STATE SENATE, District 5
Also part of the A Seat at the Table initiative are races ‘On the Radar’ where we highlight primaries with multiple candidates who will fight to protect our reproductive rights. A Seat at the Table was designed by Annie to support women running for state and local office in New Hampshire, helping to build a bench of progressive leaders for generations to come.
Below are the two candidates running for State Senate to represent District 5 who Annie Kuster knows will stand up and fight for our reproductive rights.
Meet them now!
BEATRIZ PASTOR
Beatriz Pastor (D-Lyme) served in the NH House of Representatives for three consecutive terms, from 2008 to 2014, working on the Science, Energy and Technology Committee all three terms. She has lived in Lyme and taught at Dartmouth College since 1976 and was married to mathematics professor Dwight Lahr for 30 years. Their four children went to public school in Lyme and Hanover. In 2014 her husband’s illness required that she focus more completely on his care and well-being, and she realized that she could no longer give her legislative work the attention it demanded. During her time in the House, Beatriz spearheaded the PACE energy efficiency initiative and sponsored legislation as far back as 2011 to expand the broadband access that we now need more than ever. Beatriz also supported legislation to expand accessible, affordable healthcare for all, protect women’s reproductive rights, promote criminal justice reform, protect voting rights, and prevent gun violence.
As a parent and as a life-long passionate educator, Beatriz understands the value of education. She will do whatever it takes to finally provide the state support needed for high quality K-12 education throughout New Hampshire.
SUE PRENTISS
Suzanne Prentiss (D-Lebanon), BA, MPA, Paramedic, is serving her sixth term as a Lebanon City Councilor and has completed two terms as Mayor. In her more than a decade on the Lebanon City Council, she has championed a common sense, progressive agenda while protecting the best interests of property taxpayers. She spearheaded an initiative to recognize the importance of arts and culture to the Lebanon economy and has fought hard to bring state resources to the Westboro Yard in downtown West Lebanon.
Prentiss has held leadership positions in healthcare and public safety at the national, state, regional and local levels. In 1992, she was the Project Director for Dartmouth Medical Schools’ federally funded rural health outreach initiative focusing on improving the primary healthcare safety net in the Upper Valley through strengthening the EMS system.
Prentiss is a graduate of Saint Michael's College, University of Phoenix, Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Leadership NH Class of 2014 and a 2016 NH Hoffman-Haas Fellow.
The Councilor for District 5 represents the cities and towns of Canaan, Charlestown, Claremont, Cornish, Enfield, Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, and Plainfield.