Ann McLane Kuster '78 a Dartmouth lobbyist and well-known political activist whose family has long held a prominent place in New Hampshire politics has announced that she will seek election in 2010 to be the U.S. representative for the New Hampshire 2nd Congressional District.
Kuster will run for the seat to be vacated by Rep. Paul Hodes '72, D-N.H., who is mounting a campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Kuster has already hired Kari Thurman, the finance director for Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's, D-N.H., successful campaign last fall.
Kuster, 52, is an attorney, activist and lobbyist.
A shareholder in the Concord-based law firm Rath, Young & Pignatelli, Kuster's clients include the College, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NARAL Pro-Choice and multiple other education and health care institutions.
In an interview with The Dartmouth, Kuster said that if elected, she plans to focus on health care reform, access to higher education, environmental protection and abortion rights.
"I'm very excited to go to Washington to represent the hard working families in New Hampshire and help support the president's work to change the country," Kuster said.
Kuster has never before sought public office an attribute she said will help her in the election.
"I'm a community activist," she said "My campaign will be grassroots, New Hampshire style. I'll win one living room and one handshake at a time."
Kuster was an early supporter of then Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency. She served on his statewide steering committee and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, co-chaired New Hampshire's Women for Obama committee, and campaigned for Obama throughout the primary and general election.
Kuster's family contains numerous luminaries from both Dartmouth and New Hampshire politics. She is the daughter of former state Sen. Susan McLane, who ran for Congress in 1980, and former Concord mayor Malcolm McLane '46, who ran for New Hampshire governor in 1972. Her paternal grandfather, Lloyd Neidlinger, served as Dean of the College for 20 years.
Kuster is a first cousin of Andy McLane '69 Tu'73. McLane residence hall was named in recognition of a major contribution McLane and his wife Linda gave to the College.
Kuster also has two sons currently enrolled at Dartmouth: Zach Kuster '11 and Travis Kuster '13. Zach Kuster is a member of the Dartmouth staff.
"My mom has devoted her career as an attorney to helping New Hampshire families and small businesses," Zach Kuster said in an interview with The Dartmouth. "I hope that voters in 2010 give her a chance to go to Washington and continue to work tirelessly for the state that she loves."
Kuster is one of a number of Democrats interested in the 2nd District seat. Concord state Rep. John DeJoie and former Sharon state Sen. Mark Fernald have also both announced their candidacies.
Other possible Democratic candidates often mentioned include political activist Katrina Swett and New Hampshire Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli.
On the Republican side, Jennifer Horn and Bob Clegg, who both ran for the 2nd District seat last fall, are rumored to be considering campaigns. Former Rep. Charlie Bass '74, who represented the 2nd District from 1994 until losing to Hodes in 2006, has said he will likely run for either the U.S. House or the Senate.
