Claremont: Spending cap fails, council faces remain the same

CLAREMONT – There will be no spending cap in Claremont, and most of the nine council seats up for election will be kept by incumbents.

A measure to impose a tax cap on the city failed in a 1,509-880 vote yesterday. Residents also reelected Mayor Deborah Cutts, who beat out former City Councilor James Nielsen in a 1,368-1,081 vote.

About 2,489 of the city's 7,713 registered voters cast ballots in the council race and for a measure to amend the city charter to limit city spending to the rate of inflation.

"All of the (Save Our Services) candidates won, and the tax cap failed," said Cutts. "My interpretation of . . . the voters' message -- the voters sent a very loud message, and we hear them loud and clear. We will continue business as usual, and we will not let them down."

Cynthia Howard, who lost her bid for city council and who spearheaded the effort to get the tax cap on the ballot, could not be reached for comment. She garnered 806 votes in the council race.

Voter James Nielsen, 52, no relation to the man running in this year's election, said he voted for the cap.

"If it doesn't pass, I hope at least whoever is elected tonight hears the message residents are trying to send them about spending," Nielsen said. "Services are very important, but it's also important that we live within our means."

Nelia Sergent, 54, said she voted against the cap because she didn't believe it would do anything to lower taxes.

"I voted against it for many reasons, but mostly I feel very strongly that we need an income-based tax to offset the property taxes. We need to remove 'the pledge.' (The cap) is not the answer."

In addition to the spending cap issue and mayoral race, nine councilors and an assistant mayor were chosen. The votes broke down as follows:

• Incumbent Assistant Mayor Andrew Austin 1,418, Paul LaCasse 1,013;
• Ward 1Councilor: Victor Bergeron 389, Bradley Ferland, 24
• Ward 2 Councilor:, Keith Raymond, 710,William Regan III, 300
• Ward 3 Councilor: Nicholas Koloski 341, Robert Woodman 291, JohnO’Connor 56 and Dennis Dube 53.
• For the four at-large seats, Adam Burke 1,334, Jeffrey Goff 1,380, Kyle Messier 1,391, Christopher Lewis 1,250, Robert Picard 971, Levi Sanders 591, Steven Picano 539, and Gerald Donatelli, 468.