Mayor-elect Jay Ruais announced Tuesday the hiring of former Ward 6 alderman and Manchester City Charter Commission member Nick Pappas as his chief of staff.
“I am honored to have my friend, and dedicated public servant, Nick Pappas join our staff,” Ruais said in a statement. “Having grown up in the Queen City, graduated from the Manchester School District, and served in an elected capacity as an alderman and Charter Commission member, Nick brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and relationships to City Hall.
“He will be an invaluable asset to our city, our office, and the residents we serve.”
Pappas was elected alderman in Ward 6 in November 2015, defeating Karen Ladd.
In March 2017, Pappas announced he would be resigning from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen after selling his Hermit Road home “much quicker than expected.”
“My time serving on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen has been both rewarding and humbling, having the opportunity to make a difference in the community I grew up in has always been of importance to me and my time here has been an honor,” Pappas said in his resignation letter to then-Mayor Ted Gatsas and board Chairman Pat Long of Ward 3.
In a 2017 interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Pappas said his family was able to sell their home “about four days” after it went on the market.
On his LinkedIn page, Pappas is listed as self-employed and the principal owner of Yankee Solutions, a business and political consulting firm that has “evolved into one of the most reputable public relation firms in New England,” according to the firm’s website.
Pappas founded the firm in March 2012.
Ruais, 38, defeated former state senator and current Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh in November to become the first Republican mayor in Manchester since 2017.
Official vote totals showed Ruais topping Cavanaugh 9,428 votes to 8,934 — at 51% to 49%.
Ruais will take office with an evenly-split Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The conservative faction includes Chris Morgan, Krissy Cantor, Ross Terrio, Ed Sapienza, Norm Vincent, Kelly Thomas and Joe Kelly Levasseur. The Democrats are Dan Goonan, Pat Long, Christine Fajardo, Tony Sapienza, Jim Burkush, Bill Barry and Dan O’Neil.
Ruais represents a conservative tiebreaking vote, if necessary. Assuming block voting, that will give Republicans a majority on the board for the first time since 1998.
