Candidate Bio: Suzanne Mercier Vail, State Rep

Suzanne Mercier Vail

Age: 50

Education: BA Psychology, University of NH Psychology, Suma Cum Laude, 1995; Won a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Grant, 1991, University of NH. 

Continuing education includes: economics, government, communications, sociology, and criminology at the Universities of New Hampshire and of Massachusetts.  I have studied Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology at the New Hampshire Technical Colleges.

Experience/Occupation: For more than 10 years have provided inpatient psychiatric care at several area hospitals, after which I moved into the community to provide more than nine years of intensive case management services at two of New Hampshire's largest Community Mental Health Centers.

Active Member of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team (DBHRT) having joined in 2008. This Team is composed of mental health providers who volunteer to provide psychological first aid during large and small scale disasters when deployed by (DHHS) following requests for emergency help from both New Hampshire and national emergency response systems

Is presently working as a Licensed Nurse Assistant.

Prior elected office: None

Personal: Sue is a third-generation Nashua native with interests in all things Nashua.  I love to advocate for the preservation of the city's history and heritage, explore its land use and culture in the present, and I share great concerns for its future with others.

Mother of three beautiful, successful daughters, all born and raised in Nashua. The oldest two relocated to Burlington, Vt., and to Logan, Utah, respectively, to seek affordable education in the health and environmental sciences. The youngest of the three is an exceptional student in Junior High School in Nashua.

Priorities for Nashua and NH: Successful advocacy and leadership (for constituents), preservation of the NH State Constitution, promotion of jobs, improvement to infrastructure, access to healthcare, attraction to businesses, restoration of affordable high quality education.  Will work to respond to constituents and represent all in a dignified manner with in the spirit of teamwork.

Final question: Why are you running? I care about the true concerns of New Hampshire Citizens and the challenges they face. This has kindled a strong desire to contribute my knowledge and experience by participating in our Citizens’ Legislature.

I hope to work with a diverse team of fellow representatives to provide access to eat better way of life for every citizen and voter in New Hampshire.

I want to spend many thoughtful hours and days helping the citizens of New Hampshire to make New Hampshire a place where people want to be. I want people to feel the freedom to exist here in all ways, specifically; to work, live, seek education, travel, operate a business, heal, relax, play - and feel safe and sound.