David Watters

David Watters was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Kingswood High School. He earned a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College in 1972 and a Ph.D. in English from Brown University in 1979. His professional experience includes working as a professor at the University of New Hampshire.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

After serving two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, I was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate in 2012. I am a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of New Hampshire, where I taught from 1978 to 2017, teaching American literature, American Studies, New Hampshire studies, and African American Studies. I served as a trustee of the Robert Frost Farm, on the State of New Hampshire Historical Resources Council, the boards of the New Hampshire HIstorical Society and New Hampshire Humanities, and I am a founding board member of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.

In the legislature, I have focused work on education, career and technical education, workforce development, fish and game and marine resources, environmental preservation, renewable energy resources, recovery, transportation, and the capital budget. Senate committees include: Education; Executive Departments and Administration; Energy and Natural Resources; Transportation; Capital Budget; Joint Legislative Historical Committee; and a variety of statutory committees. I serve as the chair of the New Hampshire Commission on Offshore Wind and Port Development, and as a member of the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Other and I represent New Hampshire on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council. I strongly believe in bipartisan work that puts politics aside to get things done.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am committed to preserving New Hampshire freedoms, including reproductive rights, voting, LGBTQ+ rights, and public education. All of this ensures New Hampshire will be an open, diverse, and welcoming state.I work for economic opportunity, including jobs for working families and support for businesses. Families need low taxes, so I do not support any new broad-based taxes, and they need lower prices, more affordable housing, strong public education, and freedom to join a union. A big challenge is lowering energy costs and addressing environmental change, which must be done by expanding renewable energy resources, from solar to offshore wind. A modern transportation system, including substantial access to EV charging infrastructure and rail, with sufficient funding for road and bridges, also strengthens the economy.New Hampshire families want safe communities. This means clean water, free from PFAS, reduction of trash and landfills, a healthy environment, and thriving down towns. This is why we must have fully staffed and community supported and engaged police department. The state must provide needed resources to address mental health needs and substance misuse recovery.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My years in the legislature reveal passions across many areas of public policy, with hundreds of bills passed in many areas. The common theme is the future of young people so that they have education, opportunities, freedoms, and a clean and healthy environments.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

At 73 my looking up to is partly retrospective, recalling those who inspired me, but were assassinated, including MLK, both Kennedys. John Lewis and Nelson Mandela were profound leaders. Currently, Greta Thunberg is an inspiration for her determination and for her voice for the future, a constant reminder of the duties incumbent on my generation. Personally, I have deep admiration for our son, a professional ballet dancer, African American, LGBTQ+, whose wisdom at negotiating contemporary American life and being true to himself provides such deep joy and hope.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to put politics aside to serve the constitution, constituents, and one's conscience. The focus on practical solution to make life better for people in New Hampshire.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

That's for others to judge, and to see by my commitment and my work.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To work together across party lines and to deeply study the policies and issues in legislation, particularly in the areas of committee service. This means listening carefully to citizens, advocates, agencies, and fellow legislators.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I did what I could.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The invention of the polio vaccine, as my mother had polio (my earliest memories, age 2-3), so we kids were among the first to get it. The first political event of great personal impact was the Cuban missile crisis, and the panic in my 6th grade, sirens, fall-out shelter drills; age 11.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Riflery instructor at a summer camp, summer work at a factory, and summer work as a carpenter.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Really, the challenge of being human, being a good, loving person, wrestling with whatever personal failings I've had.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Open partnership and clarity of positions.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Affordable housing, energy, education, reproductive rights and other personal rights, voting rights, and environmental change.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. The strength of New Hampshire's citizen legislature, with its $100/year salary, is the broad range of backgrounds and experience.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. A legislature is all about relationships so people can work together across party lines to pass good legislation.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Senator Lou D'Allesandro, the Dean of the Senate, retiring this year after 50 years of service to the people of New Hampshire.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

When I was first running for the senate, a constituent confided in me about her personal experience of childhood sexual abuse. We became partners in working for several years to pass legislation to require sexual abuse prevention education in all New Hampshire public schools.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Current statute has very controlled use of emergency powers. Given the experience of the past few years, I believe we need to increase legislative oversight.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I am working on about 10-20 bills across a range of issues, including energy, environment, education, public health, transportation, etc.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

It's early in this cycle, and I've had a very broad range of endorsements for each election. Publicly announced to date include: AFL-CIO of NH, Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Hampshire.

What committees interest you?

I am likely to continue service, if reelected, on Energy and Natural Resources, Transportation, and Capital Budge.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Finance must be transparent and government fully accountable. The New Hampshire legislature works hard to ensure this.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

With elections every two years, there seems to be very little interest in this in New Hampshire.

David Watters did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

David Watters did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.