Ward 5A Councilor Ralph Torr
Age: 76
Years living in Rochester: born and raised
Occupation: self-employed
Public experience: City Council; former member of Zoning Board, N.H. legislature

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

Just to try to keep the city government running on a normal function. There's always ups and downs. We've got a lot of growth going on in Rochester, too much residential and not enough commercial.

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

We've got plenty of retail. We need some kind of light manufacturing, or something like Cobella's, the organization that's moving into Hooksett that sells outdoor equipment.

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

None.

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

No.

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

I go to their shows and so forth, and I've been a good contributor to the Opera House, and the Opera House and the arts are pretty well tied together. I gues everybody knows that the Opera House is not doing as good as it was. The reason being is unknown to me. Sometimes people have a desire to get things started. The organizers, like Harvey Bernier and a few of his people, did an excellent job to get things started, but you have to move along in your life, because you also have to make a living. But, the enthusiasm that was there seems to be at, the moment stalemated. But, I don't think it will be forever. They're rebuilding the City Hall, and that will give them more room to operate.

-What is your favorite event at the Rochester Fair? 

I don't go to the Rochester Fair. You hate to say it in this area, but I don't think you can believe the number of people that travel to Fryberg and Lancaster. I don't know what's wrong here in Rochester, but it just doesn't seem to be like it was when I was a lot younger. I don't go. I guess they don't have enough agricultural stuff to suit me. Deerfield's fair is excellent, a lot of agricultural displays. Rochester Fair seems like a large place, but it's really not, and the racetrack takes up a lot of space. The harness race has taken a back seat.