Chris Sununu Biography
Christopher Thomas Sununu, born on November 5, 1974, is a prominent American politician and engineer. He has held the position of the 82nd governor of New Hampshire since 2017, representing the Republican Party.
Prior to his gubernatorial role, Sununu served as a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017.
| Sununu Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Born Name
& Date of birth |
Christopher Thomas Sununu
November 5, 1974 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Valerie Sununu
​
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | John H. Sununu (father) John E. Sununu (brother) |
| Residence | Bridges House |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Website | Government website |
Sununu’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering, which he earned at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Additionally, he has experience as the chief executive officer of the Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire. It’s worth noting that Sununu’s political affiliation is rooted in his family, with every member actively involved in the Republican Party.
In 2021, Sununu introduced an ambitious budget proposal aimed at gradually phasing out New Hampshire’s sole state income tax, specifically focusing on dividends and interest income.
He argued that this tax unfairly affected senior citizens who rely heavily on these income sources. Furthermore, his proposal included slight reductions in other taxes and the implementation of targeted student loan relief for individuals pursuing careers in healthcare, biotechnology, and social work.
Sununu’s political journey has been marked by several notable milestones. He began his third term as governor in January 2021, and in November 2021, amid speculations about his potential candidacy in the 2022 United States Senate election in New Hampshire, he announced his decision to seek a fourth term as governor, a race that he ultimately won.
This achievement made him the second modern governor of New Hampshire to serve four terms, following in the footsteps of John Lynch.
However, on July 19, 2023, Sununu surprised many when he declared that he would not seek a fifth term as governor, signaling a new direction in his political career.
Early Life and Education:
Christopher Thomas Sununu was born into a political family on November 5, 1974. He is the son of former Governor John H. Sununu and Nancy Sununu. Among his siblings is John E. Sununu, a former U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative. Sununu was raised in Salem, New Hampshire.
Sununu’s family heritage is diverse, with his paternal ancestors immigrating to the United States from the Middle East in the early 20th century. His paternal grandmother hailed from El Salvador, born into a prominent Salvadoran family of Lebanese, Hispanic, and Greek descent, with ties to Greek Orthodox Christianity.
His father’s lineage includes Lebanese and Greek roots, with connections to the Greek Orthodox communities in Jerusalem and Beirut. His father’s mother had Greek and Hispanic ancestry.
John H. Sununu, Christopher’s father, was born in Havana, Cuba. Notably, when Christopher Sununu assumed office as governor, he was sworn in using a Greek Orthodox New Testament Bible, an heirloom from his family.
Sununu completed his high school education at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1993.
He later graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1998, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering. After MIT, he briefly pursued a film education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts for two months.
Early Career:
For a decade, Sununu worked as an environmental engineer, specializing in designing solutions for cleaning up waste sites, including soil and groundwater remediation, wastewater treatment plants, and landfill designs.
His career included obtaining the designation of “engineer in training” in California in 2002.
From 2006 to 2010, Sununu served as an owner and director of Sununu Enterprises, a family business and strategic consulting firm based in Exeter, New Hampshire.
The company focused on various aspects of real estate development, venture technologies, and business acquisitions on local, national, and international levels.
In 2010, Sununu led a group of investors in the acquisition of the Waterville Valley Resort. As its CEO, he oversaw the operations of the resort, which employed over 700 people in the White Mountains region.
During his tenure, the resort underwent significant expansion, collaborating with the United States Forest Service to offer a range of activities, including skiing, golf, tennis, mountain biking, and an ice arena.
New Hampshire Executive Council:
Sununu’s political career saw him as a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017, where he made significant contributions.
10-Year Highway Plan:
Notably, Sununu played a crucial role in the development of the 10-Year Plan for 2017–2026, presented to the governor of New Hampshire by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on the Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) on December 16, 2015.
Sununu served as a voting member of GACIT and actively contributed to the blueprint, which took a proactive approach to address financial constraints, considering federal funding of approximately $160 million annually.
Ward Bird:
In 2010, Sununu was part of a unanimous vote by the Executive Council to release Ward Bird from a mandatory three- to six-year prison sentence. Bird had been convicted of brandishing a gun at a trespasser on his property in 2008.
Despite the council’s decision to grant Bird a full pardon, Governor John Lynch vetoed the measure, asserting that it would undermine the judicial system’s thorough review of Bird’s case. Subsequently, the council voted to commute Bird’s sentence, and Lynch upheld this decision.
Managed Medicaid:
In 2011, Sununu organized a series of public hearings to evaluate proposals for Managed Medicaid, a program aimed at helping New Hampshire Medicaid recipients coordinate their healthcare, particularly those with chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, obesity, and mental illness. The program also incorporated wellness and prevention programs as part of Medicaid benefits.
