Voters guide to the Somersworth 2023 election: When, where, and who is on the ballot
SOMERSWORTH — The 2023 city election is Tuesday, Nov. 7, when voters will choose the mayor, city councilors and School Board members.
Here's your guide to everything you need to know about the city election, which is held every two years.
Read on for key information on voting and the views of candidates.
When are the polls open in Somersworth?
The polls will be open in Somersworth from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Where do I vote in Somersworth?
Voting locations for Somersworth voters are determined by the ward in which they live. To determine your voting ward on the city website, you can view the city's ward map or the interactive map.
Ward 1: City Hall, 1 Government Way
Ward 2: Summersworth Historical Museum, 157 Main St.
Ward 3: Somersworth High School cafeteria, 11 Memorial Drive
Ward 4: Idleshurst Elementary School cafeteria, 45 Stackpole Road
Ward 5: Romeo J. Messier Building, 218 Main St.
Can I still register to vote in Somersworth?
Residents of the city who are not already registered to vote can register on Election Day. For information, call the city clerk’s office at 603-692-9512 or 603-692-9511 or email klapanne@somersworthnh.gov.
How to vote with an absentee ballot in Somersworth
Registered voters who cannot get to the polls on Election Day may vote with an absentee ballot. Somersworth residents can find an absentee ballot application at somersworthnh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1226/f/uploads/absentee_ballot_application_2023-11-07.pdf. For information, visit the city clerk’s office in City Hall at 1 Government Way, call 603-692-9512 or 603-692-9511 or email klapanne@somersworthnh.gov.
Somersworth mayor candidates
There will be a new mayor when the 2023 election winner is sworn into office. City Councilor Matt Gerding and newcomer Kitara Maxey are on the ballot seeking the top seat, which is being vacated by Dana Hilliard after a decade as mayor.
Foster's Daily Democrat sent a questionnaire to the candidates, asking about their top priorities, affordable housing, development, parking, issues with apartments and landlords and the future of the former National Guard property. Here are their responses:
Matt Gerding:
Somersworth mayoral candidate answers questions on the issues
Kitara Maxey:
Somersworth mayoral candidate answers questions on the issues
Somersworth City Council candidates
There are nine seats on the City Council in addition to mayor. This includes one seat each for Wards 1-5, plus four at-large seats. Voters can choose one council candidate to represent the city ward where they live, plus four candidates for the at-large seats. There are six at-large candidates this year. There are contested races for three of the five ward seats, while two candidates are unopposed.
At large (four seats):
Denis Messier:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
David A. Witham:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Nancie Cameron:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Paul Goodwin:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Richard Brooks:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Laura Barry:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 1
Martin Pepin:
Did not respond to questionnaire.
Donald Berrios:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 2
Kenneth Vincent:
Did not respond to questionnaire.
Matt “Matteo” Di Nola:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 3
Robert G. Gibson:
Did not respond to questionnaire.
Ward 4
Donald Austin:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Padraic O'Hare:
Did not respond to questionnaire.
Crystal Paradis-Catanzaro:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 5
Richard Michaud:
Somersworth City Council candidate answers questions on the issues
Somersworth School Board candidates
The Somersworth School Board has nine seats. This includes one seat each for Wards 1-5, plus four at-large seats. Voters can choose four at-large candidates (there are five candidates), plus one candidate to represent the city ward where they live. The incumbent board members are unopposed in Wards 1-4, while no candidate filed to be on the ballot in Ward 5. The election comes after the naming of a new interim superintendent following the investigation and resignation of the district's top two administrators earlier this year.
Foster's Daily Democrat sent questionnaires to all the council candidates, asking questions about their top priorities, hiring and retaining high-quality school staff, school safety, how to handle requests to remove books, school safety and the mental health and wellness of students. Here are their responses:
At large (four seats)
Krystle De St. Croix:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Kari Clark:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Maggie Larson:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Wayne Preston:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Sarah O'Brien-Hart:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 1
Marcia Brown:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 2
Barbara Carolyn Wentworth:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 3
Susan Tierney:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 4
Todd Marsh:
Somersworth School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Ward 5
No candidate on ballot.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth election 2023 voters guide: Who's on ballot, how to vote
