Meet the candidates: Families want to feel safe, have good schools, keep taxes low

Mayoral candidate Paul Callaghan (Courtesy photo)

The Rochester Voice recently sent out questionnaires to all three mayoral candidates regarding their race for the city's highest elective office. We will publish them occasionally in advance of Election Day on Nov. 2. Today we are publishing responses from Paul Callaghan.

Paul Callaghan

Age 57

Family - Married for 30 years to Susan, 3 children - Caroline, Elizabeth and John Callaghan

Occupation - Prosecutor, Strafford County Sheriff's office

Question: Why do you want to be mayor?

Answer: To make a difference in the City where I was born and raised and that I love.

Question: What is Rochester's biggest challenge?

Answer: When a family decides to move into a city they ask themselves three basic questions: Is the city safe? Do they have a good school system? Are the taxes low? The biggest challenge is developing an affordable budget under the tax cap that ensures adequate funding for our police, fire, public works and school departments.

Question: What is one specific remedy that could help the foundering downtown?

Answer: We need more renter-occupied housing in the downtown. Allowing for a greater volume of housing downtown creates a greater diversification of residents, such as by age and income. More residents living in the downtown will increase spending demand to support our restaurants and retail shops. It will also create opportunities for existing businesses to expand and encourage new businesses to invest in our downtown.

Question: How would you describe your philosophy of government?

Answer: Local government should use citizens' resources efficiently, effectively and in ways that provide the most value. Local citizens expect their government to be fair and spend their tax dollars wisely and without waste. Local government actually works - you rarely see the extreme polarization that exists in national politics; it has the capacity to develop nonpartisan solutions to a myriad of challenges facing a municipality.

Question: What will be your first priority upon assuming office?

Answer: Being a great Mayor. I am trustworthy, honest, ethical and compassionate. I am a leader who has a vision but also understands how policy, public safety and balancing a budget works. I will try my best to listen to everyone, not just movers and shakers. I will stand up and fight for Rochester. I respectively ask for your vote on Nov. 2.