During Sununu’s tenure, a significant amendment to the state’s Medicaid program, costing $292 million and spanning 300 pages, emerged in 2014.
Presented to the Executive Council merely two hours before the scheduled vote, this amendment generated contentious debate. While Sununu and Joseph Kenney, both Republicans, urged Governor Lynch and other Democrats to vote against the contract, it ultimately passed along party lines, with a vote of 3–2.
Governor of New Hampshire:
Christopher Thomas Sununu’s journey to becoming the Governor of New Hampshire includes several electoral victories:
2016: Sununu won the general election, securing victory over Democratic nominee Colin Van Ostern with 48.8% of the vote compared to Van Ostern’s 46.6%.
2018: He was reelected as governor after defeating Democratic nominee Molly Kelly with 52.8% of the vote to Kelly’s 45.7%. Sununu received endorsements from various organizations and news outlets.
2020: Sununu announced his intention to seek a third term as governor, ultimately securing the Republican nomination and winning the general election with a significant margin, receiving the highest number of votes for an elected official in a statewide race.
He outpaced then-President Donald Trump by approximately 151,000 votes in the same election.
2022: In a surprising move, Sununu announced his candidacy for a fourth term as governor rather than running for the U.S. Senate.
He won the Republican primary with 78.66% of the vote and secured the general election with 57.0% of the vote, defeating Democrat Thomas Sherman and Libertarian candidates Karlyn Borysenko and Kelly Halldorson.
This marked the fourth consecutive split-ticket election in the state.
Tenure as Governor:
Sununu assumed office as governor on January 5, 2017, followed by his second term on January 3, 2019, and his third term on January 7, 2021. His tenure has been marked by several significant initiatives:
Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative: In 2018, Sununu launched the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, a nationwide effort to engage employers in supporting individuals recovering from substance use disorder.
More than 40,000 employees in New Hampshire work for designated Recovery Friendly Workplaces. Additionally, Sununu introduced the state’s “hub and spoke model” for addiction recovery in 2018, featuring nine regional hubs coordinating with local “spokes” to provide addiction recovery services.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu criticized members of Congress and the Biden administration for the lack of relief packages. He also expressed concerns about early access to COVID-19 vaccines for members of Congress.
In November 2020, Sununu implemented a statewide mask mandate, which faced protests outside his residence. He opposed what he perceived as federal overreach in mandates.
2024 Presidential Speculation:
In January 2023, Sununu indicated his consideration of a White House bid in 2024, though he did not provide a specific timeline.
However, in June 2023, he officially announced that he would not seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Instead, he expressed his intent to challenge former President Donald Trump, should Trump secure the nomination.
Political Positions:
Christopher Sununu’s political positions encompass a range of topics:
Economic and Fiscal: Sununu opposes New Hampshire’s 5% tax on dividends and interest income, advocating for its gradual phase-out.
He argues that this tax disproportionately impacts senior citizens who rely on such income sources for their livelihood. Additionally, Sununu supports tax cuts for businesses and a reduction in property taxes.
Energy: Sununu has taken steps to limit renewable energy projects’ expansion by vetoing bills that would have increased the limit for net metering.
However, he has also proposed the creation of the New Hampshire Department of Energy to streamline government efforts, with a focus on offshore wind development along New Hampshire’s shoreline.
Donald Trump: Sununu’s relationship with former President Donald Trump has evolved over time. While he reluctantly supported Trump in the 2016 presidential election, he later declared himself a “Trump guy through and through.”
Despite his criticisms of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, Sununu has committed to voting for Trump if he becomes the Republican nominee in 2024.
Social: Sununu holds a pro-choice stance on abortion rights but does not support taxpayer funding for abortions. He supports a ban on partial-birth abortions and, in 2015, voted to defund Planned Parenthood but later reversed his position.
Law Enforcement Reform: In response to the murder of George Floyd, Sununu established the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency (LEACT).
The commission submitted 50 recommendations, including the use of body cameras for police officers, which Sununu endorsed.
COVID-19: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu expressed concerns about federal relief packages and vaccine distribution.
He implemented a statewide mask mandate and opposed perceived federal overreach in mandates.
Personal Life:
Sununu’s personal interests include skiing and rugby, and he completed a five-month through-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1998.
He met his wife, Valerie, in college, and they married in 2001. The couple has three children: Calvin, Edith, and Leonardo, and they reside in Newfields, New Hampshire.
