MANCHESTER, NH – Hassan Essa on Monday announced his candidacy for Alderman in Ward 12 to represent parts of the West Side of Manchester. Essa ran in 2017, losing to Alderman Keith Hirshmann by 67 votes.
Essa came to Manchester as a refugee in 2000, grew up in the city and attended the city’s public schools. He graduated from UNH Manchester with a bachelor’s degree and now works at a tech startup in Manchester. Hassan was appointed to the Office of Youth Services Advisory Committee in 2017, is a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the city, and continues to serve our county in the New Hampshire Air National Guard.
He released the following statement after filing for candidacy:
“I’m thankful to have grown up in this city and appreciate all that Manchester has to offer, including the size, diversity, and friendly communities. Manchester is a place where people can come together and become even more proud to call Manchester our home for years to come. But the people of Manchester and Ward 12 have been let down by the same old tired politics for too long. I’m running to change that with some simple ideas.
“When elected alderman: I promise to advocate for hiring a team of grant writers in the city. Each year, we miss out on millions of dollars in grants that could save our taxpayers money while simultaneously improving the lives of every resident in Manchester. This is an issue I will correct and one that I will champion. We need leaders who will work towards improving our public spaces, and bring more festivals and family-oriented events to parks across the city that can revitalize the community, and bring people together to become even more vibrant and strong.
“I promise to support budgets that maintain and strengthen the capabilities of our police, fire, public health, and emergency medical service professionals. We cannot play politics with public safety, and we must ensure that our officials are provided with the resources that they need to keep our city and our citizens safe.
Most importantly, I will fight tirelessly to make sure our students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed. Where you are born in Manchester shouldn’t dictate your opportunity for the future and I will work to make sure students have loud and strong voice on the Board for their best interests.”
All candidate announcements are welcome. Please send to carolrobidoux@manchesterinklink.com for publication, subject line, “candidate announcement.”
