Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas has joined the race for New Hampshire governor. In his campaign announcement early Thursday morning, Ted Gatsas says the state's next governor needs executive experience like his to deal with issues like opioid abuse.
In addition to expanding access to treatment for addicts, Gatsas says the state should do more to stop the source of the drugs, by cracking down on fentanyl and heroin dealers.
“We need to first find out how we’re going to stop it at the top," Gatsas says. "Because, no matter what we fund on the bottom side, it’s not going to be enough because people will die before they get the services.”
Gatsas is in his fourth two-year term as mayor of New Hampshire's largest city; he’s also served as a Manchester alderman and a state senator, including a stint as Senate President. He joins Executive Councilor Chris Sununu and State Representative Frank Edelblut in the GOP field.
There are two announced Democratic candidates: Colin Van Ostern, an executive councilor representing District 2, and former securities regulator Mark Connolly.
Several other candidates in both major parties may soon join the field as well.
