NASHUA – Improving schools, police and other core services, addressing the heroin epidemic and working to bring commuter rail service to Nashua are among the issues James Donchess said will top his agenda if elected mayor in what is now a four-way race for the corner office.

An alderman-at-large and former two-term mayor, Donchess pledged to restore accountability and transparency to City Hall and adopt a collaborative approach to moving the city forward in announcing his candidacy Wednesday.

“We need to bring everyone together to work for Nashua’s success. I think that is critical for any administration,” he said in a telephone interview.

Donchess, 65, becomes the fourth candidate to officially enter the race to succeed Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, who in January said she would not seek a third four-year term.

David Deane, a 14-year alderman-at-large and board president, and local businessmen Michael Broderick and Douglas Carroll already announced their candidacies.

They face off in a Sept. 8 primary. The general election is Nov. 3.

Maintaining a stable tax rate and encouraging a “pro-business climate so we can bring jobs to the community” also are key issues facing the city, Donchess said.

“We need to make Nashua a premier New England city again,” Donchess added, pledging to build on his two previous terms as mayor, when Money magazine named the city the “Best Place to Live in America.”

Donchess, an attorney in private practice, touted his “strong grass-roots support in every neighborhood,” noting that his website, www.jimdonchessformayor.com, lists more than 550 public supporters.

First elected mayor in a special election in 1984, Donchess served through 1987. He was re-elected that year to a second term and served through the end of 1991.

Donchess was the Democratic nominee in the 1988 race for the 2nd Congressional District, in which he waged an unsuccessful campaign against Republican opponent Charles Douglas, of Concord.

Donchess also said the city needs to work with surrounding communities and its legislative delegation to manage rising pension costs and forge a regional effort to bring rail service from Lowell, Mass., to New Hampshire.

Elected alderman-at-large in 2011, Donchess is in the final year of his four-year term.

He said he was chief sponsor of legislation to transparency with respect to city contracts. He said he also successfully pressed for changes in Board of Public Works meeting times to make them more accessible to the public and enable working residents to run for the board.

Two likely mayoral candidates who have not declared their intentions are Alderman-at-Large Dan Moriarty and Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Williams. Both have formed exploratory committees earlier this year and have raised funds toward potential campaigns.

Candidates for mayor must file nomination papers between June 8 and 19.

Kathryn Marchocki can be reached at 594-6589, kmarchocki@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_KMar.

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