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Choice is clear in special election

By Staff | Jun 17, 2015

The Nashua election for Alderman-at-Large on June 23 is between Deputy Fire Chief Michael O’Brien and former alderman Mark Cookson. The choice boils down to the view on what constitutes fair pay for employees. The elected person will vote on wages and benefits (including pension and health insurance) in all labor contracts.

Michael O’Brien has been a city union employee for decades, with 2014 gross earnings of $118,535. He is roundly liked and supported by others in the fire department. I presume his employment history is without incident. While drawing this pay, Michael drove to Concord as a House representative. His votes served to keep union control of pension and labor law. He also has three immediate family members drawing pay from the city of Nashua.

Mark Cookson draws no pay from the city and he has no relatives employed by the city. His six-year prior service established him as a clear communicator in support of retaining competent merit and productive union employees. Cookson took the time to explain his reasoning in committee discussion and maintained his own website of current issues. He was always even-handed and positive, even in the face of personal attacks. All of Mark’s term is on public written record.

Most city issues revolve around the available budget. The majority of budget cost is union labor and funded by resident property taxes. Residents’ choice may be to pay fair compensation for competency, or far in excess. The result will appear in the tax rate.

Daniel Richardson

Nashua.

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