Volinsky Announces Run for Executive Council

The Concord attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the landmark Claremont school education case has announced that he will be running to the District 2 Executive Council seat currently held by Colin Van Ostern, who is running for governor.

In a statement on Nov. 17, 2015, Volinsky said after much thought and discussion with family and friends, he would be making a run.

“New Hampshire needs Executive Councilors who will serve as champions for all our citizens, as protectors of transparency and efficiency in government, and as advocates for the appointment of the best possible judges and members of our state boards and commissions,” he said. ”As an Executive Councilor, I will continue the fight I’ve undertaken as a lawyer for sound public policies that benefit all of New Hampshire’s citizens.”

Volinsky said he understood the importance of “a strong, transparent, and well-informed process for approving judicial appointments and contracts” and would only approve “qualified appointees to state boards and commissions who will work to protect public education funding and the retirement security of our state employees - not undermine them.” He added that he would work to restore family planning funds to Planned Parenthood and support Medicaid Expansion.

“I’m committed to continuing our work to build a stronger future for New Hampshire and I hope to earn your support over the next few months by meeting as many of you as possible,” he said.

Volinsky had considered running for state Senate in 2014 but decided against a race and later, backed Democrat Dan Feltes, who ended up clobbering Kass Ardinger in the primary and easily beat Republican Lydia Harman in the general election.

District 2, or the “upside down crescent moon” district, as nicknamed by some, covers the cities of Concord, Dover, Franklin, Keene, Rochester, and Somersworth, as well as Acworth, Alstead, Barnstead, Belmont, Boscawen, Bradford, Canterbury, Charlestown, Chesterfield, Dublin, Durham, Farmington, Gilmanton, Gilsum, Goshen, Hancock, Harrisville, Henniker, Hinsdale, Hopkinton, Langdon, Lempster, Madbury, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Newbury, Northfield, Rollinsford, Roxbury, Salisbury, Stoddard, Strafford, Sullivan, Surry, Sutton, Unity, Walpole, Warner, Washington, Webster, Westmoreland, and Winchester.

Other possible candidates include former state Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, and Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard. Despite being once held by a Republican, Concord’s Dan St. Hilaire, it is now considered the only safe Democrat seat, after being changed and redistricted in 2012.

Volinsky is a father, husband, and lawyer who lives in Concord. He is general counsel and a shareholder of Bernstein Shur where he practices law and helps manage the firm’s New Hampshire office. His campaign website can be found at volinskynh.com.