Suzanne Vail, Nashua State Representative Candidate

Suzanne Vail

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

New Hampshire State Representative

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

I have three grown daughters, who are fourth generation Nashua natives.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of NH 1996

Occupation

Case management, counseling, and intensive mental health care, in private hospitals, community hospitals and community mental health centers, with focus on building community support and integration, for more than 20 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

New Hampshire State Representative, 2012-2014, 2018-2020, seeking a third term.

Campaign website

http://nashuadems.org/your-democratic-leaders/new-hampshire-house-of-representatives/suzanne-vail/

Why are you seeking elective office?

New Hampshire families are facing too many challenges that prevent them from getting ahead. The NH economy is based on downshifting expenses to cities and towns and their residents. Young residents need to be able to buy a home, have children, have affordable daycare, pay for their education, have access to affordable healthcare, have access to clean water, have access to renewable energy, have broadband access, access to transportation, protection of vulnerable adults and children, have public safety and services, live in a state where we respect wild life and the environment, and most of all, a safe, fair, and connected public school education for children no, matter the property value of where they live.
Nashua needs an effective and hard working state representative who brings their community into the conversation at every opportunity in Concord. Nashua deserves a state representative who is inclusive of our diverse population, and one who knows the civil rights of our most vulnerable people. I fight for everyone in Nashua. I am one who never walks away from the job until the work is done.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I think access to healthcare and a state funded adequate public school education are both the most pressing problems we face as a legislature. The COVID-19 virus outbreaks have made a tremendous impact on the level of disparity in terms of increasing inability to participate in public education, telehealth, and human services. Lack of internet (broadband) access for residents, so that they can communicate remotely, severely impacts ability for professionals to deliver a fair education, provide remote health and mental health services, deliver human services, and our municipalities to develop economically. Yesterday, I signed on as co-sponsor to legislation that will put together an expert team to develop a plan to provide universal broadband access to NH people. This is possible, and we are going to do this.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

When you ask me how I solve a problem, I can show you the work. As you can see from above, I don't see much point in talking about what I don't want, don't care about, and won't do. I can say the same for my ballot-mates, incumbents Sherry Dutzy and Trish Klee. They work hard to advocate for our city and are active and inclusive in their roles. They, like me, work for NH families and are fiercely protective of Nashua citizens. I ask you to re-elect all three of us.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I have been going all out to make sure that a person's right to vote is protected and that the sanctity of our state constitution, preserved. There is no more fundamental right. As an endorsee of End Citizens United/Vote Smart, I am fighting to make elections fair and end gerrymandering. I do not support a poll tax or any other voter suppression measures, and will fight to get them reversed.
I have been fighting and will continue to fight for water free of contaminants. I have joined the Water Warriors of Merrimack on many projects aimed at protecting our state from the PFAS chemical contaminants being pumped into the atmosphere every day at the plastics manufacturing plant in their town. I testify before the Department of Environmental Services to limit this production, and hasten filtration plans. I passed unanimously a House Resolution that urges Congress to take up legislation that will override the EPA rule making authority, forcing inclusion of the PFAS group as Superfund chemicals, which would bring health monitoring, and remediation to our state, and stop the source.
New Hampshire needs climate action policy and a firm plan to transition our energy sources to renewables. I am proud to be involved in legislation that outlines this policy. There will be more information to come.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served two terms in the NH House over the last 8 years. I have shared some of my work above. I am asking voters to vote for me, and return me for a third term.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Set the record straight.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Each state representative who is elected is assigned as a delegate to their county government as a representative of that district. We county delegates are responsible for budgeting and servicing the budget for Hillsborough County Nursing Home, Valley St. Jail, the Sherriff's Department, and all county departments. I serve on the Hillsborough County Executive Committee, and have supported measures that will keep the county portion of taxes as low as possible. During the pandemic we have had several impromptu meetings to help us manage the additional challenges to our facilities. I add this here, because I am not sure voters are aware there is a county obligation within the state representative role, and some of us are elected to the Executive Committee.
I also want to reassure voters that we are staying abreast with the needs of county agencies, at present, and say that I am prepared to continue in this critical role should I be as fortunate as to be re-elected to office and to the committee by my peers.

This article originally appeared on the Nashua Patch