KEENE, NH – A Keene City Council who has previously said she was not going to run for reelection has changed her mind.
Last month Councilor Bettina Chadbourne took to Facebook and announced that she was not going to seek reelection for the at-large council seat she’s held for 12 years now, to allow some fresh faces on the council. In an email to WKBK Monday afternoon she said after that announcement, many people reached out to her and asked her to reconsider.
“I had hoped that a large pool of new folks might come forward and was surprised when they didn’t,” Chadbourne said. “So, upon the urging of my supporters, I decided to run.”
By the time she had made the decision that she was going to run, the deadline to file by declaration had past, so she had to either file by petition with 50 signatures from registered Keene voters by Friday, September 8th at 5 pm, or encourage voters to write her in on the primary ballot. She ultimately decided to file by petition and made it before the deadline.
“It made more sense to submit the petition and be on the ballot. It would send a message that I’m committed,” Chadbourne said. “And most importantly, is that I care about this community, this city.”
Chadbourne joins her fellow incumbent at-large councilors Kate Bosely, Randy Filiaut, and Michael Remy on the ballot, along with newcomers Ashok Bahl, Cora Angela Elliot, Edward Haas Jr. and former councilor and current County Commissioner Terry Clark who have entered the race.
As far as ward councilors are concerned, Councilor Raleigh Ormerod is running unopposed in Ward 1, Ward 2 councilor Robert Williams is challenged by Howard “Howie” Bagley, and Ward 5 councilor Thomas Powers by Thomas Plenda.
A 4-way contest has emerged in Ward 3 where Councilor Bryan Lake faces candidates Steven Ringland, Michael Winograd, and John Schmitt. A unique opportunity is available in Ward 4 as well, as Councilor Gladys Johnson resigned her post as she was moving out of state. Laura Tobin is running unopposed to fill that seat.
Two candidates filed for the mayor’s race, that’s former State Senator Jay Kahn, and citizen Bradford Hutchinson.
Keene’s primary election is set for October 3rd, and the General Election on November 7th. For more information on voting locations, visit the city’s website.
