NEA-NH Elections

NEA-New Hampshire Election Information 

NEA-New Hampshire is led and run by its members. Our Executive Board is made up of members who are elected by members in their region. The 2025 NEA-NH Election will open on March 8 at 12:01 am and close on March 22 at 5:00 p.m. Members of record as of January 15, 2025 are eligible to vote. (NEA-NH Bylaws state that student members, associate members, and staff are not eligible to vote.)  

Candidate Filing Information – Filing Deadline is January 15, 2025

NEA-New Hampshire is led and run by its members. Our Executive Board is made up of members who are elected by members in their region.

It’s no secret that public education in New Hampshire is under relentless attack. Are you ready to help lead the organization that is the biggest and loudest advocate for our schools, our students, and our members?  

The following offices are up for election in March 2025*: 

Filing Period Deadline:
The filing period to run for NEA-New Hampshire offices closes at 5:00 p.m. January 15, 2025. All candidates for office must file in writing for the office for which they wish to run. All that is needed is a simple statement of your intent to be a candidate and the office for which you are running. For example, “It is my intent to run for Executive Board member for the North Country Region.” Include your name and the local association in which you are a member. This statement needs to be sent to: 

The Elections Committee
c/o Rick Trombly, NEA–NH,
9 South Spring Street, Concord, NH 03301
or at rtrombly@nhnea.org. 

*A list of declared candidates, updated on a rolling basis, can be found at the bottom of this website.

Important Election Deadlines: 

• 1/15/25 by 5:00 pm: Candidate’s Intention to Run for Office due 
• 1/15/25 by 5:00 pm: Candidate’s Statement and Photo for the Educator due 
• 3/8/25: Voting Opens
• 3/22/25 at 5:00 pm: Voting Closes  
• Voting will take place between March 8 and 22, 2024. 

Important Information for Candidates:

Pursuant to NEA-NH policies, candidates are given time to address members at budget hearings. This will be typed on all Notices of Budget Hearings which shall be provided to all candidates.

Candidates are entitled to submit statements and photographs for the March issue of The Educator. Statements and photos must be received by 5:00 pm on January 15, 2025. In accordance with Board policy, the following procedures apply:

• Candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and NEA Director shall have the opportunity to submit: (a) A statement of not more than 100 words supporting their candidacy and (b) A photograph to accompany the statement.
• Candidates for NEA-NH Executive Board Regional seats and for the Retiree and ESP seats shall have the opportunity to submit: (a) A statement of not more than 50 words supporting their candidacy and (b) A photograph to accompany the statement.
• Candidates for NEA RA Delegate shall have the opportunity to submit: (a) A statement of not more than 25 words supporting their candidacy and (b) A photograph to accompany the statement.
• Candidates who have timely filed their Intent to Run, but who do not file a statement and/or photo in advance of The Educator deadline, shall have only their name and local association listed under the office for which they have filed.

Please note: In all instances, The Educator is not responsible for the quality of the reproduction of the photos. Please send all material for The Educator to the Elections Committee, c/o Rick Trombly, NEA-NH, 9 South Spring Street, Concord, NH 03301, or rtrombly@nhnea.org.

Mailing Labels: Upon written or email request of any candidate, NEA-NH will make mailing labels available for the purpose of their campaign. These mailing labels come directly from NEA- NH and are available at no charge to NEA-NH candidates running for any NEA-NH office. Mail requests for labels to Paula Gailing, NEA-NH, 9 South Spring Street, Concord, NH, 03301 or send an email to pgailing@nhnea.org.

Candidate Ads: Candidates can also purchase ad space in The Educator (digital and print editions). Ads are not subject to the word limits that apply to candidate statements. Candidates should contact Sara Persechino at spersechino@nhnea.org for rate and placement information.

Other Important Information: 

• NEA-New Hampshire elections open 12:01 am March 8 and close at 5:00 pm March 22. Members of record as of January 15, 2025, are eligible to vote. (NEA-NH Bylaws state student members, associate members, and staff are not eligible to vote.)
• Candidate names will be printed on ballots in the order declarations of Intent to Run were received, by office. Candidate names will appear as submitted on the Intent to Run.
• “In writing” means that the Elections Committee must physically receive such notification by letter or email by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on January 15, 2025. 
• Voting is conducted electronically, and instructions will be delivered via email. Instructions to access your ballot will be provided in that email. Paper ballots may be requested in advance by contacting rtrombly@nhnea.org.

Declared Candidates as of November 15, 2024:

• Kimberly Bleier – Capital Region RA Delegate
• Lisa Dillingham – Eastern Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)
• Somayeh Kashi – Capital Region RA Delegate
• Zak Babcock – Lakes Region RA Delegate
• Celest Feren – Eastern Region RA Delegate
• Diana Griffin – Unfunded Retired Rep to RA
• Tracy Bricchi – Retired Rep to RA
• Matt Castagna – Capital Region RA Delegate
• Lisa Dillingham – Eastern Region RA Delegate
• Carolyn Leite – Souther Region RA Delegate
• Terry Burlingame – Lakes Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)
• Joanne Lazarus – Seacoast Region RA Delegate
• Zak Babcok – NEA Director (3-year)
• Joanna Lazarus – Seacoast Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)
• Melissa Alexander – Monadnock Region RA Delegate
• Melissa Alexander – Monadnock Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)
• Sarah Burgess – Monadnock Region Representative to the Executive Board (1-year)
• Lisa Titus – Eastern Region RA Delegate
• Lisa Titus – Eastern Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)
• Chris Helali – Wester Region Representative to the Executive Board (2-year)