NH's Largest Public Sector Union Backs Feltes in Senate Race

The executive board of the state’s largest union has endorsed attorney Dan Feltes, a Democrat running for the open District 15 state Senate seat (Concord, Henniker, Hopkinton, and Warner). 

In a press statement issued on July 14, the State Employees Association of New Hampshire, SEIU Local 1984, which represents more than 11,500 public and private sector employees, said Feltes, who lives in Concord, was the best candidate to replace long-time state Sen. Sylvia Larsen, due to his “commitment to moving all working families forward in New Hampshire.”

Union President Diana Lacey said that Feltes was “prepared to lead beginning day one in the senate and will work each and every day to make a real difference for New Hampshire,” while others recognized his work on affordable housing issues as an asset to help workers who were “struggling to make their paychecks stretch from month to month.”

Ken Roos, the first vice president of the union and chairman of the Political Education committee that met with the candidates, stated that members appreciated his work ethic.

“We are confident he will bring progressive ideas to ongoing challenges facing so many families across the state,” he stated. “Through our lengthy conversation with Feltes, it was crystal clear to us that he sees there is much more work to do.”

The union is a member of the national SEIU organization.

In a statement, Feltes said he was "honored" to get the endorsement and was "proud" to stand with the union and its members.  

"They also represent a vital part of our local economy here," he said, adding that the economic success of the district depends on the success of the union membership. 

"I share the belief that in order to move New Hampshire’s economy forward, we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. I look forward to working with them to help improve the future of Senate District 15 and our State,” Feltes said.

Since jumping into the race, Feltes has been able to quickly amass a large slate of endorsements, including nearly all of the candidates who were thinking about running for the seat, and powerful leaders in the district, like District 2 Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern.

Also running for the seat are Concord School Board member Kass Ardinger, who has received the endorsement of Larsen, and Lydia Dube Harman, a real estate agent and Republican from Warner who faced off against Larsen in 2012. 

Follow all the Patch campaign stories and post in our Elections section.