The Million Dollar Mile: Mayoral Campaign Spending May Approach 7 Figures
2023 Manchester Mayor’s Race — OPINION
MANCHESTER, NH — Spending on the 2023 Mayoral race is expected to reach a record $750,000 and may exceed a million.
Alderman-at-Large June Trisciani is renowned for her prowess in raising campaign cash, unique for a first-termer, while Ward 2 Alderman Will Stewart likely will have the backing of the Chamber of Commerce and affiliated Big Business Money Bags.
To keep their grip on Queen City, the major developers will spend heavily to maintain their influence. As favorites to replace outgoing Mayor Joyce Craig, The Will & June Show likely will be flush with cash.
June Trisciani has proven that she can pull in the vote from all parts of the city, unlike Will Stewart, who has never run outside his bailiwick in the North End.
To counter the pull of the Trisciani family name, the non-native Stewart, who hails from Tennessee and has been in Manchester for less than 20 years, will need to be heavily marketed to other parts of the city. That will take campaign cash.
Republican Jay Rais, a true non-entity in Manchester politics, will have have to be put across by extensive and expensive marketing. Rais has the backing of former Manchester Mayors Ted Gatsas, a multimillionaire, and Frank Guinta, who has deep connections with oil industry lobby.
The Scuttle Butt has it that Rais also is backed by former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, who reportledy is eyeing a bid for governor in 2024 and wouldn’t mind having an ally in the Manchester Mayor’s Office. Ayotte is no slouch when it comes to shaking the money tree.
If former alderman-at-large Daniel P. O’Neil decides to run for mayor rather than seek his former position, he will have the unions behind him. While the public employee unions no longer can count on rank-and-file support on the ground post-Trump, they still have plenty of union member contributions in their coffers.
Perennial losers Victoria Sullivan and Rich Girard likely will raise even less money in 2023 than they did for their losing mayor bids in 2021, seeing as both the Republican zealots are certified two-time losers.
Board of the School Committee Vice Chair Jim O’Connell likely will be short on cash but long on enthusiastic supporters, particularly among the younger members of the teachers’ unions. O’Connell may prove the sleeper candidate in the race and wind up in the final with June Trisciani.
