09-07-2025
Kantor bows out of run for Manchester mayor, looks to retain alderman seat
Manchester Alderman Crissy Kantor, owner of Chill Spa on Hanover Street and a Republican, confirmed Wednesday she has decided against running for mayor and will instead look to retain her Ward 6 alderman seat.
Crissy Kantor
Crissy Kantor
Kantor launched a website in March declaring her candidacy for mayor. She had been the lone candidate to declare a desire to unseat incumbent Mayor Jay Ruais, who is also a Republican.
'I want to continue to serve the people of Ward 6 and bring more transparency and accountability to City Hall,' Kantor said in a statement. 'I believe Manchester cannot afford radical ideas that threaten our Manchester values and divide us. I aimed to motivate Manchester citizens to attend Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings and hold all of us officials accountable. Wasteful spending impacts not just our wallets but our future generations.'
Ruais announced in late January that he will seek a second term.
While acknowledging the end of her mayoral campaign, Kantor thanked those who supported her.
'Running against an incumbent mayor of the same party was challenging, but there were incredible people who stood by me and put their necks out on my behalf,' Kantor said. 'I am very grateful to all who supported a Manchester First campaign. I believe the best thing I can do for our city is to run for reelection and fight for the things that matter most to the people of Manchester: greater transparency, common sense, and fiscal responsibility.'
At the moment, Ruais is running unopposed in his bid for reelection. The filing period to run for office in the city's 2025 municipal general election begins on Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m. and runs until Friday, July 25, at 5 p.m.
Asked for comment on Kantor's decision, Ruais campaign spokesman Ethan Zorfas said since taking office the incumbent mayor has been 'relentlessly focused on further reducing crime, addressing homelessness, expanding affordable housing options, while keeping taxes low.'
'The future of the Queen City is bright, but he knows more work remains, and is committed to working with anyone and everyone to continue moving Manchester forward,' Zorfas said in a text message.
Kantor is in the second year of her first full term as alderman for Ward 6. She defeated Maxine Mosley in a special election for the seat in early 2023, 725 votes to 561, after former Alderman Sebastian Sharonov resigned citing 'enormous pressure' the war in Ukraine put on him physically and emotionally.
Kantor ran for reelection to a full two-year term in the seat in Nov. 2023, once again defeating Mosley, this time 1,195 votes to 885.
Kantor's website, now describes her as a 'Trump Republican for Alderman.'
