Manny Espitia, Nashua Board Of Public Works Candidate

Manny Espitia

Age (as of Election Day)

33

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

Nashua Board of Public Works

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My wife Adriana and we are expecting in February.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I work for a political organization called Run for Something

Education

Bachelor's in History from Princeton University.

Occupation

Northern Regional Director at Run for Something since 2020.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Former State Representative elected in 2018 and 2020.

Campaign website

facebook.com/mannyfornh

Why are you seeking elective office?

The office of Board of Public Works handles all things related to infrastructure in the city of Nashua. This includes streets and sidewalks, trash and recycling, and parks and recreation. I'm running because I believe all residents should have access to paved roads and sidewalks, equitable access to parks, and trash that's picked up on time. We have a beautiful city in Nashua and taking care of the infrastructure here is foundational to the success of the city.

If elected, I intend to be accessible and attentive to the needs of Nashua residents. With the rise for the need of housing, we also have to make sure we have all the infrastructure to support this new construction. I live downtown so I also see the need to make sure that all neighborhoods get the support that they need.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

One of the top issues that our city faces is upgrading our aging infrastructure. We have roads and sidewalks that need to continue to be repaired. We can also work on ways to make our roads more pedestrian and bike friendly. We have wastewater that we need to make sure we can upgrade especially with the heavy rains we've had this year. Finally, while upgrading our infrastructure is important, it's also important for residents to get advanced notice for any projects that are happening in their neighborhoods.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I like to make myself as available to the public as I can and want to make sure that folks can be connected to our Public Works Department if they need anything. Being accessible is important for any elected official and I believe I can provide that.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am running for an open seat, but I know that the current board does a great job of listening to each other and making decisions that will improve the lives of our residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As the city continues to grow, we have to make sure that we have the infrastructure that will support that growth. This means improving our wastewater so that we don't experience the flooding that we've seen. Also plowing is coming up and making sure that communication between residents and the city is clear.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a former 2 term NH State Representative and I've served as the Democratic Floor Leader in 2020. I've worked with folks on both sides of the aisle to help get legislation passed in the New Hampshire House. I've listened to people in my district around the issues that are affecting them and always try to help as best as I can.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't count the days, make the days count.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If you ever want to get in touch with me, feel free to email me at mannyfornh@gmail.com.