MANCHESTER, NH – Having recently won a fourth term in office as mayor of New Hampshire’s largest city, Manchester, Ted Gatsas announced that he is “seriously considering” running for governor in this year’s election, the New Hampshire Union Leader Reported.
“I have been approached by a number of people asking if I would run,” said Gatsas, the Leader reported. “I plan on taking a vacation next week, and we plan on having some serious discussions about it.”
Gatsas, who is a Republican, said he does not plan to decide whether or not he will enter the race until at least late March. He says that suggestions that he ought to run have come from “many corners,” including friends, family, and well-wishers around the city, the Leader reported. “Everywhere I go it comes up, and I’m flattered.”
As the Leader reported: “Gatsas emerged victorious from a mayoral showdown last fall against Ward 1 Alderman Joyce Craig, winning re-election by 64 votes to secure a fourth term in office. Following a recount, certified election results show Gatsas won with 10,085 votes to 10,021 for Craig.
“Executive Councilor Chris Sununu of Newfields and state Rep. Frank Edelblut, R-Wilton, are running for governor, while on the Democratic side Mark Connolly, the former New Hampshire deputy secretary of state and director of securities regulation, and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern are both in the running. Portsmouth City Councilor Stefany Shaheen is considering a possible campaign.
“Gatsas is a lifelong resident of the Queen City, and a product of its public schools. A graduate of Smyth Road Elementary School and Manchester High School Central, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire.
“Gatsas first took elective office in 2000 as Ward 2 alderman and served five terms from 2000 to 2010. He was elected to the New Hampshire Senate and represented District 16 from 2000 to 2009, serving concurrently as alderman and state senator. He served as senate president from 2005 to 2006.
“Gatsas was elected as Manchester’s 47th mayor on Nov. 3, 2009. He has been re-elected three times, in 2011, 2013 and 2015.”
Upon winning reelection last year, Gatsas spoke with The National Herald in January (Jan. 16 edition) at his swearing-in ceremony. “‘I am certainly excited about two more years moving down the path we can get things done,’ he told TNH, regarding his reelection. ‘Getting the heroin epidemic that we have under control” is his biggest priority, for “the city, the state, and the country.’ When people can no longer obtain prescription drugs, he said, they turn to heroin, ‘and that is something that is truly killing them,’ he said.
“Gatsas said the Manchester economy is ‘doing well. Businesses are moving in’ and business as a whole is growing. Proud of his Greek heritage, which is ‘very important to me, as is my Lebanese side (his mother’s),’ Gatsas wishes the Greek-American community a 2016 filled with ‘prosperity and health.’
“After the oath of office was administered by Manchester Chief of Police Nick Willard during a ceremony at the Palace Theatre, Gatsas encouraged the attendees to ‘believe in the possibility of tomorrow being better than today.’
“‘The citizens of Manchester want solutions. They want to live in a community where they can inspire and be inspired. We have proved it can happen and I am committed to making sure it never stops.’
“Titled ‘Inspiration,’ his inaugural address identified four areas where Manchester has made significant progress the last six years: infrastructure, public safety, economic development, and city services. He vowed to dispatch more resources over the next 60 days to advance those initiatives.
“Focusing on the heroin epidemic and public safety, Gatsas said ‘when it comes to public safety, our emergency responders are on the front lines and they are doing their very best. However, if we are to end the epidemic, we must work to make our emergency responders our last line of defense, and we do this by making treatment and rehabilitation easily accessible and readily available.’”