Lily Foss

Lily M. Foss was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. She earned a bachelor's degree from Scripps College in 2013. Her career experience includes working in advocacy.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My family first came to Manchester from Ireland in 1905. My great-great-grandmother, an immigrant from County Cork, was a CIO organizer in the Mills. Her daughter, my great-grandmother, was a nurse at the VA who raised three children as a single mother after she was widowed when my grandfather was only eight. My mother and grandmother have been my biggest supporters throughout this race and ingrained in me many of the values that are central to my campaign, including reproductive freedom, labor rights, and the importance of a strong social safety net. I'm immensely proud of the four generations of strong, Manchester women who got me where I am today, and I'm also proud of myself and the work I've put in to learn and shape my own values. My positions are based on data about what Granite Staters want and the potential impact of policies, not what any outside entities determine for me. I'm an out-of-the-box thinker who is passionate about the potential of government to improve people's lives, but thoughtful about how to make that change happen. This balance will make me an effective and responsible legislator.

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?

In a UNH poll, Granite Staters said that housing was a higher concern for them than any other issue. In my day job, I work as a fair housing advocate doing outreach and education. Personally, I am also a renter, and I've experienced the crushing weight of high rents and low availability. I believe that we need to have affordable and fair housing, which includes housing choice. We can't just concentrate affordable housing in one part of a community; people should be able to choose their neighborhood, their commute, their children's schools, and the myriad other factors that go into selecting a place to live.Environmental justice is tied closely to housing choice for me. When we think of environmental issues, we think of things like clean energy, climate change, and recycling. What people don't often think of is the inequality perpetuated by bad environmental policy. For example, people in areas of the city that have poorer residents often experience more light and sound pollution. The parks near them are not as well-maintained, and it isn't easy to access green spaces. They may not have a living space that allows for air conditioning, or they may not be able to pay the bills associated with climate control. It's vitally important to legislate environmental policy with a social justice mindset.One of my earliest political memories is of my mother discussing abortion rights with me--I was probably around five or six. She and my grandmother are staunchly pro-choice, and I am proud to continue that legacy. I've been actively advocating for reproductive freedom since I was in college, and I hope to do the same in the State House. The fact that New Hampshire is the only New England state with an abortion ban is shameful, and the fact that some legislators tried to pass a stricter ban is disgraceful and does not reflect the wishes of Granite Staters--polling data shows that. I would fight to repeal our existing abortion ban and pass an affirmative right to an abortion.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing, social justice, reproductive freedom, labor rights, public education, stopping public funding of religious education.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I am an agnostic Unitarian Universalist, and the Seven/Eight Principles of Unitarian Universalism reflect the overarching philosophy that guides me. I also take inspiration from an Irish proverb that (translated) says, "It is in the shelter of each other that people live."

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

Integrity, accountability, conviction, creativity, and listening skills.

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

People need to be willing to go out and actually interact with their constituents. If you never encounter the people who elected you, how will you know how to represent them? If I am elected and can work out the logistics, I would like to have "office hours" where constituents can come talk to me, whether it's to discuss an issue or just to chat.

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

I turned six the month before Bill Clinton was elected to a second term. That summer, I made "campaign signs" with magic marker and stuck them around our apartment. They were very eloquent: "NO Steve Forbes. NO Pat Buchanan. YES Bill Clinton." I wouldn't get them printed now, but they weren't too bad for a five-year-old!

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

I worked at Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Mall of New Hampshire from ages 16-22 and absolutely loved it! It taught me so much about how to relate to people and make persuasive points, as well as providing me with lifelong friends (one of whom is now a potential constituent).

What is your favorite book? Why?

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," which I first read at age 11, the same age Francie is at the beginning of the book. Francie's growth and the honesty with which the people around her are depicted are so beautiful, and I relate to her in many ways.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Undoubtedly something from The Tortured Poets Department.

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

The current housing crisis is untenable. If things continue the way they're going, the only people who can afford to live here will be the affluent few or those who were fortunate enough to purchase a house many years ago when they were actually affordable, like my parents and grandparents. I am the first person in my family for generations to not own property by my age, and my rent is currently higher than my parents' mortgage. The trend of building housing that is only affordable to those coming to the state to work in the tech field (a field which, to be clear, has been a positive development in the state) will drive out people like nurses, teachers, firefighters, social service retail and food service professionals, and anyone else who cannot afford to pay $1,800 for a one-bedroom apartment (the current average in Manchester, per rent.com).

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

I think it can be helpful to the legislator, as it's easier to understand how government works and how to run a campaign if you already know something about it. But for the legislative body as a whole, I think it benefits from diversity of experience among the members. For example, while I do have a degree in Politics & International Relations, my experience in non-partisan housing advocacy informs much of my campaign and would inform my legislative priorities if I am elected. I have had quite the diverse job history, from public school special education to AmeriCorps anti-hunger advocacy, pharmacy billing to janitorial work. All of it is important to my perspective and allows me to connect with more Granite Staters that I would be able to if my experience was limited to politics.

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

Absolutely. By building relationships with other legislators, we can combine our knowledge and experience to create better policy. We also have a better chance of getting things passed.

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

She wasn't a New Hampshire legislator, but Shirley Chisholm has been an inspiration to me since I was in college. I have one of her campaign posters on the wall of my office.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The New Hampshire Young Democrats, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, SEIU 1984, the New Hampshire Youth Movement, the New Hampshire Sierra Club, Teamsters Local 663, the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, 603 Equality, the Center for Freethought Equality, 350 New Hampshire Action, the NH-NEA (candidate recommendation), Moms Demand Action (candidate distinction, and outgoing Hillsborough 41 Representative Mary Heath.