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Gatsas says he's now in 'transition' mode
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By SCOTT BROOKS
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009
MANCHESTER – Ted Gatsas is a superstitious man. He doesn't like walking under ladders. Broken mirrors, to his mind, are trouble. Black cats give him the heebie-jeebies.
He's the same way, he confesses, when it comes to elections. Which is why, until yesterday, when he woke up as the newly crowned mayor-elect of Manchester, Gatsas hadn't started making plans for life in the corner office.
"We would never talk about winning," he said. "We were focused on the campaign."
With a big win on Tuesday night, it was finally safe to start planning, which is exactly what Gatsas was doing for much of the day yesterday. By 7 a.m., the Republican alderman and state senator was back at his Market Street campaign office, which he's now re-branded as his "transition" office.
The white board over his campaign manager's desk is already full of tasks his team wants to accomplish. Before, when he was a candidate, all the writing was done in purple ink. Now, it's all in green.
Officially, Gatsas becomes mayor Jan. 5. For the moment, at least, he isn't saying what he plans to do first.
"I'd love to say to you we've got these 10 things we'd like to do," he said, "but we don't even have a meeting for organizational day."
He has, however, made some decisions about whom he wants beside him in the mayor's office. Gatsas said he will offer staff jobs to both of his full-time campaign workers: campaign manager Samantha Piatt and aide Carrie Perry. Neither has a title yet.
Among his first tasks, during the transition, will be sitting down for a chat with each of the incoming aldermen and school board members. He plans to begin holding one-on-one meetings this Saturday.
"It's about extending a handshake," he said. "Saying, 'I'm here. Here's my cell number. If you need me, call me.' It's more about them than it is about me."
Manchester mayor-elect Ted Gatsas greeted supporters yesterday at Webster and Union streets yesterday morning. (BOB LAPREE)
Neither board will be as sympathetic as he might have hoped. Democrats had a big night in the wards Tuesday and will start the new year with 13 out of 14 seats on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The incoming school board is only slightly more mixed, ideologically, with 11 Democrats, one independent and three Republicans, including Gatsas himself, who will serve as board chairman.
Politics isn't everything, though. "None of the aldermen are really stuck to the 'I'm a Democrat, you're a Republican' type of thing," said Ed Osborne, a Democratic alderman who was reelected Tuesday.
Osborne said he thinks Gatsas can do well, but, he said, it will be important for the mayor to show each alderman some personal attention -- something the current mayor, Frank Guinta, has not done.
"If Gatsas decides he's going to do that, well, he's got a better shot," Osborne said. "If he doesn't, then it's going to stay pretty much the way it was when he was an alderman, and you know how that went."
Gatsas argues he has proven he can corral Democratic votes, even when his party is grossly outnumbered. Just last month, he noted, he successfully shepherded a measure requiring department heads to live in Manchester.
"If it's the right idea," he said, "and you bring it forward, people are going to work with you to make it happen."
►ABC News: Two '12 presidential hopefuls quickly call Gatsas
►Official city election results
►Tax cap opponents file complaint with city (18)
Gatsas didn't spend much time celebrating Tuesday night. He left the Derryfield restaurant, scene of his victory party, around 9:15 p.m. and went straight home.
Twelve hours later, the mayor-elect was standing on a street corner, waving a sign that said "Thank You!" It's a tradition, he said -- something he has done after every election.
"You know," he said, "when you've won 11 elections, you never know why you win them. You don't want to change anything."
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YOUR COMMENTS
I believe Mayor Gatsas is the school board chair ex officio as part of his new job. But he is free to resign from his State Senate seat. Or not, if he prefers: legally he can hold both jobs.
If he steps down in the next few days, a special election could be held in February, 11 or 12 weeks after he officially resigns. That would be in February. The primary is problematic: it has to be 5 weeks before the general election, which could end landing in the middle of the Christmas/New Years season.
If he waits till January 5, when he takes office, the new Senator might not be in place until after "crossover", the halfway point of the legislative term when all the surviving bills get sent from one house to the other house.
- Timothy Horrigan, Durham, NH
To David Goss and Michael Johnson. We lost? LOL. For the last 2 years we had a republican mayor and 2 republican alderman. Now we still have a republican mayor (and a much better one than the last one) and only one republican alderman. Who lost? The democrats keep slowly gaining. And since more democrats voted for the tax cap than republicans I would have to say that was also what we wanted. I say more democrats voted for it cause you guys can't seem to get your people out to vote. Which amazes me because of the amount of activity of republicans always barking on this UL site, you'd think there were more. Can't seem to put your money where your mouth is. Typical.
