Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard to run for Executive Council, says NH 'deserves better'

SOMERSWORTH — Mayor Dana Hilliard is vying for a seat on New Hampshire’s Executive Council in 2022.

Hilliard, a Democrat, is running for the District 1 seat which leans Republican under the new redistricting maps recently signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu.

“From Wakefield to Laconia, Durham to Pittsburg, and every city and town in between, we need a leader who is committed to working for all,” Hilliard said in a prepared statement. “Just as I have for decades, I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work around the clock to move New Hampshire forward.”

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Somersworth is currently in District 2, often referred to as the gerrymandered "dragon district" due to the appearance of its shape on political maps. District 2 is represented by Councilor Cinde Warmington, the only Democrat currently on the five-member council. Following the redistricting, District 2 was moved west but kept its odd shape. Somersworth was absorbed into District 1.

Warmington said she will run again for District 2 in the upcoming election, and she is excited about the possibility of having Hilliard serve by her side.

"I'm thrilled to have Dana on the ticket this election," Warmington said in an interview Monday. "I'm happy to support him in this. He has been great in his role as mayor, and I believe he will make a fantastic executive councilor."

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Hilliard has been involved with local and state politics since the age of 20 about 30 years ago, having served five terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and three terms as a city councilor. He was first sworn in as mayor in January 2014, and was recently reelected in November for what Hilliard previously said will be his fifth and final term. Hilliard was New Hampshire’s first openly gay mayor.

Last July, he started a new position as the director of Somersworth school district operations, continuing his 22-year career with the district. He was a longtime middle school principal.

The Executive Council election is Nov. 8 and the primary is Sept. 13. The election filing period is June 1-10.

When asked about his intentionsfor the Semersworth mayor's seat if he's elected to the Executive Council, Hilliard said he needs to get elected first. He added, "My intentions are to keep Somersworth and, after November, all cities and towns in District 1 on the move!"

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'Time for a change'

Hilliard said in a statement that he is running because it’s “time for a change” because the people of the district “deserve better.”

“Right now, our community values are not being represented in Concord,” he said. “This Executive Council has proven time and time again that it is deeply out of touch with the ‘Live Free or Die’ spirit, and people all across New Hampshire are feeling the disastrous effects of its actions. These councilors have given millions in public money to for-profit private and religious schools, while putting our children’s education in jeopardy and raising local property taxes in the process. They have defunded essential health care services and rejected federal relief meant to put the pandemic behind us. This is not the New Hampshire way.”

Republicans currently hold a 4-1 majority on the Executive Council, which approves state contracts and executive appointments. The council made news late last year and in early 2022, when it denied funding for family planning contracts for organizations that provide abortions, including Planned Parenthood. The rejection came despite Democrats and Republican Gov. Chris Sununu urging approval of the funds, which are used for health care, such as cancer screenings, and not for abortions. The council also came under criticism for rejecting $27 million in federal COVID-19 vaccine funding for New Hampshire, though it later approved $22 million.

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Hilliard said his experience as an educator and public servant would serve him well if elected.

“Over the last nine years, Somersworth has gained a reputation as New Hampshire’s ‘Welcoming City’ for our commitment to equality and support for local values,” Hilliard stated. “Our community approach has transformed the state’s smallest city into an economic hub and family friendly environment. District 1 needs an executive councilor who will do the same for the people all across our state.”

What does District 1 look like?

The five-district Executive Council map signed into law this month by Gov. Chris Sununu creates four districts that lean Republican, leaving a single Democratic-leaning district (District 2), Warmington said. Dover and Somersworth were among a handful of cities she represents that will be a part of new districts after this election.

Executive Council District 1 will now be made up of the towns and cities of: Albany, Alexandria, Alton, Bartlett, Belmont, Berlin, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Cambridge, Center Harbor, Chatham, Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Conway, Dalton, Danbury, Dixville, Dover, Dummer, Durham, Eaton, Effingham, Errol, Farmington, Franklin, Freedom, Gilford, Gilmanton, Gorham, Hart's Location, Hebron, Hill, Jackson, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Laconia, Lancaster, Livermore, Madbury, Madison, Meredith, Middleton, Milan, Millsfield, Milton, Moultonborough, New Durham, New Hampton, Northfield, Northumberland, Odell, Ossipee, Pittsburg, Randolph, Rochester, Rollinsford, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Shelburne, Somersworth, Stark, Stewartstown, Stratford, Success, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, Waterville Valley, Whitefield, and Wolfeboro.

The incumbent District 1 Councilor is Republican Joseph D. Kenney of Union.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard runs for NH Executive Council in 2022