Watters for State Senate

Who am I?

David Watters has worked as a professor of English, teaching American literature, New England studies, and New Hampshire literature and culture at the University of New Hampshire since 1978. His wife, Jan Alberghene, is also an English professor who works at Fitchburg State University. Their son, Harper, is a Corps member at Houston Ballet.

Raised in West Hartford, Connecticut and educated at Dartmouth College and Brown University, Davids commitment to public service was inspired by his father, who was a Veterans Administration doctor for fifty years, and by his mother, who, after recuperating from polio, worked for Easter Seals to promote its sheltered workshop in Hartford. Moving to Dover from Newmarket in 1984, David began community service by tutoring at the Dover Adult Learning Center, served as a Ward 1 selectman, and worked on Democratic campaigns. He served a term as chair of the Strafford County Democratic Committee and many terms on the Democratic State Committee.

At the University of New Hampshire, David teaches courses on New Hampshire and New England literature, history, and culture. He coedited The Encyclopedia of New England and has written books and essays on literature and about New Englands old gravestones. He has served on the executive committee of the UNH faculty union. David is frequently heard on New Hampshire Public Radio as consultant for Granite State Stories and the Immigration Project. Deeply concerned about preserving our history, culture, arts, and environment, David served eight years as a trustee of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and on the board of directors for the New Hampshire Humanities, the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Pontine Movement Theatre, Strawbery Banke Museums Center for the Study of Community, and the Robert Frost Farm. He has visited hundreds of local libraries and historical societies to give talks.

David enjoys getting outdoors to run and ski, or going down cellar to his shop to do woodworking, especially making Shaker oval boxes. David and Jan go to Houston whenever they can to see Harper dance.

Why am I running?

I am declaring my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the state senate in District 4: Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford, and Somersworth. The campaign will be for the values of the voters of the district: work, community, and equality. An experienced legislator deeply involved in public service, I look forward to the opportunity to serve the people of the district and to fight for our shared values.

This will be first and foremost a campaign based in values. The value of work, including equal opportunity, entrepreneurial independence, and a living wage, has made New Hampshire strong. We value communities that educate our children, provide public safety and services, and care for the elderly. We all know that Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford, and Somersworth are great places to live because people and local government have worked together, not apart. Equality is the granite foundation of who we are in America, even as we struggle to realize the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in our own times.

The current legislature in Concord lost its way in divisive attacks on educators, womens health, unions, the environment, and marriage equality. This campaign is about improving the economy and restoring respect and civility. As an educator and a union member, I will be a voice for the hardworking citizens who educate our children, keep our streets safe, and provide the services a community wants from government. I will defend the right to collective bargaining. Public education is essential to our economy and our civic life. The state must not abandon its responsibility of shared funding for our schools and for higher education.

My Goals

I will work to restore civility and common sense to the state senate by working across party lines to restore funding for education. I will support community values by working for funding for the elderly and others in need, for the environment, for women's health, for collective bargaining rights, and for equality for all of our citizens.

My DFA Values

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My Campaign is People Powered!

This campaign is active in every community through door-to-door conversations and phone calls. House parties, coffees, and public forums began in April and will continue to the election. Most importantly, the ideas and issues of the campaign arise from the voices and values of citizens in the district. As a union member, I especially appreciate the support and ideas of working people who have joined the campaign.

Voice support

1 person supports this campaign.


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