Politics & Government

Ward 4: Craffey Questions Brown's Ability to 'Serve 2 Masters'

Art Craffey says Pam Brown should consider stepping down from her State House seat to serve Ward 4 constituents.

Losing Ward 4 by 16 votes was a tough one for Ward 4 Alderman Art Craffey. His opponent, Pam Brown, currently serves as a State Rep in Concord. And while there's no reason on the books by Brown can't serve both as a city and state representative, Craffey sees trouble ahead. 

"I think there's a huge conflict for Pam Brown, especially when it comes to representing the ward at a city level. I don't know how she's gong to handle it, when it comes to meetings she has to attend for both the city and state. Where will her priorities be?" Craffey said Tuesday night, after the unofficial results were in that showed he had lost the Ward 4 Alderman seat to Brown by 16 votes, 189 to 173.

"The people of the ward have spoken, but if she's choosing state over city, she should really give up the State House – that's my opinion. It's not bitter grapes, but it's always been my opinion that a ward aldermen should be focused on the ward and the city of Nashua. You shouldn't have two masters," Craffey said.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When asked by Nashua Patch if Brown saw her election as Ward Alderman to be in conflict with her responsibilities as a State Rep, Brown said she's not the only state rep who serves in another capacity for their city or town.

"There are many state legislators that are aldermen in their towns – there really is no conflict of interest, and it's unfortunate that he'd even suggest that," Brown said.  

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Following Tuesday's election results, Craffey said he was considering calling for a recount. On Wednesday afternoon Craffey reiterated his intent.

"I will be calling for a recount by the deadline," Craffey said. "Look what happened in Ward 8?," he said, referring to a reversal in favor of Latha Manipudi in the recent Democratic Primary. Mangipudi lost to opponent Carl Andrade by a 3-vote margin, but was declared the winner following a recount in which she regained more than 40 votes which had been placed in the wrong pile during a hand count.

According to Nashua City Clerk Paul Bergeron, Craffey has not yet put that request in writing.

"Any candidate seeking a recount has until 5 p.m. on Friday to do so," Bergeron said.


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