KEENE, NH – Former State Senator Jay Kahn has announced that he’s running for mayor in the Elm City.

Mayor George Hansel, who is rounding out his second term in the position, announced that he would not be seeking reelection last spring. In an interview with WKBK at the time, Hansel said it was time for a fresh face to take the office.

“I think one thing is I don’t really believe that anybody should do this type of job for a really long time,” Hansel said in the interview. “One of the great things about a good, healthy mayor’s election is it gets to focus the community on the issues that are important and have them decide which direction they want to go.”

Kahn announced his candidacy Monday evening. The 72-year-old, 35-year member of the community cited his numerous leadership positions within the community as why he feels he’d be a good Mayor.

“I can be a good advocate for the city,” Kahn said in an interview with WKBK Tuesday morning. “I have those relationships across New Hampshire by virtue of my roles at Keene State College, my not-for-profit leadership roles, and my six years in the State Senate.”

Kahn served as Vice President of Finance and Planning at Keene State College for 28 years, and says he worked with Cheshire Medical Center, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, and Southwestern Community Services in the past. He represented District 10 in the N.H. Senate from 2016-2022 and served as a Keene City Councilor in 2016.

The filing period for candidates for the Municipal Primary is set for August 16th – September 5th. The primary election is scheduled for October 3rd, and the General election on November 7th.