Martin Dumont
For Ward 3: Martin Dumont, Sr. (Incumbent)
In the next two years, what do you think is the most important thing the council can do to build and support vitality in downtown?
The main reason I had applied to replace Marcel Hebert upon his death was to help in becoming a member of a council who were a cohesive unit doing wonderful work in making progress for our city. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Ward 3, as well as the entire population of Somersworth. The passage of the new ordinance to hold property owners to be compliant to all codes was and is a step into the future of progress in maintaining Somersworth’s standards. The next two years presents the challenge to maintain the momentum that has been built in the improvement in our re-urbanization. The recent improvements should only be the beginning of a decade of continued improvements to continue the success of most recent times. The vitality and development of Somersworth is a matter of utmost importance.
What should the city’s priorities be for future capital improvement projects in the community?
Priorities are to continue to upgrade and improve the infrastructure such as sidewalks and roads, to use form-based codes, tax incremental financing districts, tax incentive-based private, and public sector reunrbanization plans and development.
Would you be willing to support a tax cap override while developing city budgets? Why or why not?
I view the tax cap as a valid step in oversight of the expense side of the process. Whether to override as provided would have to be justified in order to exercise this provision. The most recent override was necessitated due to the transitional process of the Rollinsford students leaving the Somersworth school district. Un fortunately the school side of the budget did not have the benefit of starting from a position of revenues being lost versus the expenses that continued.
How can officials best address the opioid addiction epidemic that’s effecting the city and the region?
The opioid addiction epidemic is just now gaining state and federal attention. We in Somersworth should be extremely proud that we took a very proactive approach to identifying the issues and how to move forward through the special drug task committee created at the direction of mayor Dana Hilliard. The continuation of assessing information gathered and looking for some resolution and process to help in this challenge is essential priority for our city.
What is the most recent cultural event you attended in Somersworth?
Jakarta Fair and the Bluegrass festival. These two events have expanded the rich cultural community that Somersworth has had and continues to expand upon.
What are the most important issues facing the city that no one is talking about right now?
The elderly, and how we as a community can help them finish out their lives in Somersworth.