Rock Co Atty Candidate Plaia Releases List of Law Enforcement & Public Safety endorsements

(Joe Plaia is flanked by supporters at a press conference)

CORRECTION - Previous versions of this story suggested that Londonderry’s chapter of AFSCME Local 3657 had voted independently to support Plaia. In fact, statewide organization AFSCME Local 3657’s executive board voted to endorse Plaia.

(Portsmouth, NH-NHPoliticalWire) Law enforcement and public safety officials from across the spectrum have endorsed Joe Plaia’s candidacy for the office of Rockingham County Attorney, according to a list released today by the campaign.

“I am very proud that these leaders and organizations have decided that I am the best person for this position,” Plaia said “I’ve worked with many of these people before and have nothing but admiration for the work they do keeping the public safe - from chiefs and rank-and-file officers to people working in corrections and probation to town employees in day-to-day contact with their citizens. These people demonstrate the diversity of ways people work for safer communities and represent the best public safety has to offer.”

“Three police chiefs have taken the uncommon step of endorsing Plaia’s candidacy. Chief Bill Hart of Londonderry, Chief Tara Laurent of Greenland, and Chief Gunnar Foss of Nottingham have publicly backed Plaia in the County Attorney’s race.”

Three police chiefs have taken the uncommon step of endorsing Plaia’s candidacy. Chief Bill Hart of Londonderry , Chief Tara Laurent of Greenland, and Chief Gunnar Foss of Nottingham have publicly backed Plaia in the County Attorney’s race.

New Hampshire’s probation and parole officers (represented by NEPBA Local 265) and liquor investigators (represented by NEPBA Local 260) have both elected to support Plaia. AFSCME Local 3657, representing a number of public safety chapters throughout Rockingham County, the Exeter Police Association and the officers and sergeants of the Seabrook Police Association have also voted to support Plaia.

The largest organization to have endorsed Plaia is SEIU 1984, where Plaia has been a member since serving as a prosecutor for the New Hampshire State Police in Strafford and Rockingham counties and whose 11.000 members work for the state and for local governments across New Hampshire. SEIU 1984 chapters represent town employees in Exeter, Hampton, Salem, Seabrook, and Derry’s professional, administrative, and technical employees. They also represent civilian employees for both the New Hampshire State Police and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections as well as the Corrections Dept.’s captains, lieutenants, and sergeants. Other Rockingham County first responders represented by SEIU 1984 include Derry’s Police supervisors and firefighters serving at Pease.