Killer
Ticks:Lyme
disease
victims cry
out.
Ticks:Lyme
disease
victims cry
out.
President
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I Will Not Blink
Joe Levasseur’s tax
war: Now that he’s
Alderman At-Large,
will he deliver?
war: Now that he’s
Alderman At-Large,
will he deliver?
Joe Kelly Levasseur and Will Infantine,
Manchester attorney and businessman
respectively, staged a ferocious campaign to oust
Aldermen At-Large, Dan O’Neil and Mike Lopez.
O’Neil and Lopez had monopolized that position for
12 years. As in the campaign of Ted Gatsas, the
duo flooded Manchester with yard signs and
bought air time on the radio to launch a campaign
centered on property taxes in Manchester.
On their television show on Manchester’s Channel
23, they derided O’Neil and Lopez, time and again,
for the woes associated with high property taxes in
the city of Manchester. They said if elected, they will
Manchester attorney and businessman
respectively, staged a ferocious campaign to oust
Aldermen At-Large, Dan O’Neil and Mike Lopez.
O’Neil and Lopez had monopolized that position for
12 years. As in the campaign of Ted Gatsas, the
duo flooded Manchester with yard signs and
bought air time on the radio to launch a campaign
centered on property taxes in Manchester.
On their television show on Manchester’s Channel
23, they derided O’Neil and Lopez, time and again,
for the woes associated with high property taxes in
the city of Manchester. They said if elected, they will
cut back property taxes in the city so that property owners can breathe the fresh air of tax relief.
On Nov. 8, after all was said and done and election results counted, it was Levasseur who came out
victorious. His partner, Infantine, failed to make it. Levasseur won a sound victory over Lopez.
Infantine indicated that loosing wasn’t a big deal. He told The Union Leader that running together as he
and Levasseur did was merely a strategy to ensure that at least one of the rival aldermen was defeated.
“The reason we ran as a team is that we knew we needed two viable alternatives to knock off one of the
aldermen (at-large),” said Infantine. “If I was viable, I could take enough votes away from the other two.”
In January, the new Board of Aldermen gets sworn in. The question that remains on the balance is
whether haven talk the talk, Levasseur can walk the walk. Can he deliver his campaign promise of
cutting property taxes in Manchester? Certainly, all by himself, he cannot.
There are two odds that could weigh against him. One relates to the fact that Lopez may be gone, but O’
Neil isn’t. When it is sworn in at a January ceremony, the board will have need for a new chair. O’Neil,
having been in City Hall for 12 years, is favorably disposed to become the new chair. If he stirs up the
sentiments of the fierce campaign waged against him by the duo of Levasseur and Infantine, he could
make the route to tax cuts messy for Levasseur.
On Nov. 8, after all was said and done and election results counted, it was Levasseur who came out
victorious. His partner, Infantine, failed to make it. Levasseur won a sound victory over Lopez.
Infantine indicated that loosing wasn’t a big deal. He told The Union Leader that running together as he
and Levasseur did was merely a strategy to ensure that at least one of the rival aldermen was defeated.
“The reason we ran as a team is that we knew we needed two viable alternatives to knock off one of the
aldermen (at-large),” said Infantine. “If I was viable, I could take enough votes away from the other two.”
In January, the new Board of Aldermen gets sworn in. The question that remains on the balance is
whether haven talk the talk, Levasseur can walk the walk. Can he deliver his campaign promise of
cutting property taxes in Manchester? Certainly, all by himself, he cannot.
There are two odds that could weigh against him. One relates to the fact that Lopez may be gone, but O’
Neil isn’t. When it is sworn in at a January ceremony, the board will have need for a new chair. O’Neil,
having been in City Hall for 12 years, is favorably disposed to become the new chair. If he stirs up the
sentiments of the fierce campaign waged against him by the duo of Levasseur and Infantine, he could
make the route to tax cuts messy for Levasseur.
In addition to the O’Neil factor, the second of the pair
of odds relates to the fact that the board is loaded
with democrats who are usually bed-fellows with
high taxation. They have the numbers – if they
decided to go with partisan politics — to bury
Levasseau’s dream of cutting property taxes.
