ICYMI: Senator David Watters Announces Support of Dover Mayor and City Councilors, Somersworth Mayor and Full City Council

 August 18, 2014        

Dover, NH – In an Op-Ed published Friday in Foster’s Daily Democrat, highlighting the importance of working with local leaders to find common-sense solutions for New Hampshire, Senator David Watters announced his support from Dover Mayor Karen Weston, six Dover City Councilors, Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, and all nine Somersworth City Councilors. 

“This outpouring of support from Dover and Somersworth elected officials is a direct result of our work together to drive economic growth and job creation for Granite State families, and strengthen our education system all through a balanced budget with no sales or income tax. I’m grateful for the endorsements and am looking forward to another term of fighting for District 4 families,” said Senator David Watters.

The entire letter is below. Read online.

Endorsements, teamwork, leadership
Foster’s Daily Democrat
August 15, 2014

New Hampshire citizens demand bipartisan teamwork on common-sense strategies to expand opportunities for Granite State families and to keep our economy moving forward. I was elected Senator to restore civility in Concord. Our success can be judged on how well leaders bring people together — Independents, Republicans and Democrats — to build a stronger future for the Granite State. That’s why I’m proud to announce the support of Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, the entire Somersworth City Council, Dover Mayor Karen Weston, and six Dover City Councilors.

Dover and Somersworth mayors and city councilors are endorsing my reelection because we have worked together to strengthen the economy, promote job growth, dramatically increase support for education, and protect our communities, all through a balanced budget with no sales or income tax. It’s not about politics or party, it’s about teamwork. Through inclusive leadership and attentiveness to the community, we can continue to expand opportunity for Dover and Somersworth families and tackle our state’s biggest challenges. I’m grateful for the support from these talented public servants, and we are determined to continue fighting for the priorities of hard-working families in District 4. 

Mayor Karen Weston was an essential partner in the fight for $13.5 million in funding for the new Career and Technical Education Center at Dover High, and the fight to increase state funding for Dover’s public schools. Together, we have prioritized education by investing in the skills Dover students need to compete in a 21st century economy while saving Dover taxpayers over $2 million. Dedicated efforts with Deputy Mayor Carrier, the City Council, and the business community resulted in legislation that I introduced which doubled and made permanent the R&D tax credit to encourage innovation and extended the Economic Revitalization Zone Tax Credit program. This means businesses can create good jobs that support strong, stable families. Teamwork with Dover and the coalition communities on my SB 110 has potentially saved Dover millions in unneeded expenditures by fighting for reasonable wastewater treatment standards. 

Effective leadership and teamwork in Dover means benefiting from skilled and experienced officials like Councilor and State Representative Dorothea Hooper. Rep. Hooper and I served in the House during the Bill O’Brien attack on working families, education, and women, so we knew we needed to work in a bipartisan way with fellow legislators. The success in additional school funding for Dover Schools is proof that civility produces results by working for all Granite Staters. In addition to the endorsements of Weston, Carrier, and Hooper, I am also humbled to have the endorsement of Councilors McManus, O’Connor, Garrison, Thibodeaux, and Gagnon.

Successful teamwork in Somersworth has produced the endorsement of Mayor Dana Hilliard and the entire City Council. In this community, Senate leadership requires delivering for Somersworth families and businesses through work to modernize the transportation system and work to revitalize the downtown area by encouraging investment from high tech firms. These bipartisan endorsements show that when we rise above partisan politics, we can get things done to strengthen families and grow the economy in Somersworth. Working with Mayor Hilliard and the city manager, I sponsored important building code legislation that will make the city safer. Working with school officials, we have brought business leaders together to gain support for Somersworth’s Career and Technical Education Center renovation. 

To continue attracting new businesses and driving economic growth in Somersworth, we need to cut red tape and address our transportation needs. Working closely with Councilor Soldati, meeting frequently with members of the Chamber of Commerce, and by visiting local manufacturers and downtown businesses, I learned that transportation is key to Somersworth’s future job and housing growth. On the City Council and in the legislature, Dale Sprague has been an important partner and leader on transportation. We fought for state funding for the Route 108 upgrade and for a study of Exit 10 on the Spaulding Turnpike in the Ten-Year Highway Plan. We will continue to work together on plans for commuter rail. The team endorsing my reelection so we can continue this work also includes Councilors Pepin, Hebert, McCallion, Messier, Witham, Tapscott, and Collins. 

Teamwork and leadership will create a bright future for Dover and Somersworth, and I pledge to work next term with civility and bipartisanship to drive economic growth, good jobs and quality education while preserving the low-tax New Hampshire advantage.