Manchester's next mayor is Ted Gatsas; spending cap passes

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@Ben, Manchester: There is nothing "illegal" about citizens who actually LIVE IN MANCHESTER voting to reduce spending by a wide margin. On the other hand, just look at who was opposed to the tax cap and all the alien illegal outside big money they used to fight it, and that ought to tell you right from wrong.

Good job to everyone who worked on this effort. We seniors thank you.
- Sue, Manchester

I was unsure of how I would vote concerning the tax cap. That is, unitl I read the quote from Tammy Simmons in this paper this past Sunday. Can't remember exactly but was something about 'not knowing' or 'never having even thought' about the effects the measure could have on the airport. It caused me to pause.

Still not sure about what its effects will be. Do know that if it does make this city an armpit her name will be remembered, along with the other proponents. However, hope not and that the measure is a positive.

I did not vote for. Not because of the nay-sayers and the doom of it, but after reading her words I wondered - if they missed an entity such as the airport, what else was missed???? But, hope against hope this isn't something Manchester will takes years to climb out of.

Best to all
- Brian, Manchester

Originally I supported the Tax Cap, especially as an owner of property in Manchester. Then I read of the long-term effects of such a measure. So, I read more. Both pro and con. At the moment I am in a wait-and-see mode. And spooked.

For the sake of this city, and that includes my financial investments along with personal ties, I hope some of what I've read (the negative) do not bear fruit, especially a decaying infrastructure, reduced services and schools falling further that already need a major repair.

Depressing? Yes! But ironic as in attempting to keep spending down the proponents of this measure will drive away the very people this community needs to keep vibrant and growing. Poor schools, lousy roads and crime!?!?! Who'd want to raise their family here. Who'd want to locate a business here.

A hope none of that is the future of this city.
- Jack, Manchester

Again, it's fine if people don't think the city is responsible enough to spend our money wisely, but I want to know what we will all do as individuals to help our city?

Mainly i am asking for examples of things people will do to help improve our most important investment, education.

As someone who voted for the tax cap will you provide the resources needed to our students so they can succeed?

I want REAL examples.
- Peter, Manchester

I don't mind if we want to be fiscally conservative, and we have the ability to override the cap when a super-majority decides it is in the best interest of the City. But we need to be perfectly clear about a few things: 1. Manchester has some of the lowest property taxes in the sate. When I bought my home here a few months ago (though I had lived here much longer) I was very excited when I saw how little the City was taking in property taxes relative to other parts of the state. 2. We spend less than most on education. this is a little odd when we're dealing with the largest city in the state.

I want to reign in irresponsible spending, but the money we spend in our city is not just blind spending as we like to conveniently think it is, it is also an investment. Most importantly it is an investment in our future through the education of our youth.

I am asking point blank to everyone who supported the tax cap, what will you individually do for education in our city? you have decided that the city is not smart enough to invest your money properly and I say that I agree for the most part, but if you don't want the city to be able to spread the proper resources to our schools then I expect that all of us will step up to the plate and offer our own support.

Will you volunteer at the schools? Work at a tutoring center? Donate money directly to extracurricular programs? Will you buy kids textbooks so they can actually know the newest material in the subjects they are studying? Will you provide them with simple school materials that are lacking? Will you form a literacy club for all the kids who are reading far bellow their normal reading levels? Will you help them get to school this winter since many of them do not even have the expendable income to pay for the bus to school when they get to high school.

And if you will not do any of these...then will you clean up all the graffiti when these uneducated kids kids drop out? Will you support the police in the many more drug raids they will need to operate by donating massive amounts of money to them at Christmas time?

Contrary to popular belief, kids don't just drop out of school because they're bad kids. Check the literacy levels of drop-outs. Kids usually drop out of high school due to frustration that they feel. They drop out of the system because they feel stupid. They give up on the system because the system never put forth enough effort in the first place.

So again, what will you do to fix this? Since obviously the city can't do it.
- Peter, Manchester

Congrats to Alderman Osborne in his re-election. And to all those opposed to the tax cap, there was only one person in Ward 5 with a NO sign, guess what, she left after an hour. This reader stood there nearly the entire day with a YES sign, IT passed in Ward 5. Mr. Osborne's opponent says he was for lowering taxes and reducing spending. He lied. Just look at his voting record at the state level. He voted for the state budget with 'raised' taxes and wasteful spending. Next year's state elections are going to be fun. Watch out all you Democrats' who lied in 2008, people are fed up with all your big government and tax this and that.
- Robert M Tarr, Ward 5, Manchester, Manchester

Jim there's a difference between a sore loser and an educated individual. It appears the majority of voters were uneducated on how exactly a tax cap effects a city. You'll be sorry when your property is worth nothing, the school system is worse than it already is, and there are no police and fire to help you when you need it. All we can hope for is that the new mayor and alderman make wise decisions and do not get carried away.
- Mary, Manchester NH

Look at all the whining sore losers, wow!
- Jim, Manchester

Yes...all of us ig'nant people who supported the tax cap...all of us dumb, idiotic dolts...look at all the sore losers lamenting the fact that their cash cow has been snatched out fom under them.

