Pastor Micah invited each of the mayoral candidates to discuss their campaigns on the "Sunday Sermons with Pastor Micah" podcast.

You can listen to the entire podcast with Doug Robbins by going here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qmfQWnKZKqIc3lwUVIwLS 

Below is an AI generated summary of the podcast:

00:00 – 01:23
Topic: Party affiliation & campaign financing
Candidate Quote: “I am an independent… I don’t vote the party, I vote the person… not collecting any donations.”
Summary: Robbins frames himself as independent of party structures and says he’s not taking donations to avoid extra compliance and obligations. He credits his wife as volunteer financial agent and campaign help.

01:43 – 02:18
Topic: Background & why run for mayor
Candidate Quote: “I’m not a politician… I’ve never done anything in politics before.”
Summary: Positions mayor as an entry point to “get inside,” learn how the city operates, and bring issues to light for the public.

03:04 – 03:46
Topic: What the Rochester mayor does
Candidate Quote: “The mayor here is a ribbon cutter… [and] has a final vote… almost like the Vice President.”
Summary: Emphasizes the mayor’s tie-breaker role and public-facing duties, not executive control (given the city-manager system).

03:59 – 05:13
Topic: Transparency & land deals
Candidate Quote: “They had a public input on that. They already signed the purchase and sales agreement.”
Summary: Cites a ~$3.2M property purchase and argues public input came after the decision. Says buying properties without clear plans drives taxes and suspicion.

05:26 – 06:09
Topic: Development incentives & evictions
Candidate Quote: “Don’t give them a 10-year tax break… maybe a 4-year.”
Summary: Mentions residents being displaced near a pharmacy site; supports shorter, targeted incentives rather than long tax holidays.

06:16 – 07:12
Topic: “Affordable housing” language
Candidate Quote: “Affordable… is very relative and vague for a reason.”
Summary: Argues the term is elastic and often unclear; wants clearer definitions tied to local incomes.

07:36 – 10:08
Topic: Homelessness & treatment-first approach
Candidate Quote: “I think the big homeless population is the active addicts.”
Summary: Distinguishes situational homelessness from addiction-driven cases. Floats using a city-owned property for a rehab center, acknowledging it could attract more users but could also produce recoveries.

14:39 – 14:44 (call-back within same thread)
Topic: Rehab outcomes standard
Candidate Quote: “If one person comes out good, it’s worth it.”
Summary: Sets a low-bar/high-value success standard for recovery investments.

09:50 – 11:06
Topic: Personal connection to addiction
Candidate Quote: “I was on Vicodin for 2 years… once I realized I’m reaching for that pill bottle… I weaned myself off… My mother died of an overdose.”
Summary: Shares lived experience to underscore urgency and empathy in addiction policy.

11:06 – 15:36
Topic: Community tone & role of churches/neighbors
Candidate Quote: “You be the person that loves them.”
Summary: Critiques online hostility; asks residents (and churches) to serve, clean up, and humanize people in crisis instead of posting blame.

16:31 – 17:28
Topic: Traffic safety by the new school
Candidate Quote: “Put some sort of warning up there, a flashing light or something… maybe have more police presence.”
Summary: Calls for flashing beacons and timed police details at drop-off/pick-up to reduce crashes.

17:59 – 19:37
Topic: Downtown parking & crosswalks
Candidate Quote: “I don’t think taking the street parking was a good idea.”
Summary: Opposes removing curb parking on certain streets; favors crosswalk signage and driver awareness instead of blanket parking removals.

20:05 – 21:30
Topic: Drainage, big buildings & infrastructure
Candidate Quote: “You build a big building… the water’s got to go somewhere.”
Summary: Notes drainage fixes near downtown; warns water and underground utilities are strained by rapid infill.

21:37 – 22:26
Topic: Growth posture
Candidate Quote: “Rochester is definitely getting bigger… we have to keep up with it.”
Summary: Not anti-development; wants infrastructure to keep pace with population and housing growth.

25:28 – 29:19
Topic: Schools—training, IEPs & expectations
Candidate Quote: “IEPs should all be followed… the school system is not your daycare.”
Summary: Urges more staff training, fidelity to special-ed plans, and realistic parent roles.

31:02 – 35:06
Topic: Parents’ role & home support
Candidate Quote: “If your kid ends up being uneducated, it’s not the school’s fault, it’s yours.”
Summary: Stresses parent responsibility—reading at home, homework help, and partnering with teachers.

36:07 – 38:02
Topic: Life skills, trades & post-grad paths
Candidate Quote: “They don’t teach them life skills… schools are still pushing college.”
Summary: Wants stronger vocational paths and practical education; skeptical of one-size-fits-all college push.

