On Eve Of Launching Senate Bid, O'Brien Releases Endorsement List

NASHUA, NH — On Tuesday, former Speaker of the House Bill O'Brien, R-NH, will be announcing his bid for the Republican nomination to face-off against incumbent U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, in 2020. Thirty-three hours before the campaign's official announcement, O'Brien's campaign released a list of more than 110 "prominent New Hampshire leaders" – a virtual who's who of the establishment, libertarian, and tea party wings of the state GOP – who are backing O'Brien's effort. O'Brien – who is the second person to launch a bid; former Brigadier General Don Bolduc announced last month – said he was grateful for the early support.

"I have been encouraged to run for the U.S. Senate by men and women leaders from across our state," he said. "They know we need a stronger voice for New Hampshire who will put people before Washington. Tomorrow, I look forward to talking about my background, the issues impacting New Hampshire, and how I will serve as that voice."

O'Brien, who has been considering a run for the Senate for a while, will make his announcement at the American Legion Hall, Sweeney Post, at 251 Maple St. in Manchester at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Along with former state Senator and Executive Councilor Dave Wheeler, who represented more than 30 cities and towns in the southern part of the state, as well as state Sen. John Reagan, R-Deerfield, O'Brien also received an early endorsement by The 603 Alliance, a group that describes itself as one of the largest grassroots organizations in the state that champions the principles of a free people and free markets.

Other endorsees include current state Reps. Max Abramson of Seabrook, Al Baldasaro of Londonderry, Jim Bellanger of Hollis, Charlie Burns of Milford, John Burt of Goffstown, Greg Hill of Northfield, John Hunt of Rindge, Dennis Green of Hampstead, Mary Griffin of Windham, Paul Marquis of Litchfield, Walter Kolodziej of Windham, Larry Gagne of Manchester, Fred Plett of Goffstown, Andy Renzullo of Hudson, James Spillane of Deerfield, Jim McConnell of North Swanzey, Carol McGuire of Epsom, Michael Harrington of Strafford, Derek MacMillen "MAC" Kittredge of Rochester, Tony Lekas of Hudson, David Love of Derry, Mark McLean of Manchester, Lynne Ober of Hudson, Andrew Prout of Hudson, Mike Sylvia of Belmont, Michael Thornton of Milford, Chris True of Sandown, Jordan Ulery of Hudson, Mark Warden of Manchester, and Ken Weyler of Kingston.

Former state Sen. Gary Daniels of Milford, and former state Reps. Dr. Steven Cunningham, Frank McCarthy of North Conway, Edmond Gionet of Lincoln, Jane Cormier of Manchester, Susan Delemus of Rochester, Valerie Fraser of New Hampton, Paul Ingbretson of Pike, Tom Kaczynski of Rochester, Will Smith of New Castle, David Bates of Windham, Jeff Oligny of East Hampstead, Andrew J. Manuse of Derry, Keith Ammon of Hillsborough, Kevin Reichard of Derry, Elaine Swinford of Center Barnstead, Bill Kuch of Bow, Dan Dumaine of Auburn, Peter Hansen of Amherst, Spec Bowers of Sullivan, Warren Groen of Strafford, Larry Rappaport of Colebrook, James Coffey of New Ipswich, Norm Silber of Gilford, Glen Dickey of New Boston, Elizabeth Ferreira of Nashua, Carl Seidel of Nashua, Pete Silva of Nashua, Daniel Itse of Milford, Pete Hinkle of Merrimack, Kathy Souza of Manchester, Rick Christie of Goffstown, Emily Sandblade of Goffstown, Bill Ohm of Nashua, Tim Comerford of Freemont, Kathy Lauer-Rago of Franklin, Dan McGuire of Epsom, Paul Mirski of Enfield, and Gregory Sorg of Easton, are also endorsing O'Brien.

Howard Coffman of the Nashua School Board and Chris Maidment of Peterborough, the secretary of the Hillsborough County Republican Committee, Laura Spottiswood of Pelham, Mark Vincent of Amherst, Sandra Ziehm of Nashua, former Nashua School Board Member and Hillsborough County Commissioner, Andrew Cernota of Nashua, former chairman of the Nashua Republican City Committee, Jeff Frost of Manchester, former chairman of the Manchester GOP City Committee, Chris Buda of Nashua, former chair of the Merrimack GOP and member Hillsborough Republican County Committee, and Susan Carroll Atkinson, former chairwoman of the Atkinson GOP Committee, are also throwing support to O'Brien as are Merav Yaakov, Diane Bitter, Tom Murray, Leigh F. Musicof, Timothy Bates, Jonathan Bates, Lois Bates, Joe Frazier, Joan Espinola, Charlie Espinola, Pam Ean, Gordon Bitter, Elizabeth Breuder, Gastonn Gingues, John J. Kelley, Helen McIntyre, John J. O'Brien, Steve Stefanik, Rosemary Landry, Juanita Dangel, Mike Dangel, Kennith Ziehm, Karen Thoman, Diane Lothrop, Chuck Lothrop, Dennis Corrigan, Ted Maravellias, and Ken Eyring.

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