John Coughlin, Hillsborough County Attorney Candidate

John J. Coughlin

Age (as of Election Day)

66

Position Sought

Hillsborough County Attorney

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Married to Pamela Coughlin for 45 years with 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Nashua High School, UNH and Nova Law Center Law School Graduate

Occupation

Attorney 40 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Hillsborough County Attorney elected in 2002 and NH Human Rights Commissioner

Campaign website

JohnCoughlin2020.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking to restore public trust and confidence in the Office as well as work to ensure that the Rule of Law is applied equally.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Poor cooperation and communication between the the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office and Law Enforcement. I intend to re-establish communication and cooperation with State, Federal and Law Enforcement agencies that interact with the Hillsborough County Attorney's office. I will accomplish this by reaching out personally to those agencies and establish a collegial and professional working relationship with them.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have 40 years of legal experience to include military and civilian law and experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge. I assisted the General Counsel's Office Iraq Ministry of Defence to help establish the Iraq military Courts and military justice system and Rule of Law.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The current officeholder lacks the legal and courtroom experience to effectively lead the Office.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Bail Reform, Felonies First, Communication with Defense Lawyers, victims' rights, mental health/drug issues, veterans' court, communication with the many resources in the local communities.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I was the elected Hillsborough County Attorney in 2002 and served in that position until my New Hampshire Army National Guard, the 197th Field Artillery Brigade, was activated. I was the Brigade Judge Advocate (JAG) and resigned as Hillsborough County Attorney to deploy for 1 year in Iraq. I served as a Human Rights Commissioner, State Circuit/District Judge. I have 40 years of legal experience.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

The best advice that I received was a very short but relevant method to view the issue of ethics by my Staff Judge Advocate while I was in Iraq. Imagine that ethics is a circle, where do you want to be in that circle? Do you want to be on the edges of the circle or directly in the middle of the circle. I was Chief of Administrative Law with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq in 2010-2011. Part of my duties included providing ethics opinions to General Officers. I always remembered that wise advice.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My name is John Coughlin from Amherst, NH. I am a Republican candidate for Hillsborough County Attorney. The prior Republican Hillsborough County Attorney, Dennis Hogan, is not running and has endorsed me. I retired as a Senior Judge in the NH Circuit Court in January, 2020 so that I could run for this office. I grew up in Nashua, attended local public schools and graduated from UNH in Durham. I joined the US Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate. After my active duty in the Marines, I returned to the Nashua area and practiced law for about 20 years. I served as a NH Human Rights Commissioner for 13 years which included the position of Chairman For 8 years.

I was elected as Hillsborough County Attorney in 2002 and served in that position until my NH Army National Guard unit, the 197th FA Brigade, was deployed to Iraq where I served as Brigade Judge Advocate. I was nominated and confirmed as a Judge in the NH District Court and later Circuit Court from 2004 until my retirement in 2020.

I volunteered to return to Iraq in 2007 with the MNSTC-I and worked with the Iraqi General Counsel’s Office, Iraq Ministry of Defense to reestablish the Iraq Military Justice System and Rule of Law. I volunteered to return to Iraq a third time in 2010-2011 with the 4th Infantry Division and served as the Chief of Administrative Law, US Division-North. I retired from the National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel in July, 2015.

I am running for Hillsborough County Attorney to restore public trust and confidence in that Office. I will work tirelessly with local law enforcement and the defense bar through effective and professional communication and cooperation. I will provide leadership and competence to the assistant county attorneys and staff. I will strive to ensure that all parties who have contact with the Office will be treated with respect and dignity and equally under the Rule of Law.

I may be reached at my cell: (603) 769-7499.

My website: JohnCoughlin2020.com.

My personal email: coughlin.jp@gmail.com