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Chris Sununu Announces Bid For Governor

NHPR Staff

Executive Councilor Chris Sununu says he’s running for governor in 2016.

The Republican announced his candidacy Monday, taking aim at Gov. Maggie Hassan, calling her "government-first solutions" wrong for the state.

"I'm running for governor, because we need to close the opportunity gap that Democratic governors have slid us into over the past two decades," said Sununu. "We must end the expansive policies of government that are stifling economic growth in our state. As governor, I will work to reestablish an economic climate that will provide dependable, high-paying jobs, and develop pro-growth initiatives to stop the loss of skilled workers and young people to other states."

He pledged to veto a sales or income tax, and said improving the state’s economic climate and increasing funding for charter schools would be chief among his goals.

Sununu was first elected to the Executive Council in 2010, and was re-elected in 2012 and 2014.

Last month, he joined the two other Republicans on the council to reject a $640,000 state contract with Planned Parenthood, a vote he defended on NHPR's All Things Considered.

"We should only do business with the best businesses and those that really represent us and our values," he said. "When you have a group that is facing this type of legal and ethical scrutiny, we really have to take a step back and that goes for any vendor."

Sununu’s father, John H. Sununu, served as governor for three terms before becoming chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush in 1989.

His brother, John E. Sununu, served in the U.S. House and Senate.

Sununu could face a primary challenge, with Wilton state Rep. Frank Edelblut considering a run for the GOP nomination.

Hassan has not yet said whether she'll run for re-election.

Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.
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