Demands explanation for difference between what she told the board and letters sent to residents across the city
Mowery: Rogue pickler
MANCHESTER, NH September 15, 2025–Alderman at-Large Joe Kelly Levasseur may have turned the tables on Health Officer Anna Thomas in what’s become a pitched punch-up over pickles. Following a tense exchange with Thomas and other health department brass over whether or not anybody actually investigated the alleged illegal pickling activity undertaken by Ward 6 resident Daniel Mowery, Levasseur filed a Right to Know request in search of other Cease and Desist letters sent to residents. Thomas had said it was a regular thing for these letters to be sent.
Sapienza: Can’t have it both ways
During Levasseur’s questioning, department officials said they did not apply the ordinance’s regulations to people making baked goods. Despite being regulated by the ordinance, Thomas and other staff members said that the department had a policy in place to not take action against home bakers. Troy Mickon, candidate for alderman in Ward 9, submitted a Right to Know request seeking a copy of the policy. The department did not provide it, stating that it wasn’t a written policy. The department took criticism from Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza, in particular, for having a double standard when it came to enforcement, saying it showed how ridiculous and arbitrary the enforcement action against someone making homemade pickles and sharing it with neighbors was.
In response to Levasseur’s Right to Know request, department officials delivered several letters to Levasseur, including this one obtained by Girard at Large. He confronted Thomas in an email, stating (all in the original):
Dear Director Thomas: Please see attached letter to a constituent
Thomas the Deceptive
At the last BMA meeting it was stated by you and the other health department employees present that you have a policy of not going after people who make and sell pastries and bread. I thought that odd but appreciated your departments unwritten policy (come to find out). However, after reading my RTK requests asking for letters to homeowners I found that you are not abiding by the “policy” not to go after baked goods. As recently as of March of 2025 a Cease-and-Desist letter was sent to a female constituent in ward six concerning her selling sour dough bread to her neighbors. Your pick and choose policy of who gets letters and whom do not is arbitrary and capricious, but worse this was stated at a public meeting on public television. After reviewing all 25 letters I received it appears about 22 cease and deist letter were again, sent to people making bread and pastries. I find your remarks at the last meeting to be deceptive to say the least. Trust in government is the reason I run for this office. When you breach that trust it is very hard to gain it back. I would like an explanation. I know a RTK request was sent for the written policy on this subject, and it came back that there is no written policy.
Thank you.
JKL
Levasseur asked City Clerk Matt Normand to send this material to the entire Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
City Hall: Will Levasseur be overthrown?
On Wednesday, September 17, a day after the contested city primary for Alderman at-Large, the board will hold a special meeting. While the agenda states it will go into non-public session to discuss a personnel matter which might affect the reputation of an employee who is not an elected official, the meeting is widely believed and has been reported in other news publications as being called for the specific purpose of voting Levasseur out of the board chairmanship. Thomas has allegedly claimed that social media posts made by Levasseur about the controversy have created a “hostile work environment” and lead to “death threats.”
If true, this would be the second time the board has tried to oust Levasseur for social media posts some members found offensive.
Girard at Large conducted an interview with Levasseur on the topic. It can be viewed here.
