By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
MANCHESTER – Announcing he will not run for re-election Wednesday is District 4 Executive Councilor Ted Gatsas, a Manchester Republican and its former mayor who also served as State Senate President for a time.
In a post Wednesday on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Gatsas said that after 24 years of public service it is time to hand off the elected two-year position to the next generation.
A former football player, Gatsas said, “I left it all on the field…I am proud of all of the great work that has been accomplished,” and said he and his wife, Cassandra, have decided to “let the next generation take over.”
He said while they will continue to stay active in their community “we encourage the next generation to rise to the occasion and get involved. As I said in my first mayoral address in January of 2010, ‘Imagine the possibilities.'”
The 73 year-old incumbent has been a presence in state and local politics for more than two decades.
In recent years while on the Council, Gatsas has been a champion of the Exit 4A of Interstate 93 project. He is a fierce advocate for children and a critic of sole-source contracts, with a keen eye for the bottom line and saving taxpayers money.
He was elected to the Manchester Board of Aldermen in 1999 and rose to become the 55th mayor of the city, serving from 2010 to 2018.
Gatsas was a member of the New Hampshire Senate, representing the 16th District from 2000 until he resigned in 2009 after being elected mayor.
He became President of the Senate in 2005 and was elected Senate Minority Leader after the Democrats took control of the State Senate in 2006.
In 2016 he ran in a crowded Republican field for governor and lost to Gov. Chris Sununu.
He ended third behind Frank Edelblut, who was a state representative and now the Commissioner of Education.
A successful businessman, Gatsas started Staffing Network with his brother, Michael.
He leaves the door open for a new executive councilor from the Manchester area.
Currently there is only one registered candidate for the five seats which are all up for grabs in November.
District 2 Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, the only Democrat on the council, is not running as she has decided to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, has indicated he will not seek another term.
Lebanon City Councilor Karen Liot Hill, who also served as mayor there from 2008 to 2009, is the only candidate who has officially entered the race for Executive Council. She is seeking to replace Warmington in District 2 and is a Democrat.