(Telegraph file photo) Sandra Ziehm has resigned from the Nashua Board of Education.

In a July 9 letter to the residents of Ward 7, first-term Alderman John Cathey began with references to the Declaration of Indpendence and the founding fathers, went on to cite the demands of “wholly devoting ourselves to the needs of people we represent … ” before announcing he’d made “the hard decision” to resign from the board.

“If I felt I could (have) stayed in office, I would have,” Cathey wrote to his constituents, adding that while he “understands the decision seems abrupt, and disappointing to some, it was not made overnight, or in a vacuum.”

Cathey’s departure comes just over six months into the two-year term to which he was elected by a slim, 50-vote margin (582-532) over former Board of Education member Ray Guarino.

The Board of Aldermen at their most recent meeting accepted Cathey’s resignation, and Alderman at Large Michael O’Brien Sr. made a motion to “seek letters of interest to fulfill the remainder of Alderman Cathey’s term,” which passed by unanimous vote.

Going forward, the board is now accepting letters of interest from qualified residents of Ward 7 to fill Cathey’s seat, which runs through Dec. 31, 2023.

John Cathey, former Ward 7 alderman

Letters of interest should be sent to boa@nashuanh.gov no later than the end of the business day on Friday, July 22. Prospective candidates should be prepared to speak about their candidacy for 3-5 minutes at a special Board of Aldermen meeting scheduled for Monday, July 25.

Cathey is the second elected official in as many weeks to tender their resignation.

Longtime Board of Education member Sandra Ziehm stepped down effective June 30, creating an opening on the 9-member board that leadership hopes to fill before the start of the 2022-23 school year.

President Jen Bishop said the board has opened an application period for Nashua residents who are interested in fulfilling the remainder of Ziehm’s three-year term, which expires Dec. 31, 2023.

Interested residents are asked to write a signed, dated letter expressing their interest in serving on the board, and email it to boe@nashua.edu by 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 19.

Current BOE members will review letters of interest on Wednesday, July 20.

At a special BOE meeting on Wednesday, July 27, interested residents will present credentials and speak for 3-5 minutes.

Then on Wednesday, Aug. 3, board members will select, by vote, the successful candidate for the open seat.

The new board member will then be sworn in ahead of the board’s Monday, Aug. 22 meeting.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.