On the trail: As D’Allesandro ends 50-year career in state politics, he promises to work on behalf of down-ballot Democrats

NH State House

NH State House File

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

For the Monitor

Published: 10-11-2024 1:41 PM

After 50 years serving in New Hampshire’s government as a state representative, executive councilor, and state senator, Thursday was Sen. Lou D’Allesandro’s final day on the Senate floor in an active capacity, as senators voted on a series of vetoes by the governor.

And for retiring state Senate President Jeb Bradley, the Republican senator from Wolfeboro, it was the last day holding the chamber’s gavel. Bradley is a longtime state lawmaker who also served two terms as a U.S. representative in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District.

D’Allesandro, a Democrat from Manchester, said his half-century in politics and public service felt like it went by quickly.

“Fifty years ago, I walked up those front steps and walked into the Hall of Flags and I can’t believe it passed like in a New York minute. And here I am 50 years later leaving,” the retiring lawmaker told the Monitor.

The one-time teacher pointed to his students, highlighting that “I had one that became Secretary of State, I had two that became Speakers of the House, and I think maybe I made a difference. It wasn’t easy but maybe I made a difference. Maybe I made the lives of people in the state of New Hampshire better.”

While he’s wrapping up active service in state government, the lawmaker known as the “dean of the state Senate” isn’t ruling out further less formal involvement.

“There’s a lot to do and I think I have something to contribute,” he noted.

On the front burner for D’Allesandro, the upcoming elections.

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The one-time Republican who turned a Democrat long ago said “I’m working hard for down-ballot Democrats.”

“Certainly working hard for Joyce Craig in the governor’s race because I think that’s critical,” D’Allesandro said of former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who’s facing off with former Republican U.S. Senator and former state attorney general Kelly Ayotte in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Chris Sununu. “Controlling the governor’s office is going to be absolutely vital.”

He added that he’s also helping his party as it aims to win control of the state Senate, where Republicans currently control the chamber 14-10. And in the lower chamber, where the GOP holds a razor-thin majority, D’Allesandro said “There’s a full court press to get control of the House.”

D’Allesandro predicted that “we’re in for some tough sledding the next couple of years and we need some good leadership to take us through this difficult period.”

He was pessimistic about the current state of campaign politics, lamenting “I can’t believe the amount of money being spent in this governor’s race. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen political ads as brutal as the ones I’ve seen on the television every day.”

“The money that’s involved in politics now versus 50 years ago is unbelievable,” he emphasized.

The 86-year-old D’Allesandro said that when he entered politics “a lot of people involved were in my opinion in for the right reasons.”

“I think that’s changed,” he argued.

And he claimed that nowadays some enter public service “to do specific things for themselves and get out rather than the good for everyone. It’s definitely a change.”