You have to love how so many are willing to assert they are the smarter ones simply because they can't jam their fingers in our wallets anymore.

Riddle me this, Batman....name the last year the city passed a budget without a tax increase?
- Rick Olson, Manchvegas

It's unfortunate that people can vote for a tax cap without truly understanding the disadvantages it will bring. Why is it so hard to see that Manchester has some of the lowest taxes in the state with the most services provided? Also, do you not have children in the school system? The schools are going to be affected negatively by the tax cap. Polica and fire are already under staffed, and this cap in going to possibly lead to lay offs...this is possibly the biggest mistake this uninformed city has made.
- Ann, Manchester, NH

Lank, it looks like you're in the minority. If you don't like the tax cap then you can pack your things and move down to MA. They have plenty of free-spending Dems down there. I'm sure you'll feel right at home.
- Frank, Manchester

Hey Ted can you take all your signs down now.. Dont get to full of yourself.. you bought the election.. 2 and done is my prediction. Have you ever had a real job ??? All that voted for the tax cap. Go ask a friend in Mass how prop 2 1/2 is working for them..
- joe johnson, manchester

I am very upset that Gatsas won & that the tax cap was approved. Have none of you had basic economics courses?
- Jean, Manchester

Well, the voters have spoken and it looks like the good folks of Manchester truely do not care about educating their children. I find this very sad, but what does my opinion matter, I don't live in Manchester.

Manchester has the lowest test scores in the state for its public school kids and all Gatsas said about education was that parents need to take a bigger role. That's true, but at some point the taxpayers of the city need to acknowledge the fact that Manchester spends less per pupil than 97% of the school districts in the state. At the high school level the city is dead last in spending and dead last in test scores.

In all comparable communities in the state more is spent on education than all other city services combined. Not in Manchester. Are you going to correct this, Mayor-elect Gatsas? What are you going to do if the governor sends you millions of dollars for education? Are you going to divert it to other city services like Guinta did?

Underfunded schools = lower property values = bad place to live. I hope you people realize what you just voted for.
- Fred, Amherst

I think the people of Manchester can't see the forest through the trees. Good luck!
- Patrick, Rollinsford

The results show, in my opinion, that the voters in Manchester want to limit spending but also support people who espouse to actually care about their ward. So we pass a spending cap but elect a majority who fought and opposed the cap all the way. Go figure.

I'm proud to live in a ward that voted to pass the spending cap AND elected an Alderman who care about his ward.
- Tammy Simmons, Manchester Ward 10

I can't wait to hear the transcripts of Joe Kelly's concession speach.

Woah.....

No....

I couldn't care less.
- Patrick, Manchestrer

Correction: UL endorsed 2 winning aldermen, Greazo and Osborne.
- Jim, Manchester

Ouch Union Leader, you made 9 endorsements for 14 AlderSeats and picked a winner ONCE (Ed Osborne).

Ouch for me and Mike Garrity too. I have that flaming liberal B Shaw representing my neighborhood now. At least her flaming liberal cohort, Joan Flurey was defeated by Beaudry. Garrity was one of few incumbents running that lost. If only Wal-Mart hadn't created a no-win situation for him.

Oh well, on the bright site Gatsas is Mayor. Good job!

How many of the Aldermen are democrats now? Do they already have 2/3 majority to enact spending cap over-ridres?
- Jim, Manchester

Good luck with your tax cap, Manchester! As if the schools, roads, police department, and fire department weren't underfunded as it were. Too bad the progress that has been made in revitalizing the city will be unsupported!

At least the city doesn't pay for ambulance service . . . (seriously!)
- Andy, Biddeford, ME

When I lived in Maryland in the 1970s and 1980s my county passed a tax cap. It was a disaster resulting in declining schools, deteriorating highways, and increased crime. That is why the voters overturned it overwhelmingly at their first oppotunity. Now that Manchester has chosen to saddle itself with this gimick, hang on for a very bumpy ride indeed. It is a very sad day for the Queen City.
- LJC, Manchester

The schools are screwed now! You think class sizes are big now you haven't seen anything yet!
- Katie, Manchester

Don't blame the the unions in New Hampshire for your neighbor being without a job. The State of New Hampshire has no employment security. Thank god for unions!!!! At least we have a voice.
The unions are not greedy!!!! Look to upper management that is not union....Who do they answer too? Who is making management accountable for what they do?! The union worker that you see on the streets and answering your phones are the little guy!!!! Paid hourly not on a salary getting between $80,000 to $100,.00 for a 30 hour work week....
Check your facts before you start blaming the the guy plowing your streets who has a boss...saying do as I say not as I do!!!!!
- Joanna, Londonderry,Nh

All of you who supported the spending cap will find out in a while what you really voted for. It's so easy to make these decisions during tough economic times, but when the economy turns around and the infrastructure of Manchester needs rebuilding, you have all provided the handcuffs to stopping growth. I have seen the results of similar moves in other states; the city will continue to deteriorate and all of your property values will go right down the sewer. No one will want to live in a city that has deplorable schools and services. Congratulations! Your immediate savings will eventually be offset by big losses and you have nobody to blame but yourselves.
- Fed Up With Manchester, Manchester

Congratulations to all the winners!