But Levasseur doesn’t appear worried at all about
this. Speaking to the New Hampshire Herald, he
gave the formula on how he hopes to see taxes cut
down in Manchester. He said that cutting property
taxes in next year’s budget will come down to re-
negotiations with the city unions.
“The new Board of Aldermen understands that
homeowners are not very keen to see any increase in
of odds relates to the fact that the board is loaded
with democrats who are usually bed-fellows with
high taxation. They have the numbers – if they
decided to go with partisan politics — to bury
Levasseau’s dream of cutting property taxes.
But Levasseur doesn’t appear worried at all about
this. Speaking to the New Hampshire Herald, he
gave the formula on how he hopes to see taxes cut
down in Manchester. He said that cutting property
taxes in next year’s budget will come down to re-
negotiations with the city unions.
“The new Board of Aldermen understands that
homeowners are not very keen to see any increase in
taxes, never mind a high increase,” said Levasseau. “Mayor Gatsas and the current Board showed in
the last budget that they are not in the mood for high property taxes when it slashed 14 firefighters and
five policemen from the employment rolls.”
Levasseau also suggested that the upcoming budget is in more dire straits than the last. He warned
that it is incumbent on the Board and the unions to work together to cut taxes and save jobs.
“The question is, ‘Who will blink?’ It certainly won’t be me,” added Levasseau.
Asked how he intends to convince Mayor Ted Gatsas, who recently raised property tax, to come onboard
with him, Levasseau said that Mayor Gatsas has drawn a line in the sand with city unions and believes
they know he will lay people off if a compromise does not occur. He contends it will be the unions that
decide the fate of the city employees.
The unions, Levasseau said, can keep the current contract that they negotiated very well for themselves
or try and re-negotiate a new long-term contract that saves jobs — or see if the aldermen will raise
taxes, instead of cutting city services. One thing is for sure, it will not be boring.
“I also feel the aldermen are also not in the mood for a large increase in the tax rate,” said Lavasseau. “I
do believe in the end that both sides have a lot to gain in a compromise.” Levasseur sent a warning to
the aldermen that do not support his tax cutting plan. He predicted that the aldermen that do not believe
the way he does will feel the sting of the voters in two years, for this will be one of the most-watched
Boards in recent City Hall history. Many future political careers surely hang in the balance of the
upcoming budget. The two top newcomers — Pat Arnold and Garth Corriveau — were sent a strong
message by the voters in this election, for both only won by a cumulative 46 votes. People are watching
these two Wards very closely and if those who serve want a career in politics, they should be very fiscally
conservative, this time around.
the last budget that they are not in the mood for high property taxes when it slashed 14 firefighters and
five policemen from the employment rolls.”
Levasseau also suggested that the upcoming budget is in more dire straits than the last. He warned
that it is incumbent on the Board and the unions to work together to cut taxes and save jobs.
“The question is, ‘Who will blink?’ It certainly won’t be me,” added Levasseau.
Asked how he intends to convince Mayor Ted Gatsas, who recently raised property tax, to come onboard
with him, Levasseau said that Mayor Gatsas has drawn a line in the sand with city unions and believes
they know he will lay people off if a compromise does not occur. He contends it will be the unions that
decide the fate of the city employees.
The unions, Levasseau said, can keep the current contract that they negotiated very well for themselves
or try and re-negotiate a new long-term contract that saves jobs — or see if the aldermen will raise
taxes, instead of cutting city services. One thing is for sure, it will not be boring.
“I also feel the aldermen are also not in the mood for a large increase in the tax rate,” said Lavasseau. “I
do believe in the end that both sides have a lot to gain in a compromise.” Levasseur sent a warning to
the aldermen that do not support his tax cutting plan. He predicted that the aldermen that do not believe
the way he does will feel the sting of the voters in two years, for this will be one of the most-watched
Boards in recent City Hall history. Many future political careers surely hang in the balance of the
upcoming budget. The two top newcomers — Pat Arnold and Garth Corriveau — were sent a strong
message by the voters in this election, for both only won by a cumulative 46 votes. People are watching
these two Wards very closely and if those who serve want a career in politics, they should be very fiscally
conservative, this time around.
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| By Chris Anu New Hampshire Herald |
Alderman At-Large, Joe Levasseur
Will Infantine and Levasseur, they ran as a team