By PAULA TRACY
CONCORD – Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky of Concord has announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination for governor.
He will face state Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes, D-Concord, who has already announced his intent to run in the primary. Ultimately the winner of the primary will face Republican Gov. Chris Sununu who has announced his intent to seek another two-year term.
“I know it’s a big task, but I’ve never really been afraid to take on a challenge. When I was a kid, I wanted nothing more than to be a football player. I didn’t care that I was always the smallest kid on the field. I know what it’s like to take on big fights as an underdog,” Volinsky told supporters in an email announcement.
“It’s why I’ve been fighting for fair school funding since the ’90s. It’s why I fight to overturn death penalty cases throughout the country. It’s why I ran for Executive Council and won. And now, it’s why I’m running for Governor. I hope you’ll join me.”
A New Hampshire lawyer with the regional law firm of Bernstein Shur where he focuses on commercial and employment disputes, Volinsky is best known for his efforts as lead counsel in the Claremont school funding suit.
He earned his law degree from George Washington University School of Law in 1980 and has represented Dover in its efforts to obtain fair funding for its schools. He filed to run on Wednesday.
According to his biography, Volinsky has also volunteered to represent death row inmates throughout the South and before the Supreme Court.
He and his wife, Amy, live in East Concord and have three grown children who are pursuing careers in public education, social work, and as a member of a cooperatively owned, unionized print shop.
When not working the Volinskys volunteer for Friendly Kitchen in Concord and the Manchester Community Health Center. They also raise chickens and alpacas and have climbed all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 footers.