For two of the three school board seats on the ballot this year in Concord, the incumbent decided not to run again and a new candidate is running unopposed in their place.
Jim Richards, who has served on the Concord Board of Education for more than a decade, including time as its president, is stepping down, telling the Monitor it was time to pass the torch.
Madeleine Mineau is an executive with a hydroelectric power company and the lone candidate on the ballot for “Zone A,” which includes city wards 1-4.
With two daughters in Concord schools, Mineau is also a past treasurer of the parent-teacher organization at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School and a soccer coach with the city’s parks and recreation department, in addition to holding positions on the boards of several non-profits.
Read on to learn more about Mineau and her pitch to voters.
Madeleine Mineau
Age: 45
Years living in Concord: 15
Top issues: Budget and property tax rates, middle school replacement, administrative vacancies
Reason for running: “I really appreciate our public schools, and I want to offer my time and expertise to help manage and oversee them. I want to be involved in the important decisions that affect our schools. I think I have a lot to offer given my professional and personal experience to contribute to the board.”
Key points:
- On the middle school: “The school board decided in 2017 that a new middle school was needed for good reason. Delays and changes in location since then have driven the price up considerably. Further delays will continue to drive up the cost while students, teachers and staff cope with a marginally functional building. Unfortunately, this is not a building that can be renovated to meet the goals, standards and needs that a new building would.”
- On budgeting: “I am hoping to be on the finance committee and use my professional experience in business management to be able to take a deep dive into the budget and work with the administration to find efficiencies or reduce costs.”
- On representation: “Though I live in Ward 4, I go to Penacook everyday because that is where my office/work is located, so I spend a good amount of my time in that part of Concord… I look forward to getting to know the Beaver Meadow School community better and to be available to my constituents and learn about what issues are important to them.”
