Advertisement In major endorsement, Nashua Mayor Donchess backs Buttigieg for president Chief executive of NH’s second-largest city cites former South Bend mayor’s ‘unifying vision’ Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Shortly after stepping off a plane from Iowa, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg is heading to Nashua for the first stop of the final week of New Hampshire primary campaigning -- and there, he’ll receive a major endorsement.>> Download the FREE WMUR appFour-term Mayor Jim Donchess held out for a while on an endorsement as he greeted numerous Democratic presidential candidates throughout 2019 and showedthem around the state’s second-largest city.WMUR has learned he’s now made his decision.This morning, he’ll meet Buttigieg at the Riverwalk Café and make his endorsement official. The two will speak with voters at the café and then greet more voters during an informal downtown walk.With the possible exception of U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, the Gate City mayor is the biggest name endorsement Buttigieg has earned in the first-primary state.“Pete is the leader we need to turn the page on the dysfunction and inaction we have been forced to accept from Washington for too long,” Donchess said.“With his unifying vision for the future, Pete is bringing our country together to tackle our greatest challenges that have only grown worse these last four years. As a fellow mayor, I know firsthand that we don’t have the luxury of letting politics get in the way of what matters most -- delivering for the people who depend on you.”Donchess, like Buttigieg now, came on the political scene as a rising star in New Hampshire more than 30 years ago. He was elected mayor for the first time in 1984 and then reelected four years later (Nashua’s mayoral terms are four years).Donchess then served as Alderman-at-Large and was elected to a third term as mayor in 2015. Last year he was unopposed for a fourth term. As mayor, Donchess has focused on economic development and jobs, affordable housing, addressing the opioid crisis, public transportation and education,particularly access to early childhood education. “Mayor Donchess is a living example of why Washington should look more like our best run cities and towns, not the other way around,” Buttigieg said.“Under his leadership, Nashua has made great strides on early childhood education, affordable housing, and a revitalized downtown. I’m proud to stand with him in showing the American people that we can do things that have never been done before.”Donchess added: “As president, Pete will serve communities like Nashua because he comes from a community like ours, and he will bring the voices of workingpeople from cities and towns across America to Washington.”Other key Nashuans who have endorsed Buttigieg are state Reps. Sue Newman and Ray Newman and Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons.Other New Hampshire endorsements include 12-term state Rep. Susan Almy and 17 other New Hampshire House members, Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera, women’shealth and rights advocate Jennifer Frizzell, Carroll County Democratic Chair Knute Ogren, NEA-NH Executive Director Rick Trombly and former mayors Lincoln Soldate of Somersworth, Karen Weston of Dover and Suzanne Prentiss of Lebanon.