Last Thursday, the Union Leader published an op-ed warning about a troubling trend: the politicization of public participation in Nashua. I argued that our city’s leaders—by labeling dissenting voices as “mayor haters” or dismissing ethics complaints as “just politics”—were creating a culture that silences civic dialogue. One day later, Alderman Derek Thibeault responded—not with reflection, but with a public attack that reinforces every concern I raised.
In his weekly newsletter, Alderman Thibeault accused me of misrepresenting him, acting like a victim, and costing the city money by exercising my right to petition government. Rather than address the substance of my argument, he resorted to personal attacks—calling out my ethics complaints, my litigation record, and even my participation in public meetings. Ironically, he accused me of speaking “every chance” I got—precisely what civic engagement is supposed to look like. After all, it was a budget public hearing to gather public input on five projects to be bonded for a total of $12M.
Let’s call it what it is: retaliation for speaking up.
He wrote, “No press is bad press,” then proceeded to characterize me as irresponsible and unaccountable. Why? Because I exercised my right to participate. Because I attended a public meeting. Because I filed ethics complaints. Because I voiced concerns about how our tax dollars are spent.
If this sounds like punishment for participation, that’s precisely because it is.
This is the very behavior I described in my original article—where feedback is framed as political disloyalty, ethical concerns are brushed off as partisan gamesmanship, and residents who dare to speak are discredited and blamed. It is not only anti-democratic—it is deeply ironic that Alderman Thibeault’s response exemplifies the chilling effect I warned about.
Rather than welcoming dissent as a healthy part of governance, he weaponized his public office to shame, deflect, and divide. He accuses others of costing the city money, while refusing to acknowledge that when residents feel forced to litigate, it’s often because public processes have failed them. Accountability shouldn’t require a lawsuit—but when officials dismiss every concern as political sabotage, what choice is left?
The danger here is not just in one alderman’s words, but in what those words represent: a political culture that treats disagreement as disloyalty and public participation as a nuisance. When elected officials use their platforms to attack citizens by name, it sends a clear message to others: stay silent, or face public shaming.
We should all be alarmed.
To those who called his comments “vile,” I would suggest their reaction reflects not personal animosity, but a growing unease with elected officials who punch down instead of listening up.
Because I believe, as many do, that city government should serve the people—all the people—not just those who agree with the inner circle. Dissent is not disloyalty. It is a cornerstone of democracy. And in Nashua, it’s long overdue we start treating it that way.
Alderman Derek Thibeault’s term representing Ward 8 is set to conclude this year. We should all reflect on his tenure and encourage new Ward 8 leadership that values public participation.
