Voters Guide: Ward 8 State Rep Special Election Today

Latha Mangipudi

Date of birth: May 21, 1961

Your background /education:

Master of Science in Speech and Hearing

Clinical Fellowship at Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary

Experience/Occupation:

I have been a resident of Nashua for 22 years. I have worked in health care and human services at various hospitals and health care providers in Nashua. I currently work for Interim Healthcare in Nashua, providing home care as a Speech Language Pathologist.

Prior elected office, if any:

I served on the Board of Education in Nashua

Personal: Married with two children. Both our children attended public schools in Nashua.

Priorities:

If elected, I would like to focus on working on issues that are very close to my heart:
Education – I affirm my faith in the public education system, and in the teachers and administrators that make this possible. This is only possible if we all work together and support the educators provide this high quality of service.I have been involved in the education system, I served as a co-president of the PTO at Bicentennial Elementary School for two years. In this role, I have rallied parents to be more involved in the school. I was elected to serve on Board of education in Nashua in 2001, I served as a school board member during construction of two new high school, restructuring curriculum and changing high school scheduling.

If elected, I will bring this background to bear to solve the issues of the day and to help the Nashua school system remain competitive. This passion to provide “The best education now!” for every kid has spurred me to take on the challenge of running for the office of the State Rep.

Health and Human Services – As a health service provider for the past 25 years, I have dealt with every segment of the population – from early intervention programs for children, to providing services for senior citizens to live their lives in comfort and with dignity. With the changes in health care regulations, those that are most vulnerable – children, citizens with special needs and seniors need all the help we can provide.

If elected, I will ensure that any legislation in this area will keep the best interest of the citizens in my community.

Encouraging Community Involvement – I’m a firm believer that we all have an obligation to give back to the community and the community involvement ensures a safe and enriching environment for us to live in and prosper.In my years as a resident of Nashua, I have been involved in the local community and have had the honor of serving on the Boards of several organizations. In these engagements, I have understood the need for fiscal responsibility, and how to do more with less.

I seek your assistance to run a successful campaign. Please make sure you vote on Election Day and that you encourage all your friends and family to do the same. If you have any questions or would like further information about my candidacy, please do not hesitate to send me e-mail.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to serving you in the State House.

Why are you running?

As a first generation immigrant, I came to this country with a degree and a desire to work. I arrived here with a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and worked towards a PhD in Behavior Neuro-Sciences at Boston University. My exposure to two very diverse systems and cultures has given me some insights that are unique. I have drawn on these experiences to be effective in my involvement in the community.

Why should voters choose you to represent them? In my years as a resident of Nashua, I have been involved in the local community and have had the honor of serving on the Boards of several organizations. In these engagements, I have understood the need for fiscal responsibility, and how to do more with less. More information: http://www.lathamangipudi.com

Carl Andrade

Date of birth: 1947

Your background /education: I was born in Mechanic Falls, Maine, and moved to Auburn, Maine, when I was 6. At age 12 we moved to Boston, Mass., where I went to school. I met my future wife Tina while she was attending Emerson College. We married in 1969 and made our first home in Melrose, Mass., and a few years later in Nashua. Our son Todd was born in 1971, Susan in 1973 and our youngest, Rosalie, in 1979. We have lived on Clydesdale Circle since 1976. Our children all went to Bicentennial School, Fairgrounds Junior High School and Nashua High. Todd and Susan graduated from UNH and Rosalie from George Washington University.
Experience/Occupation:
In my earlier career, I was in the marketing department of TIME/Life, when I moved to NH I started a Marketing Company which I later sold to the Hearst Corp. In 1989 I joined a division of IDG in Peterborough and helped launch a new magazine for them. In 1993 I started a company called Video Shorts Magazine and in 2000 sold that company as well. That same year I joined a start-up high-tech company which focused on software for medical education. I headed the marketing department and traveled the US and Canada visiting teaching hospitals. That company closed when venture capital funding came to an end and I went into the business development field. After working for other companies for several years I founded Top Tier Connections, Inc. in 2009. TTC is a business development company utilized by software, consulting, marketing and logistic companies to arrange high level meetings with executives the companies wish to do business with. We do the critical first third of the sales process for companies around the country and the world. In my civic life, Mayor Lozeau recently re-appointed me to another term on the Edgewood Cemetery Board of trustees. I am also a member of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce and serve on Nashua's Business and Industrial Development Authority.

Political Experience: The first elective office I ran for was the Nashua Board of Alderman Ward 8 in 1977. There were three candidates to fill the seat left vacant. There was a School Board Member, the general manager of the local radio station and a newcomer.. .me. I won the election in what the Nashua Telegraph called the "biggest upset in the city." I was re-elected two more times. The last time I was elected Ward 8 Alderman I received 70 percent of the vote even though I had two strong opponents. I went on to be elected Alderman at Large twice and President of the Board in 1989-1990. In 1984 I ran for mayor of Nashua when Mayor Arel resigned. James Donchess was elected and I remained on the Board of Aldermen and we both served the city for the next seven years. In 1988 I was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Atlanta and in 2002 I worked at the National Democratic Convention in Boston as a trouble shooter.

Priorities:
1. I want to make sure Nashua is well represented in Concord on issues like Revenue Sharing (making sure we receive our fair share of the Business Profits Tax and aid to education.) Nashua businesses pay a large amount to the Business Profit Tax, Rooms and Meals Tax, Liquor, Gas and Cigarette taxes. Some of that needs to come back to Nashua to help lower our property taxes.

2. Bring Rail Transportation to Nashua. This is more than a convenience issue. It is an economic issue. Rail from Boston to Nashua will allow folks working in Boston to live in Nashua, building our economy.

Why are you running? Why should voters choose you to represent them?

I have shown over a long career in City government that I can be an effective leader, a consensus builder and an advocate for those I represent. Democrats who want to hold our majority in Concord should vote for me because I have the best chance of winning this seat over the Republican candidate.

Peter Silva

Date of birth: March 2, 1960

Your background /education: Graduated from Southington High School in Southington, Ct., in 1978 where I was class president – my first political foray.

Experience/Occupation: I'm regional sales manager forBiomet, a manufacturer of orthopedic implants – knees and hips – and surgical sales.

Prior elected office: Two-term State Rep, initially elected in District 26, serving as House Majority Whip and House Majority Leader.

Personal: Moved to Nashua in 1988. Married with four kids, ages 29 to 14 – two girls and two boys.

Priorities: I would like to make sure we keep voter ID in place. I believe that's very important. I would like to make sure we also reevaluate some of the facets of the welfare system, like EBT cards, which are being abused. Basically, when you have more people riding in the cart than pulling the cart, you're in trouble. I also want to make sure that, at the state level, the health care mandate gets repealed.

Why are you running? The primary reason – it's an unfortunate thing, but the way our government is set up here, it's a volunteer system. Most of the people are retired. I am still working actively, so with only half a term left, I'm able to do it. If I run again after this, if I get elected I don't think I could be a leader again. Other than that, it's one of those things – you're sitting at the kitchen table, talking and complaining about how things are, and it's like the saying goes: put up or shut up.

Why should voters choose you to represent them?

As a politician, you can talk about what you're going to do. I have a track record. You won't find anyone more fiscally responsible than me, and my votes. Whoever I'll be running against will have liberal attitudes. We have to remain as fisically responsible as we can, from social issues to any other issue you can imagine. I actually have a record. There's no guessing with me.