TELL US: Does Bouley Deserve Another Term as Concord Mayor?

The worst kept secret in the city for nearly a year is now out as Concord Mayor Jim Bouley is confirming to people publicly that he will be running for re-election in November.

Earlier this week, Bouley said he had spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not to run and had spoken to his family about it too, and would be filing in September to run again.

So far, no other candidates have been actively organizing to challenge Bouley, who has been in office since 2007, when he defeated Kathy Rogers, now a state representative, for the open seat. Bouley ran unopposed in 2009 but was challenged in 2011 by John Cook, a former state employee and veteran who has restored historic buildings in the city. Bouley won the contest two years ago easily.

While Bouley has been working hard to help solve the city’s homeless situation and is out and about, speaking to nearly everyone in the city about everything, being mayor hasn’t been without its challenges.

A number of charges were brought before the city’s Board of Ethics in July 2012 against Bouley and at-large City Council Dan St. Hilaire concerning procedures for public hearings, actions taken against Ward Councilor Dick Patten, and Bouley’s financial interests due to his co-ownership of a lobbying firm, charges that were ultimately rejected.

Bouley said he would call on the Board of Ethics to review its procedures in the wake of the hearing that some believed was unfair. However, the board has not yet met to review its procedures. 

In November 2012, Bouley denied claims that he had violated the city charter when he sat in on private meetings about a project that his business landlord, Steve Duprey, had before the city in 2009, as well as claims that time Bouley spent shepherding through a tax break for Duprey in the Legislature was inappropriate.

Should Bouley get another two-year term? Or, is it time for someone else to get the job? Leave a note in the comment section and tell us what you think.