After 10 Years on Board of Directors, Zingler Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in November

Saying it was “time to focus on family,” Kevin Zingler, a Democrat who has served as a member of the Manchester Board of Directors for the past 10 years, announced Monday that he did not intend to seek re-election in November.

In a statement released Monday morning, Zingler said that the demands associated with his position on the board, coupled with the task of raising a young family and working full time, led him to rethink he priorities. In addition to his position on the board, Zingler serves as director of marketing for MARC, Inc., a non-profit organization that assists people with disabilities, and has two young children.

“I love the town, but the love for my family, in addition to the responsibilities at MARC, has to come first,” Zingler said. “I have worked hard to balance these commitments, but I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s just too much for one person, considering there’s only 24 hours to a day.”

Zingler said he informed the Democratic Town Committee of his decision prior to announcing it publicly, and that he was confident that the committee should have ample time to find a successor to run on the ballot come November.

Zingler listed a number of initiatives he said he was proud of helping to a accomplish during his tenure on the board, including:

-       Creating the “Access Manchester Card,” a photo identification card combined with a recreational pass and library card for town youth.

-       A town-wide Efficiency Study that implemented recommendations to streamline and reorganize town government in an attempt to save money.

-       The establishment of an Earned Income Tax Coalition.

-       The establishment of a Fire Apparatus Replacement Fund.

-       The conversion of the former Spruce Street firehouse into the East Side Public Safety Youth Center, which was accomplished through a combination of local, state and federal funds.

When asked Monday, Zingler did not rule out a return to town politics somewhere in the future – in fact, he said he expected it at some point when the demands of his young family decrease.

“I figured it was time to step aside and let someone else come in there with new ideas,” Zingler said. “I’m not going away, just right now I need to be there for my family.”