliest of the Tri-Cities, opening Friday and closing on Sept. 23.

In addition to mayor, residents of all three cities will elect city councilors, school board members and election officials. Rochester residents will also elect candidates to its Police Commission.

More information about the filing period and positions available can be found on the cities’ respective websites.