Ward 2: Robert O'Sullivan. As a school board member, O'Sullivan spent a lot of time looking for ways to save taxpayer money. He championed the proposal to eliminate health benefits for the school board members, and he even helped write and propose an alternative budget designed to save teacher jobs while still cutting spending. He has shown that he doesn't just talk about streamlining city government, he works to do something about it. Manchester needs more aldermen who behave that way.

Ward 4: Leo Pepino. State Rep. Leo Pepino has served Ward 4 as an alderman off and on since 1980. A Navy veteran of World War II, Pepino is a fiscal conservative who knows his ward well, knows the city well and is dedicated to leaving the city better than he found it. He supports capping spending to keep taxes from becoming too burdensome for the city's homeowners. The voters ought to give him another chance to serve the city he loves so much.

Ward 5: Ed Osborne. Last year, Ed Osborne bucked the majority of his fellow Democrats on the board and voted to let the spending cap go before the voters. A year later, he still supports the cap, while his opponent does not. Osborne is a classic constituent-services alderman. He might not be a leader on the board, but he fights hard for his ward and is known as one of the more responsive aldermen. Ward 5 voters would do well to send him back for another term.

Ward 6: Will Infantine. Over the years, Infantine has proved himself as someone who is deeply concerned about both city services and spending. He supports the spending cap and wants aldermen to work on improving the city budget instead of simply increasing it every year. He believes that more can be done with less, and that's the kind of thinking we need at City Hall, especially during this recession when the average taxpayer has to apply that principle to his own personal budget.

Ward 7: Lisa Gravel. A mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, Gravel is a political independent who was inspired to run for office last year when eight aldermen, including Ward 7's Bill Shea, voted against putting the spending cap on the ballot. Gravel, who signed the spending cap petition, wants to control costs, but she isn't dogmatic about it. She doesn't just offer "tax cuts" as the answer to every problem. She is refreshingly devoid of talking points, instead coming across as an independent thinker who wants to make Manchester a better place to live.

Ward 8: Christine Pariseau Telge. Co-owner of Milly's Tavern, Telge is active in The Salvation Army's charitable works and knows the struggles local business owners go through to thrive in this city. A political independent, Telge would provide Ward 8 with a fresh voice and the city with a much-needed perspective on the board. She supports the spending cap and wants to put her business and legal skills (she has a law degree) to work for the city. Ward 8 voters should give her the chance.

Ward 9: Michael Garrity. Alderman Garrity has proved himself a very involved ward representative as well as a voice for better spending. He has earned another term representing Ward 9 and trying to keep the budget under control.

Ward 10: Phil Greazzo. In the last few years, few activists have put as much energy into improving Manchester as Phil Greazzo has. His fight for a dog park has moved the city much closer to getting one; his activism for a spending cap raised awareness of the issue and held aldermen accountable for their terrible vote against it last year; and as a regular attendee at board meetings, he is the one who noticed that City Hall's assembly permit from the fire department had expired. Greazzo would be an energetic voice for taxpayers and Ward 10 residents. He deserves election.

Ward 12: Keith Hirschmann. A former alderman, Hirschmann has shown himself to be a consistent opponent of overspending and over-regulating the city. He knows what it's like to run a business here and to fight for better decision-making at City Hall. He supports the spending cap and would vote responsibly if elected.

- Printed in the New Hampshire Union Leader on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and Wednesday, October 28, 2009