Copyright keenesentinel
Keene Mayor Jay Kahn easily won reelection Tuesday and vowed to spend the next two years working on fundamental issues that are important to the city but are not being adequately addressed at higher levels of government. Kahn, 75, a former state senator and college administrator, defeated perennial candidate Bradford “Bill” Hutchinson, 2,862-311. Kahn said federal and state governments are becoming less reliable partners in helping with a range of issues, including infrastructure, the social safety net, development of housing, as well as support for health care and building an educated workforce. “So I think this will require at the municipal level more self-sufficiency and strengthening the partnerships in the city on so many important things,” Kahn said. “Education, health care and manufacturing are key pillars to the economy in Keene. “I think the city and I have established ourselves as willing partners to strengthen all three of those economic pillars.” He said the city has a role in coming up with creative solutions to encourage new residential housing that could benefit the local economy by attracting new residents and boosting the workforce. Kahn said the city can also help connect the private sector with public schools and universities in a way that would help students starting careers and companies looking for new employees. “I’m very excited to look forward to two more years,” he said. “I think we’re going to be able to accomplish a great deal. I think municipal government is very important to the success of communities, and can stimulate and motivate people to come together and solve our important issues. “Keene has a tradition of collaboration and I look forward to working with many community partners to reduce barriers to our economic future.” Kahn served six years as a Democratic state senator before deciding in 2022 not to seek a fourth term. He is a former city councilor, a former Keene State College administrator and holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
