Steve Marchand
Encyclopedia
Steve Marchand is the former mayor
of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. He was an early Democratic
primary candidate for U.S. Senate
for the 2008 election, but he dropped out of the race in 2007 and endorsed former Governor Jeanne Shaheen
.
During the 2008 New Hampshire Presidential Primary, Marchand endorsed Democratic presidential candidate, Governor Bill Richardson.
. A first-generation American, Steve's parents came to New Hampshire
from Quebec
, Canada
. His father, Normand, was a carpenter, and his mother Suzanne was a mill worker. He has a sister named Joanne. Steve attended Manchester and Goffstown
public schools and was the first member of his family to attend college.
in 1996. He went on to receive a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School
at Syracuse University
in 1998.
Following college, Marchand began his professional career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture
), working with public and private sector clients to implement database management systems. He later joined Maximus, a government management consulting firm, in its state and local government division. Marchand played a key role in improving the performance of local government departments across the U.S., with an emphasis on public safety.
In 2000, Marchand was named as Regional Director of the Concord Coalition
a nonpartisan, grassroots organization advocating fiscal responsibility and generational fairness. He coordinated operations in New England
and New York
state.
Marchand went on to found Pembroke Strategies, an international public policy consulting firm. He worked with major national organizations, such as the AARP
and SEIU, to develop sound and efficient U.S. public policy. He has also worked with delegations from various developing nations to promote democracy and to create emergency management systems.
Marchand's political consulting includes acting as campaign director for former Executive Councilor Jim Normand's 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial primary campaign. Marchand also served as deputy campaign manager, overseeing policy and communications, for State Sen. Mark Fernald's 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Marchand acted as campaign director for 2004 1st Congressional District nominee Justin Nadeau.
Following the 2002 campaign season, Marchand was named New Hampshire's political "Rising Star" of the year by the influential political web site PoliticsNH.com, as well as one of the 105 people with the greatest influence on the 2004 New Hampshire Presidential Primary.
In March 2008, Marchand started his own political consulting firm, The Marchand Group.
Under Mayor Marchand, the City of Portsmouth
has become a national leader in 21st century green energy policy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, and saving taxpayers money.
With Save Our Shipyard, Steve fought to save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005.
Marchand was the co-chair of City Year
's 2007 national convention.
On November 16, 2010, Marchand held a No Labels
gathering of over 100 people at his home.
John E. Sununu
. After former governor Jeanne Shaheen
entered the race in September, however, Marchand withdrew from the campaign and endorsed Shaheen, who went on to defeat Sununu in the general election.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. He was an early Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary candidate for U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for the 2008 election, but he dropped out of the race in 2007 and endorsed former Governor Jeanne Shaheen
Jeanne Shaheen
Jeanne Shaheen is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the Senior United States Senator from New Hampshire. The first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a Governor and U.S. Senator, she was the first woman to be elected Governor of New Hampshire, serving from...
.
During the 2008 New Hampshire Presidential Primary, Marchand endorsed Democratic presidential candidate, Governor Bill Richardson.
Family and youth
Steve Marchand was born and raised on the west side of Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. A first-generation American, Steve's parents came to New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His father, Normand, was a carpenter, and his mother Suzanne was a mill worker. He has a sister named Joanne. Steve attended Manchester and Goffstown
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
public schools and was the first member of his family to attend college.
Education and early career
Marchand received a B.S in International Relations and a B.A. in Public Affairs from Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1996. He went on to receive a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is the public policy school of Syracuse University...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1998.
Following college, Marchand began his professional career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture
Accenture
Accenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
), working with public and private sector clients to implement database management systems. He later joined Maximus, a government management consulting firm, in its state and local government division. Marchand played a key role in improving the performance of local government departments across the U.S., with an emphasis on public safety.
In 2000, Marchand was named as Regional Director of the Concord Coalition
Concord Coalition
The Concord Coalition is a political advocacy group in the United States, formed in 1992. A bipartisan organization, it was founded by former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman, former Secretary of Commerce Peter George Peterson, and the late U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas. The Concord Coalition's advocacy...
a nonpartisan, grassroots organization advocating fiscal responsibility and generational fairness. He coordinated operations in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state.
Marchand went on to found Pembroke Strategies, an international public policy consulting firm. He worked with major national organizations, such as the AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
and SEIU, to develop sound and efficient U.S. public policy. He has also worked with delegations from various developing nations to promote democracy and to create emergency management systems.
Marchand's political consulting includes acting as campaign director for former Executive Councilor Jim Normand's 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial primary campaign. Marchand also served as deputy campaign manager, overseeing policy and communications, for State Sen. Mark Fernald's 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Marchand acted as campaign director for 2004 1st Congressional District nominee Justin Nadeau.
Following the 2002 campaign season, Marchand was named New Hampshire's political "Rising Star" of the year by the influential political web site PoliticsNH.com, as well as one of the 105 people with the greatest influence on the 2004 New Hampshire Presidential Primary.
In March 2008, Marchand started his own political consulting firm, The Marchand Group.
Public service
First elected in 2003 to the Portsmouth City Council, Marchand served on the City Council from 2003–2005 and was re-elected in 2005. He received the highest numbers of votes in this election, making him Mayor of Portsmouth. Since then, he has been a leader on increasing accountability in government and restraining tax increases. He reformed the city's budget process into an "outcome-based" model, emphasizing transparency, public input, and results-based policy-making to deliver the city's goals quickly and efficiently.Under Mayor Marchand, the City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
has become a national leader in 21st century green energy policy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, and saving taxpayers money.
With Save Our Shipyard, Steve fought to save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005.
Marchand was the co-chair of City Year
City Year
City Year is an education-focused nonprofit organization that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention keeping students in school and on track to graduate...
's 2007 national convention.
On November 16, 2010, Marchand held a No Labels
No Labels
No Labels is a political organization of Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the United States whose stated mission is to address the politics of problem solving...
gathering of over 100 people at his home.
U.S. Senate campaign
On January 12, 2007, Marchand announced his intention to seek the U.S. Senate seat then held by RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
John E. Sununu
John E. Sununu
John Edward Sununu is a former Republican United States Senator from New Hampshire, of Lebanese and Palestinian Christian ancestry. Sununu was the youngest member of the Senate for his entire six year term. He is the son of former New Hampshire Governor John H...
. After former governor Jeanne Shaheen
Jeanne Shaheen
Jeanne Shaheen is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the Senior United States Senator from New Hampshire. The first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a Governor and U.S. Senator, she was the first woman to be elected Governor of New Hampshire, serving from...
entered the race in September, however, Marchand withdrew from the campaign and endorsed Shaheen, who went on to defeat Sununu in the general election.