NH Endorsements Early Christmas Present for Romney: Manchester Mayor Gatsas, Tea Party Activist Thomson

Good news continues to roll in from The Granite State…

Mitt Romney has received the sought-after endorsement of Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and top NH Tea Party leader, Tom Thomson.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11 … Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney secured one of the few remaining major political endorsements in the New Hampshire on Monday morning when he is joined by Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas in an appearance on the city’s west side.

“I look at where somebody wants to take this country, and right now it’s about jobs,” Gatsas told the New Hampshire Sunday News, which first reported on the endorsement yesterday. “It’s about building a better economy, and I feel Mitt Romney is the right person for the job.”

The mayor endorsed the former Massachusetts governor at at Chez Vachon restaurant on Kelley Street, a long-time popular stop for presidential candidates.

Gatsas, who won his second term as Manchester’s mayor in November after being elected five times to the state Senate and five times as a city alderman, was heavily courted by presidential hopefuls.

He appeared or spoke with virtually all major presidential candidates during the past several months.

Gatsas joined a crowded stable of establishment Granite State Republican officials _ current and former _ backing Romney. They include U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, former Gov. John H. Sununu, former Sen. Judd Gregg, U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, nine state senators and 58 state House members, including House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt.
[...]

From Romney Press Office:

“Ted Gatsas is an outstanding mayor and a dedicated public servant. As a successful entrepreneur, Ted understands the challenges facing small business owners, and he has supported pro-growth policies that will help them create jobs,” said Governor Romney. “I am proud to have earned Ted’s support and am honored to have him join my campaign to cut taxes, jump start our economy and restore fiscal sanity in Washington.”

Announcing his support of Governor Romney, Mayor Gatsas said, “Mitt Romney has the skills and the executive experience that the next president will need to turn around our struggling economy. After spending 25 years in the private sector as a successful businessman, Mitt knows how to balance budgets, fix broken enterprises and create jobs. He is also the strongest Republican candidate with the best organization to take on President Obama in 2012,” said Mayor Gatsas. “I am also impressed with the time and effort that he has invested in New Hampshire. Mitt is running the type of traditional grassroots campaign that Granite Staters expect from presidential candidates and he is working hard to earn the support needed to win the primary.”
(emphasis added)

Background On Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas:

Mayor Ted Gatsas is a lifelong resident of Manchester. Gatsas co-founded Staffing Network, an employee-leasing company that grew to be one of the largest employers in New England. Gatsas first took elective office in 2000 as the Manchester Ward 2 Alderman and served 5 terms (2000–2010). He was also elected to the New Hampshire State Senate representing District 16 from 2000-2009. He served as President of the State Senate from 2004-2006. On November 3, 2009, Mayor Gatsas was elected as Manchester’s 47th Mayor and was sworn in on January 5, 2010. He resides in Ward 2 with his wife Cassandra.

Top NH Tea Party leader endorses Romney
By John DiStaso
Dec 12, 2011

Tom Thomson, leader of NH Americans for Prosperity Tea Party advocacy group

MANCHESTER — Leading state Tea Party activist and long-time “ax-the-tax” advocate Tom Thomson has chosen Mitt Romney as his presidential candidate.

Thomson, honorary chairman of the conservative Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire advocacy group and co-organizer of three annual April 15 Tea Party AFP-Tea Party rallies at the New Hampshire State House, endorsed the former Massachusetts governor at today at Madison Lumber Mill in West Ossipee.
]…]
“I was a Tea Party activist before it was cool,” Thomson said. “And as a Tea Party person, I believe the best avenue to the White House is through Mitt Romney.”

Thomson has been collecting presidential candidates’ signatures on his “My Pledge to the American People,” whose goals include cutting spending, taxes, fees and regulations, reducing the national debt and cutting the size of government.

(emphasis added)

Good work, Santa!

► Jayde Wyatt


UPDATE from Romney Press Office on Thomson’s endorsement:

“For many years, Tom Thomson has been the leading pro-growth, anti-tax advocate in the Granite State. Tom has honored the legacy of his father Governor Mel Thomson by understanding that low taxes are the result of low spending, and by continuing his father’s fight to cut spending, reduce taxes and protect the New Hampshire Advantage,” said Mitt Romney. “Tom is a trusted conservative and I am grateful to have his endorsement as I spread my pro-jobs message throughout New Hampshire and earn the support that is needed to win the primary and return fiscal sanity to Washington.”

Announcing his support for Governor Romney, Tom Thomson said: “I believe this election will be a defining moment in our nation’s history and that Mitt Romney, like Ronald Reagan, can lead this great nation to a brighter future. I believe he has the presidential leadership, private sector experience and skills needed to get the job done. Governor Romney has a record of cutting taxes and he was the first major candidate to sign the ‘No New Taxes’ pledge. I believe, as my late father did, if you are serious about opposing and cutting taxes, you must be willing to sign the pledge as Romney has done. Mitt has also learned excellent business skills which he developed in the private sector. Washington desperately needs an outsider with business skills like Mitt Romney.”

Background On Manchester Conservative Leader Tom Thomson:

Tom Thomson Is The Leading Anti-Tax Leader In The State Of New Hampshire. He currently serves as honorary co-chair of Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire. He and his family run and operate the Thomson Family Tree Farm in Orford, NH. In 1975 he returned with his brother, Robb, to run Equity Publishing while his father served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1973 to 1979. Shortly thereafter, Tom became President and Robb Vice President of the family law book publishing company until the business was sold in 1989 to Reed Publishing, an International Legal Publisher. Tom has served as the past vice-chair of the Tree Farm National Operating Committee and Chair of the Tree Farm National Policy Committee and has served six years on the National Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB) Resource Committee (Forest Certification) representing Family Forest Landowners throughout the United States. He also serves as regional Vice President for National Woodland Owners Association and is member of the Forest Landowners Association (FLA).