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Kris Schultz, Ward 9 Concord City Council Candidate

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 18:25 GMT by Patch
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Kris Schultz Puts His All‑In for Ward 9: A Fresh Voice on Concord City Council

In the weeks leading up to the November 5 municipal election, Concord’s Ward 9 has been buzzing with the name Kris Schultz. A lifelong resident, former teacher, and small‑business owner, Schultz has turned his community‑first ethos into a full‑scale campaign for a seat on the Concord City Council. In a series of Patch feature stories, journalists have charted his journey from classroom to the ballot, outlining the priorities that could shape the city’s future.

From the Classroom to the City Hall

Schultz’s background in education is more than a résumé line; it’s a cornerstone of his platform. Having taught middle‑school science in the Concord School District for ten years, he argues that “policy should be as hands‑on as a science experiment.” His experience navigating school budgets and school‑board negotiations has given him a practical understanding of how public funds are allocated—a knowledge he now seeks to translate to citywide fiscal stewardship.

“I want to bring the same level of transparency and accountability that I championed in schools to city governance,” Schultz said in an interview with the Concord Herald. That commitment to openness is reflected in his pledge to publish a weekly dashboard of council expenses and a live stream of council meetings—an initiative that has already garnered attention from the city’s open‑data advocates.

Schultz’s entrepreneurial streak is equally significant. As the co‑owner of “Green Thumb Café,” a locally owned coffee shop that has operated for eight years, he has seen firsthand the challenges small businesses face—from zoning bylaws to the rising cost of utilities. This experience informs his bid to overhaul Concord’s permitting process, making it more streamlined and less opaque, especially for new ventures.

A Platform Rooted in Community Needs

Affordable Housing
Ward 9 has seen a steady rise in housing costs over the past decade, and Schultz has made tackling this issue the centerpiece of his campaign. He proposes a partnership with the Concord Housing Authority to convert vacant municipal buildings into mixed‑income units and to offer incentives for developers who include affordable units in new projects. In a recent city council meeting (see the linked transcript on Patch), he cited data from the New Hampshire Housing Authority showing that nearly 30% of Ward 9 residents spend over 30% of their income on rent—well above the state average.

Public Safety and Youth Engagement
Drawing on his experience with the local Youth Police Advisory Board, Schultz promises to expand the city’s youth mentorship programs, specifically targeting at-risk teens. His plan includes a partnership with the Concord Police Department to fund after‑school STEM clubs and a “Community Policing” initiative that brings police officers into neighborhood events, fostering dialogue rather than confrontation. “Safety isn’t just about patrols; it’s about opportunities,” Schultz told a local radio interview that was later highlighted in the article.

Environmental Sustainability
The green‑energy agenda is a key pillar of Schultz’s platform. He has already secured a partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Energy to pilot a city‑wide solar incentive program. By offering tax credits for solar panel installations on residential and commercial properties, Schultz aims to reduce Concord’s carbon footprint while stimulating local economies. The Patch piece linked to the city’s sustainability report shows that Ward 9’s average per‑capita energy usage is among the highest in the region—underscoring the urgency of his proposals.

Economic Revitalization
Schultz’s “Neighborhood Business Incubator” seeks to support local entrepreneurs through low‑interest loans, mentorship, and shared workspace. His track record as a café owner gives him credibility among fellow small‑business owners; his business’s recent expansion to include a community kitchen for food‑insecure residents has already won him a spot on the city’s “Community Champion” award.

Building a Broad Coalition

Schultz’s candidacy has attracted a surprisingly diverse group of endorsements. The Concord Teachers’ Union gave him a formal endorsement, noting his “deep commitment to educational equity.” Local nonprofit leaders—including the Head Start Program and the Concord Food Bank—have lauded his focus on community services. Even the city’s largest private‑sector lobbyist, the Concord Business Association, has expressed support, citing his plans to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic red tape.

His campaign’s fundraising strategy has also been noteworthy. While most city‑level races rely on anonymous “dark money” donors, Schultz has pledged transparency. He has raised over $25,000 in the first quarter, all from publicly disclosed contributions. The city’s Open‑Data portal, linked in the article, now shows his donors’ details—making him the first council candidate in Concord’s history to adopt this level of openness.

The Competitive Landscape

Ward 9’s election is not a free‑for‑all. The article notes that Schultz faces three main opponents:

1. Marianne Lopez, a former city inspector with a long record of zoning enforcement. Lopez’s platform focuses on strict enforcement of building codes and anti‑gentrification measures.
2. David Chen, a retired firefighter who emphasizes public safety, particularly in underserved neighborhoods.
3. Rebecca Allen, a community activist whose focus is on mental health and addiction services.

In a recent debate hosted by Patch (link included in the article), Schultz stood out by offering concrete financial plans, while Lopez’s proposals were criticized for being too rigid. Chen’s safety plan, although applauded, was seen as lacking detail on community outreach. Allen’s mental‑health initiatives were widely appreciated but considered too narrow by some voters. Schultz’s balanced approach—combining economic, social, and environmental policies—has given him a broad base of support across demographics.

Community Response

Residents have responded positively to Schultz’s “town‑hall” style campaign events, where he opens up a community kitchen to listen to concerns and brainstorm solutions. In a small gathering at Green Thumb Café, a mother shared that “the council has always been distant; I feel like I’m actually being heard.” These anecdotal accounts echo the broader sentiment of a city that yearns for a council member who is not just in the office but in the neighborhood.

Schultz’s grassroots momentum is reflected in a rising trend on the city’s civic engagement app, which tracks volunteer hours and community event attendance. His pledge to create a “Community Liaison” program, assigning council members to specific neighborhoods to gather feedback, has been lauded as a potential game‑changer for local governance.

Looking Ahead

As the election deadline approaches, the Patch feature series continues to monitor Schultz’s campaign progress. With a platform that addresses the most pressing concerns of Ward 9—housing affordability, public safety, sustainability, and small‑business growth—Schultz’s candidacy embodies a new breed of local politics: data‑driven, community‑oriented, and fully transparent.

If he secures the seat, Schultz will be the first former educator to serve on the Concord City Council since the late 1980s, signaling a possible shift toward policies that prioritize education, equity, and engagement. Whether the voters in Ward 9 share that vision remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Kris Schultz’s campaign is already redefining what it means to run for city council in Concord, and the city’s residents are listening.