NEWS

Mayoral candidates make their pitch

Weston, Carrier tout their relationships, experience

Kyle Stucker
kstucker@seacoastonline.com
Dover mayoral candidates, current Mayor Karen Weston, left, and current Deputy Mayor Bob Carrier, respond to questions during a candidates forum Tuesday evening at Dover High School's library. [Kyle Stucker/Fosters.com]

DOVER — A theme quickly emerged Tuesday night as incumbent Mayor Karen Weston and her challenger, Deputy Mayor Bob Carrier, fielded moderated questions about Dover’s growth, taxes, parking and other challenges during Dover’s annual candidates forum.

That theme was relationships, with each candidate trading indirect-but-respectful commentary and barbs as they made their case for why they’re the better fit for the office.

Weston, 68, pointed to her track record and experience as mayor as the biggest difference between her and Carrier.

Weston said she believes the relationships she’s forged at the local, Tri-City, county, state and federal level are why the city is going “in the right direction.”

“I don’t think there’s anyone who is a bigger champion for the city of Dover,” said Weston, who said she’s built many of her relationships with residents, businesses and developers because of the way she runs Janetos Superette in downtown. “I’m working on a development for the north end of the city that is in the works from a person who has reached out to me.”

Carrier, 67, indirectly said he’d be more open and engaging with local citizens than Weston, such as by creating set City Hall office hours.

If elected, Carrier said he’d be the “biggest cheerleader for this city” and would follow through with his promises because he’s “a man of my word.”

“I listen, I react, I follow through. That’s the key ingredient,” said Carrier, who said he’s forged strong relationships with citizens, city staff, businesses and developers because of his elected experience and because of his work as a self-employed contractor. “One of the things I would strive for is better communication and to work together with the School Board and City Council. We are one unit.”

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, Dover Listens and the Dover High School Student Council co-hosted Tuesday’s candidates forum in Dover High School’s library.

Weston and Carrier traded responses to six moderated and audience-provided questions over the course of 30 minutes. Roughly 70 people, including candidates for contested City Council and School Board races, attended the forum. 

The race between Weston and Carrier is the only contested mayoral race in the Tri-Cities during this year’s municipal election on Nov. 5. Rochester and Somersworth’s incumbent mayors, Caroline McCarley and Dana Hilliard, are each running unopposed.

Tuesday’s forum served as one of the public’s first chances to dig into potential differences between Weston and Carrier. The candidates have similar voting records and have spent nearly their entire City Council tenures together; Weston served six years as a councilor before she was elected mayor six years (three terms) ago, while Carrier has served 11 years on City Council.

However, outside of their comments about relationships, both candidates largely shared relatively similar responses when they discussed specific issues. That was apparent when they both highlighted Dover’s most pressing challenges as the need to, among other things: foster sustainable long-term growth and development; increase housing affordability and availability; and increase resources and solutions for regional issues like substance use disorder, homelessness and mental health.

When asked to provide the one vote they wish they could go back and change, Weston and Carrier both agreed the short-lived decision to close City Hall to the public on Fridays was a major misstep.

The measure was intended to save taxpayers money during tough budget years, but was reversed after Dover ultimately found the move harmed citizens’ ability to do business and connect with key city offices and services, Weston and Carrier said. Each said the closure received more pushback than any other they’ve experienced during their tenures, and that it ultimately cost taxpayers more money than if they did nothing.

Another question asked the candidates whether the city should require residential developers to have enough parking spaces within their projects to fully serve their units.

Carrier said parking is an “ongoing target” and that there is “no magic wand” for dealing with the issue. Carrier also said he believes the Planning Board “dissects it carefully” and insisted the city is “going to work on this.”

Weston said the Planning Board follows the guidelines given to them. Weston said tomorrow’s problems can by solved now by changing zoning regulations and planning 20 years in the future, in the process stressing the need to reserve land for an additional parking garage to avoid being “behind the 8 ball.”

A recording of the forum will be available on demand on the city’s website as well as rebroadcast on Dover’s municipal channel.

The candidates in other contested races who fielded questions Tuesday night were: City Council Ward 2 candidates Dennis Ciotti (incumbent) and Timothy Casey; City Council Ward 6 candidates Tom Clancy and Fergus Cullen; the three candidates running for two at-large City Council seats, Lindsey William (incumbent), Mark Brave and John O’Connor; and at-large School Board candidates Kathleen Morrison (incumbent) and Marsha Pelletier.