Ward 9 Alderman John Sullivan is running for a second term this November. Courtesy photo/City of Nashua

NASHUA – Now with a clear understanding of how the Board of Aldermen works, John Sullivan is running to keep his seat in Ward 9.

“Like any job, you really are clueless your first year. I went through my first budget session and spent a lot of time catching up and understanding how it all worked,” he said. “Now that I have two years under my belt, I can start to move some things forward and continue to offer common sense solutions and alternatives for Ward 9 constituents and the entire city.”

Sullivan said that during his first two years on the board, he never lost touch with Ward 9.

“Specifically, I met with neighbors near Roby Park that were concerned with a planned disc golf course. The Board of Public Works approved a major change to this public park without engaging with abutters and they were really concerned,” he said. “I also passed legislation to put ‘No Parking’ signs down the length of East Dunstable Road to maintain safety especially during the winter months.”

Sullivan said he made a successful push to improve St. Andrew’s Park and to pave Harris Road.

“I know, specifically for St. Andrew’s, I started talking to Parks and Rec. on day one of my term. It was a priority for me and for our ward,” he said. “St. Andrew’s Park is now fixed up and looks fantastic.”

Sullivan also described a voicemail he received from a Cardiff Road resident who had a problem in front of his mailbox that the city would not correct.

“He said, ‘What I was trying to get fixed for the past year, you got done in less than 30 days.’ That’s why I love doing this job; getting things done for my ward,” said Sullivan.

Looking ahead, Sullivan said he would like to get Ward 9 residents involved in cleaning and maintaining the ward’s parks and recreation areas.

“I want to continue having ward meetings, talking to constituents and asking hard questions in the Aldermanic Chamber,” he said.

Sullivan also said resident involvement in the local government has been limited.

“The city owns a lot of that,” he said. “We aren’t very transparent and don’t go out of our way to get people involved. There was some legislation passed that I felt impacted free speech. Small things like that keep people uninvolved. We can improve and should do it. We owe it to Nashuans.”

If re-elected, he said constructing and repairing the sidewalks will be a top priority.

“Ward 9 needs to be more walkable and I think it’ll help keep speeds down, which is an ongoing issue,” he said.

Sullivan said there must be a strategic approach as more housing developments come into the city.

“It must be smart development where we use the land we have and make developments more dense to keep as much green space as possible,” he said. “Nashua has many big projects coming up that will need a critical eye on them and that’s what I’ll be. I’ll be in favor of something if it makes sense and serves the greater good.”

He also called attention to the 30-acre Mohawk Tannery site.

“That project is a generational development that will change Nashua,” said Sullivan. “It will sit directly on a toxic site that the federal government has said will help us clean up.”

Sullivan is currently a regional sales manager for Approved Sheet Metal. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in communications and journalism from the University of New Hampshire.