- Cecil, Manchester
Thank God Ted won and we don't have a Liberal in charge of this city!! Nobody can afford any new taxes for leftist programs.
- Mike Johnson, Manchester NH"
What? Did you see the make up of the Aldermanic Board? You really need to understand how city government works. The Aldermen set the policy...thus, they are the ones that vote on the budget.
I love how the republicans claim victory when all you got was a Mayor and one alderman. With all the hype you would have thought more republicans would have won.
- Mike, Manchester
To Mike in Bedford - How uninformed are you? Yes, all mayors of Manchester chair the school board - it's in the city charter. To everyone else: At this juncture, Ted is the most qualified to run the city. And that is what we desperately need, to be able to do more with less!
- Mark L, Manchester
I hope Gatas will be looking out for Manchester over the next few years and not worrying about his political career. Every city deserves a mayor that has passion and respect for the city in which they manage. If he truly cares for this city, I hope he can help create some pride within the city. It’s sorely lacking, in part due to local newspaper’s and the negative perceptions they convey.
People can say whatever they want about Manchester, but I live a great life here. It’s affordable, has an inspiring history, and is safe for law abiding citizens. It’s far from perfect, but if it was we wouldn’t need a mayor.
I won’t live here forever, but I won’t move because “I don’t like this city.” I’ll move because I don’t want to raise my children in any city. I think a smaller and more intimate community is a better atmosphere for family.
- John S, Manchester
Thank God Ted won and we don't have a Liberal in charge of this city!! Nobody can afford any new taxes for leftist programs.
- Mike Johnson, Manchester NH
LJC, you liberals sure are sore losers, aren't you? Sorry there won't be more redistribution of income, more raised taxes, more Section 8, and more unions. As the Obamatons like to say, YOU LOST, GET OVER IT.
Why not move to Lawrence, if you like Dem leadership so much?
- David Goss, Manchester
I beleive that Osbourn meant that the Alderman need their egos stroked in order to do whats best for the city and not just their political parties. Of course we all know that way of thinking is whats holding Manchester back and always has.
I hope that Gatsas keeps his eye on the ball for the tax payers in fact they all should because voters are getting better at paying attention these days.
Thank you to all who voted for the Tax Cap you have protected us from our own government
- RT, Manchester
I wish Mr. Osborne had given an example or explained what he meant by having "the myor show each alderman some personal attention."
Also hope that having a dog park was not the only reason Ward 10 has a new alderman.
- TW, Manchester
Wow, he's going to be Mayor AND Head of the School Board? And (at least for the moment) a State Senator as well? I'm always skeptical when one person controls too much power, and I see a lot of reasons to be skeptical here - and glad Bedford pulled out of the Manchester schools.
- Mike, Bedford
Well, looks like paying off the voters worked again for Gatsas. He should be out on the street corner holding up a big thank you sign. He actually should be holding that sign on a street in Bedford thanking all his wealthy republican friends for all their campaign funding support. Manchester will have to wait for yet another election before we start seeing some change in our own neighborhoods.
- Matt, Manchester
go get 'em, Teddy!!!
- DAVE, Manchester
I didn't vote for Gatas but I think that LJC's comment is totally stupid. There is no reason to believe that Gatas caters to business owners.
- Tom, Manchester
Could this wingbag be any worse than Guinta who has been running our city into the ground? Lets give this guy at least 24 hours before we burn him at the stake. Keep your eyes on your tax bills and watch them disapear before your very eyes....."snicker".......LOL!!!!!!!
- Jake, Manchester
It's all about building rapport with the people and alderment. Mayor-Elect Gatsas has been doing that all his life. From meeting him at Cremeland to meeting him at Glendi he's very approachable. I foresee a very good 2 years coming up for Manchester.
- Jack Alex, Manchester
Speaking of planning, can the citizens of ward 10 start planning for the free dog park now that George Smith and Jane Beaulieu aren't there to stand in the way and oppose what the majority of voters of Ward 10 actually want?
Again, this might not be a big deal to some, but I think it was a big enough deal to help unseat Smith(Ward 10) and keep Beaulieu(at-large) out.
Again, this would be a free park, not costing the taxpayers a penny, right Mr. Greazzo?
- Scott, Manchester
Let's see: Transition mode--is that code for screwing the city to protect the interests of wealthy business owners?
- LJC, Manchester
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