Ward 1B candidate
Shawn Mickelonis
Age: 26
Rochester res. 3 yrs.
Occupation: undisclosed
Public Experience: N.H. legislator; Supervisor of the Checklist for Ward 1; Strafford County Delegation; Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in Concord; executive board member of Strafford County Democrats; Rochester Democrats

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

The biggest thing is we need to approve less residential development and push to improve industrial growth and economic development to lower taxes. That’s the primary thing, because people are suffering every day because the taxes are so high. They’re losing their homes and foreclosing their homes. The other biggest thing is, I really would like to eliminate backdoor politics and work together to establish better communication between the City Council, the Police Department and the School Board.

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

I would like to see not multi-billion dollar companies. I would like to see moderate companies, like a Best Buy, and more high tech communication technology, like computer shops. Something to invest in education, something to bring the city of Rochester up another level so we start inviting and getting people in here from high tech companies, like making computers.

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

Honestly, I think that we should not invest anything until the city of Rochester can make a beneficial outcome. The Riverwalk Project is a project that is spending money, not gaining money. We nee to focus on gaining money before we can invest in projects that are just there to spend. We need to conserve money.

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

This is what I would like to do: Give the Police Department any tools and manpower it needs for better response to calls and emergencies and protecting the citizens of Rochester and themselves. Tasers, for example. It doesn’t kill anybody, but it protects people.

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

How I would promote it is I would go to the events. I will help work well with the boards of organizations in the arts, like musicians, and work with the Opera House to bring in musicians. I would work to bring in art shows at the high school. I would push to do that, and it’s a good, beneficial thing for the city, because it gets people more interested in art and helps with education, as well.

-What is your favorite event at the Rochester Fair? 

The fair itself. I don’t have one specific. I like going to the events. I go on the rides sometimes. I like taking my son so he can go on the rides. I like to have cotton candy and fried dough.