Ward 1A Councilor
Jeff Winders
Age: 46
Rochester res. 46 yrs.
Occupation: retired disabled veteran
Public Experience: City Council; Conservation Comm.; trustee at Rochester Library; Council representative on Veterans Council; supervisor at Strafford County Conservation Office; Cocheco Watershed Coalition

-If elected, what is the number one goal you would like to see accomplished?

To ensure the safety of our public drinking water supply. I’m working with the Conservation Commission for easements and the protection of drinking water.

-What kinds of new businesses would you like to see opening in Rochester?

Places like the dialysis office that is being proposed on Route 11. That’s getting ready to go to the Planning Board. Small businesses, but we also have to make sure the big businesses we have in town are able to stay in our town and expand.

-How much do you think the city should invest in the Riverwalk project, to connect the northern and southern sections of the city?

Right now, the proposal is that there is no city funds to be spent on that, and that we’re just working on River Street for the River Park. The park on River Street is going to be very instrumental in getting people to enjoy downtown more, and hopefully that will lead to other things. It will tie in to the Steve Miller project on Gagne Street.

-Would you support a request from the Police Department to add more fulltime officers to its staff?

Most definitely, to cut down on response times. Tonight (Oct. 23) we have a Ward 1 meeting with the resource police officer. Hopefully, at least a few members will come out. The biggest thing we’re hearing is our constituents are asking for a quicker response time, and they’re willing to pay for it.

-What would you do to promote the arts in Rochester and support the city’s growing artistic community?

To encourage small businesses to come to downtown, like Artstream, to be able to flourish. There’s a couple of really nice places like that downtown now, and we need to encourage that further, because a lot of local artists are able to put their products in there, which is good for our local economy.

-What is your favorite event at the Rochester Fair?

The ox pulling.