Ben Toben (Photo courtesy of city of Manchester)
As Mayor Mike Clement prepares to retire following 25 years serving Manchester, Alderman Ben Toben is ready to assume the city’s highest office.
Toben, serving as Ward 3 alderman, will take the oath of office as mayor on May 4. Bill Parmentier will be sworn in for Ward 1, and Peter Bitzer will represent Ward 3. Toben ran unopposed in the mayoral race, which he credits to his strong professional relationships and community connections.
“I’m truly grateful that I was the sole candidate,” Toben said. “I believe this reflects how I’ve conducted myself throughout my four terms on the board—maintaining a firm commitment to the city and my constituents, while working alongside an effective board to make solid, timely decisions.”
As owner of his own financial consulting firm and a father, Toben cited his professional flexibility as instrumental in his decision to pursue the position.
“My ability to take on this role stems from owning my own business, which gives me the autonomy to manage my schedule,” he explained. “I can manage client relationships while maintaining the flexibility to attend important daytime events and meetings that many working professionals cannot accommodate due to their work commitments.”
Looking ahead to May 4 and the introduction of new Board members, Toben is looking forward to a “new beginning” in addressing Manchester’s key concerns, including the waste cart initiative, enhancing pedestrian accessibility between Baxter Road and Highway 141, and revising the city’s initial comprehensive plan developed in 2004.
“I believe we’ve achieved good results and will maintain our positive trajectory … advancing on our accomplishments from previous years,” Toben stated. “This is an exciting chapter for me.”
Shwetha Sundarrajan, a Lafayette High School alumna, is dedicated to serving her community through fair and impartial journalism. Her previous work has covered topics including education, crime, and environmental concerns for media outlets across California and Indiana.
