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Mark Davie, Ward 4 Concord City Council Candidate

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 9:15 GMT by Patch
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Mark Davie Sets His Sights on Ward 4: A New Voice for Concord’s City Council

When the first ballots for the 2024 Concord city council election went into the counting room on Tuesday, one name that continued to appear on a growing list of candidates was Mark Davie. A long‑time resident of Ward 4 and a small‑business owner on Main Street, Davie has announced his candidacy for the ward’s seat on the city council. According to Patch.com’s coverage, he says he is running to “bring fresh, community‑focused leadership to a council that has long been dominated by the status quo.”

The article opens with a profile photo of Davie in front of his local coffee shop, “Davie’s Corner,” a place that has been a neighborhood staple for the past decade. In the accompanying text, Patch details his background: he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire, served two terms on the Concord Planning and Zoning Committee, and has been an active member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. Davie’s personal story is intertwined with the city’s evolution. He says he grew up in the Ward 4 area, watched the transformation of the former industrial corridor into a bustling mixed‑use district, and feels “deeply invested in the future of this community.”

Why Ward 4 Needs a New Voice

The article notes that Ward 4 is one of the city’s largest and most diverse districts, covering the downtown core, the historic Old Town area, and several residential neighborhoods that have seen significant gentrification over the last decade. Residents have expressed frustration over rising rents, traffic congestion, and a lack of green space. Davie’s platform directly addresses these concerns. In a statement quoted in the article, he says:

“We’re talking about the concrete jungle, the over‑parking problem, and the lack of sidewalks. I want to get the city to prioritize pedestrian safety and invest in a park at the heart of the district that’s open for all.”

This focus is reinforced by a link in the Patch article to the city’s 2023‑24 budget report, where Ward 4 residents spent $3.2 million on roadway maintenance but only $450,000 on parks and recreation. Davie claims that reallocating funds and pursuing a “green‑first” zoning strategy would bring long‑term benefits to the community.

The Platform: A Four‑Point Plan

1. Community‑First Zoning
   Davie argues that Ward 4’s zoning laws favor large corporate developments over small businesses. He proposes a mixed‑use ordinance that would allow for more retail spaces on the ground floor of new residential projects. “If we’re going to keep the heart of downtown beating, we need to keep the locals alive,” he says.

2. Transit and Parking Reform
   Drawing from his experience on the Planning Committee, Davie plans to advocate for expanded bike lanes and a “park‑and‑ride” system that would reduce the number of cars in the downtown area. He cites a link to a study by the New England Transportation Coalition that shows a 15 % drop in congestion when cities adopt bike‑friendly infrastructure.

3. Public Safety and Transparency
   The patch article quotes Davie’s partnership with the Concord Police Department in a community‑watch program that has already led to a 12 % reduction in street crime. He stresses that the city council must provide more open data about police activities, linking to the city’s open‑data portal in the article.

4. Affordable Housing
   With the city’s rent index rising by 9 % in the last two years, Davie calls for inclusionary zoning that requires developers to set aside a portion of new units as affordable. He has a working relationship with the Housing Authority of New Hampshire, a link to which appears in the article.

Endorsements and Community Support

The Patch piece quotes several local community leaders. One local resident, Maria Gutierrez of the “South Ward Community Garden,” writes in a testimonial:

“Mark has been a volunteer for our garden for five years, and he knows what it takes to keep this community thriving.”

Davie also received a letter of endorsement from the Concord Chamber of Commerce, which praised his experience in small‑business advocacy. The article includes a clickable link to the Chamber’s website, where the endorsement is fully reproduced.

A separate link in the article directs readers to the “Concord City Council – Ward 4 Candidates” page, where potential voters can compare candidates’ positions on key issues. The page lists four candidates in total, including Davie, and offers a side‑by‑side comparison of their campaign statements, making it easy for voters to evaluate differences.

Campaign Outreach

According to the Patch profile, Davie has already begun canvassing the neighborhood. He is using a combination of door‑to‑door visits, neighborhood meetings, and social media outreach. In the article, a link leads to his campaign’s official website, MarkDavieForWard4.com, which hosts a calendar of upcoming events, a list of volunteer sign‑ups, and a donation page. The website also features a series of “Ask Me Anything” sessions scheduled for next month, giving constituents the chance to get their questions answered directly by the candidate.

Additionally, the article mentions a partnership between Davie’s campaign and the local university’s journalism department. Students are compiling a news piece on the Ward 4 election, providing an opportunity for Davie to appear on campus radio and in a student‑run newsletter. The Patch article links to the university’s event page, which lists the date and time of Davie’s interview.

The Road Ahead

With the election only weeks away, Mark Davie’s campaign appears to be gaining momentum. Patch’s thorough coverage includes links to the city’s official election calendar, the public record of campaign filings (which show Davie’s contributions are below the city’s $2,000 limit per donor), and an online forum for voters to ask questions directly to the candidates. The article also references a local blog that reviews campaign ads, giving readers a clear sense of how Davie’s messaging compares with the other candidates.

In closing, the Patch piece reminds readers that Ward 4 voters will have a direct impact on the city’s future: “When you go to the polls, remember that you’re not just voting for a council member—you’re choosing who will shape how your streets look, how your parks are maintained, and how your neighborhood feels.” For anyone who calls Ward 4 home, Mark Davie’s candidacy offers a fresh perspective, one that appears to be rooted in the very fabric of the community.

For more in‑depth details on Mark Davie’s platform, visit his official campaign website or review the city’s open‑data portal for recent budget allocations. The city’s full candidate list and campaign finance disclosures are available through the Concord City Clerk’s office.