Pignatelli Seeks District 5 Executive Council Seat

Debora Pignatelli of Nashua has announced her plans to run for the Executive Council seat in District 5.

Pignatelli, a winner of 11 previous elections as a State Representative, a State Senator, and an Executive Councilor, and long-time Nashua resident, lost her bid for re-election on 2010 to David Wheeler.

“I think I got caught up in a wave election against incumbents because of the bad economy,” Pignatelli said. She said she now senses voters are having second thoughts and are focusing more on New Hampshire issues.

Pignatelli touted her record in her six years on the Council as a strong advocate for the people, businesses and communities in District 5, from Nashua to Peterborough to Keene. She argued strongly against No-Bid Contracts, open government, highly qualified judges, toll fairness for Merrimack and the DMV in Nashua. Recent developments in Concord have prompted Pignatelli’s decision to run.

“Everything turned sharply to the right-wing viewpoint, and I don’t believe that is a good development. It seems politicians have tried to re-litigate issues that were resolved years ago. They have made moves that will change the face of New Hampshire, and not in a good way.”

The Executive Council is not well understood, but it wields a lot of power.

“Most importantly, an Executive Councilor needs to have good judgment. He or she votes to approve millions of dollars in state spending, to approve all our judges and state agency heads and so much more. I’m not at all happy with the poor judgment exercised by this Council.”

Pignatelli criticized incumbent David Wheeler for his deciding votes leading to the defeat for the Rail Feasibility Study, funding for Planned Parenthood, job development, law enforcement and domestic violence prevention programs. Pignatelli also took issue with Wheeler’s votes against the Public Utilities Consumer Advocate and against reasonable environmental protection measures. 

“I think it was irresponsible to kill these very important measures,” she said. Pignatelli said that rail is not a partisan issue and has been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. “It is an important economic development measure that could expand transportation alternatives in an age of increasing gas prices,” Pignatelli said.

She is a longtime advocate against domestic violence criticized what she said was Wheeler’s abysmal record, one more in tune with political thinking a hundred years ago. “He votes to de-fund any enlightened initiatives.”

When asked about the effect of re-districting on her chances for victory, Pignatelli said she is prepared to run regardless of the district’s boundaries. She has always enjoyed a huge victory margin in Keene, one of the communities that might be moved to another District. “I can’t do anything about it. I’ll just work harder.”

Pignatelli invites interested voters to view her website: www.debpignatelli.com

Ward 5 includes: Amherst, Antrim, Bennington, Brookline, Chesterfield, Deering, Dunbarton, Fitzwilliam, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Henniker, Hillsborough, Hinsdale, Hollis, Jaffrey, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Boston, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Sharon, Swanzey, Temple, Troy, Weare, Westmoreland, Wilton, Winchester, Windsor, and the city of Nashua.