Christopher T. Sununu: The Republican Governor Shaping New Hampshire’s Future
Christopher Thomas Sununu, a distinguished American politician and accomplished engineer, has been at the helm of New Hampshire’s governance since 2017. Serving as the 82nd Governor of the state, Sununu’s tenure has been marked by a commitment to fiscal reform, economic growth, and social progress. This article delves into the life, career, and political journey of a man who is not just the scion of a prominent political family but also a transformative figure in New Hampshire’s political landscape.
A Family Legacy in Politics
The Sununu family’s political legacy runs deep in New Hampshire. Christopher is the son of former New Hampshire Governor John H.
Sununu, and his older brother, John E. Sununu, has also served as both a U.S. Representative and Senator. A commitment to Republican values and public service is a common thread that binds this family together.
Academic Excellence and Early Life
A Multifaceted Upbringing
Born in Salem, New Hampshire, on November 5, 1974, Christopher Sununu grew up in a family where public service was revered. His diverse ancestry, stemming from the Middle East, El Salvador, Greece, and Hispanic heritage, highlights the rich tapestry of his background.
Educational Pursuits
Sununu pursued higher education with fervor, earning a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His dedication to academic excellence laid the foundation for a successful career.
Environmental Engineering
Sununu embarked on a career as an environmental engineer, specializing in soil and groundwater remediation, wastewater treatment plants, and landfill designs. His innovative solutions helped address environmental challenges.
Entrepreneurship and Waterville Valley Resort
In 2010, Sununu became the CEO of Waterville Valley Resort, a family business. Under his leadership, the resort underwent significant expansion, offering diverse recreational opportunities in the picturesque White Mountains region.
Service on the New Hampshire Executive Council
A Six-Year Tenure
From 2011 to 2017, Sununu served on the New Hampshire Executive Council, contributing to the state’s decision-making process.
The 10-Year Highway Plan
Sununu’s role on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on the Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) significantly influenced the state’s 10-Year Plan, which prioritized infrastructure development and financial responsibility.
Governorship: A New Chapter Begins
Election Victories
In 2016, Sununu secured a victory in the gubernatorial race, defeating the Democratic nominee, Colin Van Ostern. He was reelected in 2018, overcoming the challenge posed by Molly Kelly.
Sununu’s popularity among various organizations and news outlets played a pivotal role in his electoral successes.
A Dynamic Governorship
As Governor of New Hampshire, Sununu initiated the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, aimed at supporting those recovering from substance use disorder. His administration also introduced innovative approaches to addiction recovery services.
Political Positions and Future Prospects
Economic and Fiscal Policies
Sununu’s approach to taxation, particularly his stance on eliminating the state income tax on dividends and interest income, reflects his commitment to fiscal responsibility and support for senior citizens.
Energy and Environmental Policies
His views on renewable energy projects and the creation of the New Hampshire Department of Energy highlight his commitment to addressing environmental concerns.
Presidential Speculation
While Christopher Sununu briefly considered a White House bid in 2024, he ultimately decided to focus on state leadership, demonstrating his dedication to the people of New Hampshire.
Conclusion:
Christopher T. Sununu’s journey from an accomplished engineer to a transformative governor embodies his commitment to public service and a vision for a prosperous New Hampshire.
As he continues to shape the state’s future, his legacy as a leader who values fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and social progress will undoubtedly endure.
Chris Sununu Facts
– Christopher Thomas Sununu: American politician and engineer, serving as New Hampshire’s 82nd governor since 2017, affiliated with the Republican Party.
– Educational Background: Holds a Bachelor of Science in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
– Early Career: Worked as an environmental engineer specializing in waste site cleanup before entering family business and real estate consulting.
– New Hampshire Executive Council: Served from 2011 to 2017, contributing to transportation planning and various decisions.
– 10-Year Highway Plan: Played a key role in developing the 10-Year Plan for 2017–2026, addressing financial constraints.
– Ward Bird: Joined a unanimous vote to release Ward Bird from a prison sentence; later became a contentious issue.
– Managed Medicaid: Led public hearings on Managed Medicaid proposals and advocated for wellness programs for Medicaid recipients.
– Governorship: Elected governor in 2016, reelected in 2018 and 2020, and won a fourth term in 2022, becoming a prominent figure in New Hampshire politics.
– Achievements as Governor: Launched the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explored potential presidential bid.
– Political Positions: Known for a fiscally conservative stance, opposition to certain taxes, and his dynamic relationship with former President Donald Trump.
– Social and Policy Positions: Takes a pro-choice stance on abortion rights but opposes taxpayer funding for abortions. Advocates for law enforcement reform and transparency.
– Personal Life: Enjoys skiing and rugby, completed a hike of the Appalachian Trail, and resides in Newfields, New Hampshire, with his wife Valerie and three children.