James O'Connell

James O'Connell was born in Ireland and lives in Manchester, New Hampshire. O'Connell earned a degree in marketing and business management from the University of Essex in 1987. His career experience includes working as CEO of ParkMagic Mobile Technology and as president of Consul Holdings Inc.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jim O’Connell is an At-Large member and the Vice Chair of the Manchester School District, responsible for a school system of almost 12,000 students and a budget of over $240 million for FY2027. An immigrant and proud American citizen, Jim has lived in Manchester for 29 years. He and his wife Kathy, have four children. Molly, Liam, Lily and Aidan, are all products of Manchester’s public school system. He served as a director for the NH Soccer Association, is a past Board Member of the North Manchester Little League and previously was PTO President at Hillside Middle School. He is the Democratic nominee for Executive Council in District 4, running to continue fighting for working families across New Hampshire.

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 will bring my practical approach to Concord. In my years as vice chair of the Manchester Board of School Committee I have brought my problem solving skills to resolve the major issues facing our district. I will bring the same workmanlike approach to ConcordIt is just too expensive for working families to live in NH and I will do everything I can to make our state a more affordable place for people to live and raise a familyI will work to ensure that reproductive healthcare is available across the state, especially for underserved populations.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Education

Healthcare access for all

Reproductive Health

Adequate minimum wage

Infrastructure Investment

Healthy Environment

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

AFL-CIO and Teamsters among many other labor unions.

Planned Parenthood

MEA and AFT

Campaign websiteO'Connell's campaign website stated the following:Now, Jim is running for Executive Council to continue to deliver for our state, bringing his same brand of hard work and practical leadership to Concord to protect reproductive freedom, safeguard public education against extremists and bring people together to make it easier for Granite Staters to live, work and raise a family right here in New Hampshire. As a business person with expertise in public-private partnerships and large-scale projects, Jim knows how to deliver for the public good. He will advance our fight to bring commuter rail to New Hampshire and take on a statewide leadership role on transportation, which is key to growing the Granite State economy.— James O'Connell's campaign website (September 4, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

James O'Connell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Our work for a fairer, more prosperous New

Hampshire is not a new fight for Jim O’Connell.

As a young man growing up in Ireland, Jim O’Connell fought for expanded contraception access and organized in support of critical health services during a time of massive social change.

A lifelong champion of the middle class, Jim also proudly served as union bus driver in London. Years later, Jim moved to New Hampshire as he built a successful career as a tech business leader, raising four children with his wife Kathy and devoting himself to public service.

As Vice Chair of the Manchester School Board, Jim has brought people together to get important work done. Jim spearheads Manchester’s $306 million project to upgrade educational facilities, delivered a historic contract for city educators, and helped lead the effort to implement a $15 minimum wage for hundreds of city workers.

On the Executive Council, Jim O’Connell will always fight for us. Jim will safeguard access to abortion, as well as contraception and IVF, and defend public education against extremists. Jim will also champion infrastructure investments and make it easier for Granite Staters to live, work, and raise a family.

A proud father of four, husband, immigrant, and American citizen, Jim O’Connell is a 27-year resident of Manchester.

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?

Protect Reproductive Rights

Jim will always secure access to abortion and reproductive health care, and ensure private medical decisions stay between patients and doctors.Defend Public Education

Jim will safeguard public education against extremists, and bring people together to make it easier for Granite Staters to live, work, and raise a family.Champion Infrastructure Investments

Jim will advance our fight to bring commuter rail to New Hampshire and take on a statewide leadership role on transportation, which is key to growing our economy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have been fighting for civil rights my whole life, from my early days in Ireland fighting for fundamental rights from abortion and contraception to housing and labor. Today in the US I will fight for workers rights and a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. I fight to protect public education from ideological attack and for a woman's right to choose, for a clean environment and to protect our voting rights and civil liberties.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office acts as oversight of the governor. It is uniquely placed to oversee all government spending for contracts valued over $10k. It has direct influence on judicial and department appointments and is in control of the state 10-year transportation plan.

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

Integrity and honesty. A commitment to the public good and support public enterprise.

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

Ensure that contract decisions and made with integrity and that the process be open and fair with the best value being delivered.

Ensure that judicial and administrative appointments and granted to competent people who are qualified to do the job on behalf of the people without being influence by their religious or political ideology.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Ulysses by James Joyce. The greatest book ever written!

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

All

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Appointing judicial nominees and department heads and commissioners.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

AFL-CIO

NH Professional Firefighters

Teamsters

NEA

MEA

AFT

IBEW

Manchester Firefighters

Ironworkers

Pipefitters

Planned Parenthood

League of Conservation Voters

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I have fought to make sure that all government transactions be done in public. I believe in holding people accountable for their actions and their failures.

Campaign website

O'Connell’s campaign website stated the following:

New American citizen, father, husband, business leader, passionate advocate for education and working families and results-oriented community leader.

Jim O’Connell was raised in Ireland in Cobh, County Cork, where he first sparked what would become a lifelong passion for politics and public service. Jim worked on various issue campaigns including the movement to legalize divorce in Ireland as well as allowing access to contraceptives, despite strong institutional forces standing in opposition. Jim was also active in both Ireland and England in the anti-Apartheid movement, leading and participating in protests in both Dublin and London.

Jim eventually left Ireland in his mid-20s and traveled widely in Europe and beyond. Eventually Jim spent three years in the greater London area where he drove the iconic double decker buses and later National Express long distance coaches. He was an active member and shop steward of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU).

From there Jim spent five years in New Zealand and Australia. In 1992, while working in Sydney, Jim met Bedford, New Hampshire native Kathy Sullivan, to whom he would eventually be married. They moved to the U.S. later that year and lived in Boston for several years. After the birth of their first daughter, Molly, they decided to move home to New Hampshire, settling in Manchester in 1997. Over the following years Liam, Lily, and Aidan were added to the family. All four children attended St. Catherine’s Elementary School, Hillside Middle School, and Manchester Central High School.

Jim began his work in the U.S. across various positions in business and tech, eventually working in the cybersecurity space. In the early 2000’s Jim co-founded Caradas, a cybersecurity consultancy and test lab for secure identity products for numerous Fortune 100 companies. Along with his private sector work, he has also implemented many programs in conjunction with all levels of government. From the creation of secure credentials for US military facilities across the globe to mobile payment for toll collection and parking meters, Jim was able to use his professional experience to revisit his lifelong passion for public service.

In recent years, as Vice Chair and citywide elected member of Manchester’s School Board, Jim has led the city’s $306 million capital project to upgrade facilities, determined to deliver world class school buildings for students. On the board, he’s earned a reputation as a results-driven leader who delivered contracts to school employees, the largest increase for educators in the city of Manchester in decades. Beyond his work supporting public school educators, Jim led the effort to implement a $15 minimum wage for hundreds of workers in Manchester.

Now, Jim is running for Executive Council to continue to deliver for our state, bringing his same brand of hard work and practical leadership to Concord to protect reproductive freedom, safeguard public education against extremists and bring people together to make it easier for Granite Staters to live, work and raise a family right here in New Hampshire. As a business person with expertise in public-private partnerships and large-scale projects, Jim knows how to deliver for the public good. He will advance our fight to bring commuter rail to New Hampshire and take on a statewide leadership role on transportation, which is key to growing the Granite State economy.

Among his many community roles, Jim has served as a director for the NH Soccer Association, is a past Board Member of the North Manchester Little League and previously was PTO President at Hillside Middle School.

[3]

—James O'Connell’s campaign website (2024)[1]

James O'Connell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

James O'Connell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

James O'Connell did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2019 Candidate Connection survey.