Since the Spending Cap/Tax Cap passed, congratulations to all taxpayers as well! This will take away the big, red "Easy Button" which has been used to out-spend our city budget for the past few years.

Contrary to what the Union mouthpieces have been preaching, this "Cap" will not hinder any spending on emergency services, and any "hardship" spending will require a vote. Just like we all have to do in our own family budgets- How about that?

As a Ward 9 voter, I am happy to see that Mike Garrity lost. It didn't have to be this way, but 6 years of ignoring his constituents' concerns finally took its toll. It's obvious you've been working really hard, Mike- but the question is, who were you working FOR?
- Alan, Manchester

This isn't over. The tax/spending cap will be ultimately overturned. I say we make the so-called NH Advantage Coalition cover the costs incurred from putting an illegal measure on the ballot.
- Ben, Manchester

The headline of this article and the readers’ comments seem to indicate a typical Manchester level of cluelessness. The voters put in place a Republican mayor who’s for the tax cap. This is the same person who as alderman developed the last two budgets both of which increased taxes. The voters also voted for the tax cap. What the article and posters seem to have missed is that the board of aldermen are all except one or maybe two, Democrats, and not for the tax cap. So the override should be a walk in the park for the aldermen.

Trying to interpret what the voters of this city want from this election is impossible. A more Democratic board than I have ever seen in the city, a Republican mayor and a tax cap. This must be ‘Manchester’ rationale. I guess the Democrats rule the day, but the UL article does not indicate that. They have well more than they need to override the tax cap and override any veto Gatsas attempts. What am I missing?

This city gets exactly what it deserves.
- Peter Sorrentino, Manchester

Hey Manchester........COOL!!! Hey Lank see what scare tactics do to an educated voter, keep it up.
- Mike, Auburn

Way to go Teddy!!!!!
- Ted MacLeod, Ormond Beach, FL

Hope a school doesn't burn down.. sorry kids- spending's capped!
- Duh, Manchester

Good job Ward 10 for electing Phil Greazzo and getting rid of George Smith! He was a disgrace to our ward and did nothing to improve the West Side! We finally have some hope for the West Side.
- ac, manchester

I wouldn't celebrate too loudly tax cappers. Ted Gatsas will prove to be neutral as far as the cap goes and will fund the budget responsibly, which is lean, contrary to the slogan shouters.

Also, I notice some seem to think that the elections were some imagined condemnation of unions and those who oppose the tax cap. Well, guess what? 10 of the 14 elected aldermen who won election were opposed to the tax cap and one was neutral. This and the underwhelming 54% vote show that it is less than a mandate from voters.

Good luck in court!

Congratulations to those elected. I pray that you budget wisely and keep the city moving forward even if that means overiding the tax cap scheme.
- James, Manchester

Yikes, we get Gatsas and the cap; let the exodus from Manchester begin! Good luck selling your house though.
- Bob V, Manchester

hey seniors say good-bye to your services!!! The tax cap will put an end to the services this once great city provided you. Tax cap!!! Ha the voters have spoken! rejoice with the mental midgets.
- lank, manchvegas

Let's hope this time we get change we can believe in. You've got your work cut out, Ted. If you're as tough and tenacious as we've been led to believe, step right up, there's lots to do.

Good luck, you're going to need it.

Besides lowering taxes, spending, dealing with the unions, see if you can rid the city and its many employees of their sense of entitlement to a job.

See if straight-talking Ted can impress upon them that the economy is in the dumper and if they don't like it, they should look next to one of their neighbors who's out of work or sold their house b/c they lost their job and were not entitled to their job without a union. And then tell them that there's a lot that did NOT get raises, no matter how much they deserved them, had their health care raised very high and so on.

If you're the wake up call, ring the bell loudly and tell them they've got some explaining to do
to the new sheriff in town.
- RG, Manchester

My sadness in seeing DeVries win is offset by seeing Gatsas and the tax cap win. Yes! Hopefully the tax cap will keep reckless spenders like DeVries in check. This is a good day for Manchester!
- Craig Smith, Manchester, NH

the tax cap passed and roy lost because we're sick of greedy city unions. cut spending by standing up to city workers. most of them don't pay the taxes they spend. go get 'em, Ted!
- Cindy, Manchester

Hey UL
Check your spreadsheet again.
You have Phil Greazzo losing because you posteed the school board numbers twice

*** Editor's note: That's been fixed. ***
- Sharon, Manchester

Ohh this is good news. Now please bring the cap vote to Londonderry so they can stop robbing us blind.
- Jay, Londonderry

Congratulations to Mr.Gatsas and the citizens of Manchester..

This proves just how fed up we are with those politicians that only have one thing on their mind.. Party Line!!

Now let's see if the newly elected officials can live up to our expectations.
- Scott, Manchester