39:12 – 41:19
Topic: Core priorities as mayor
Candidate Quote: “I’m focused on transparency… [and] where this money is being wastefully spent.”
Summary: Pledges to spotlight waste, and divert funds to youth sports/activities (e.g., better facilities, equipment).

42:22 – 43:21
Topic: After-school programs & missed grants
Candidate Quote: “We’ve missed a couple of grant deadlines when they were chasing Annie.”
Summary: Criticizes lost grant opportunities during leadership turmoil; calls for more before/after-school and rec-center programming during the school year and summer.

44:38 – 45:16
Topic: Civic participation (host’s appeal)
Candidate Quote (closing from Robbins): “I’m going to stay involved in the community regardless either way.”
Summary: Robbins ends by promising ongoing community involvement; host underscores vote local turnout.

The candidate responded to the following questions in a survey by GraniteGrok:

The questions.

• 1. Do you support state control of zoning or local zoning control? 

• 2. Do you support a Tax cap? 

• 3. What is your plan, if any, to lower property taxes?

• 4. How “affordable housing” will get done without raising taxes?

• 5. Your definition of “affordable” housing?

• 6. Do you support boys in girls locker rooms and rest rooms at Spaulding?

• 7. Your position on age inappropriate books in the Rochester schools?

• 8.  What is your stand on conservation? How do you plan on saving farmland and open space or do you want them developed?

• 9. Plans for fairgrounds?

• 10. Plans for sky Haven?

• 11.  EPA contract regulations for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. How do you plan on paying for it?  Do you support a “rain tax” aka stormwater utility to pay for this?

You can view the candidate's responses by clicking here.

"I would like to let you all know I’m simply a blue collar worker. I have 3 children—2 of which are school-aged, and 1 graduated from Spaulding. I am not, nor have I ever (up until yesterday), done anything political.

I decided to put my name on the ballot to try to maybe “drain the swamp,” but that can only happen if Council is changed as well.

I believe that schools should not lose any funding—they should have more.
I believe that Rochester is a city, not a real estate company, and should stop purchasing property.

I believe if we own a vacant building (DPW), maybe we can put “affordable” housing up there—maybe sell it to a contractor and give no ten-year tax break. Instead, maybe a break on the permits and a 3–5 year tax break, but not ten years.

What happens when the landfill gets capped? That’s money we will lose and have to spend.

Homelessness is a very tough issue we have in this city. Maybe a vacant building could become a shelter for them. Then again, we run into paying more money—because we’re gonna have to have insurance and everything else on that building, and pay the bills for upkeep, and staff that building. So that’s gonna cost more money.

Maybe a recovery center with beds that people have to stay in and give clean urine or swabs (or whatever it is) to get treatment. That’s what I’d like to see done.

However, that’s just a few of my thoughts on what I would like to see happen.

All the Mayor can do is veto a bill with Council or pass a bill with Council. As long as 2/3 of the Council wants to push it through, they can push it through. So the Mayor really does not have all that much power as everybody thinks."

"Doug Robbins for Rochester Mayor

As I’ve been speaking with residents and families across Rochester, one concern I hear time and time again is housing affordability and homelessness. Too many of our neighbors are struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on the table, and it’s forcing families to make impossible choices. This includes both renters and homeowners. Rising rents and the burden of property taxes are pushing people out of Rochester. Families who have lived here for generations shouldn’t have to worry about being priced out of their own homes.

As your next Mayor, one of my top priorities will be to find real solutions to combat the rising cost of housing and address homelessness. We need to make sure our neighbors don’t just survive but thrive.

My Plan for Rochester

One of the biggest issues facing our community is wasteful spending. The city budget is funded by taxpayers, and it’s critical that we use those funds wisely. I will fight to identify and cut wasteful spending and ensure every dollar is used effectively for our community.

Any additional money in the budget from cutting wasteful spending will be split between three critical areas: schools, police, and fire.

I will also work to find real solutions for housing, homelessness, and taxes, including:

• Expanding affordable housing developments that prioritize Rochester residents.

• Working with the city to explore tax relief programs for seniors, veterans, and longtime homeowners.

• Partnering with state and federal programs to secure funding for housing initiatives.

• Ensuring that development projects include affordability requirements.

Together, we can build a Rochester where families don’t just survive but thrive.

Doug Robbins
Candidate for Rochester Mayor"

• STANDS WITH EDUCATION

• FIND WASTEFUL SPENDING

• NO 10-YEAR TAX BREAKS   

• SUPPORTS FIRE AND POLICE   

• COMBAT HOMELESSNESS

Douglas Robbins for Mayor of Rochester NH Facebook Page