NASHUA – Twenty-eight candidates are running for either the Board of Aldermen or the Board of Education in this year’s city election on Nov. 4 — only three of them are running unopposed.

In Ward 5, four candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by Alderman Ernest Jette, who has held the post for eight years. This year’s candidates include Paula Johnson, Jennice Chewlin, Brenda Garneau and Dr. Justin Gerstenfield.

Johnson’s public service includes tenures with the Board of Aldermen, the Board of Education and serving as a state representative. Chewlin has been the CEO of the Chewlin Group since 2016 and has lived in Nashua since 2022. Garneau, a lifelong resident, has been the vice president of ABS Cleaning since 1989. A Nashua resident since 2017, Gerstenfield is the director of Advising Operations, Technology and Events at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Ward 1 Alderman Tyler Gouveia will be stepping down after four years and is now running for a four-year term as alderman-at-large. Hailey Gallagher, a member of the Nashua Republican City Committee, and Stephen Chess, an optical scientist and business analyst at BAE Systems, will be competing to fill the vacancy.

In the Ward 2 race, Alderman Richard Dowd is being challenged by Matthew Gouthro. A seasoned alderman, Dowd has represented Ward 2 since 2012. Gouthro is a member of the Nashua Republican City Committee and has worked for Norwegian Cruise Line since 2009.

In Ward 6, incumbent Alderman Christopher Thibodeau is being challenged by Vengerflutta Smith, the assistant dean of students at Bunker Hill Community College.

In Ward 8, David Maclaughlin is facing off against Alderman Derek Thibeault, who has been on the board since 2022. Maclaughlin represented Ward 8 from 2003 to 2009 and received the Telegraph Readers Choice Award in 2006.

In Ward 9, John Sullivan, an alderman since 2022, is being challenged by State Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright (D-Nashua).

Ward 3 Alderwoman Patricia Klee has served since 2018 and is running unopposed. Ward 4 Alderman Thomas Lopez and Ward 7 Alderman Timothy Sennott are also running unopposed. Lopez has served since 2016 and Sennott has served since 2024.

In the race for Alderman-at-Large, in addition to Gouveia, Shoshanna Kelly is seeking four more years, having been on the board since 2018. They are challenged by Amber Morgan, owner of Fortin Gage Flowers, and State Rep. Alicia Gregg (D-Nashua).

The election will also include two ballot questions. The first question asks whether or not the city should have social districts. According to state law, a social district is defined as “a defined outdoor area in which a person may consume alcoholic beverages sold by a licensee.” The second question will ask voters to approve an amendment to the City Charter to allow two more members on the Board of Health for a total of five members.

In the race for Board of Education, members Regan Lamphier and Heather Raymond are facing off against Santosh Salvi, Oscar Villacis, Jaimeika Lewis, Michael Hurlburt and Kendra Soucie-Smith.

A Nashua resident since 1997, Salvi founded UNIQUE System Skills in 2008. Villacis is a communications coordinator at 603 Legal Aid and New Hampshire Legal Assistance. Lewis is the vice chairwoman of the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care Employment Committee and co-chairwoman of the Harbor Care Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Hurlburt has been a personal training director at FitLab Fitness Club since 2016. Soucie-Smith is the owner of Soel Sistas Cafe and has provided food service at Ledge Street Elementary School, Fairgrounds Elementary School and Nashua High School South.