Representative Skip Cleaver

Skip has lived in Nashua since 1975, first in Ward 2 and more recently in Ward 8.  He is a Marine Corps veteran, and holds a B.S. in Political Science and History, and an MBA, specializing in International Business.  Skip grew up in western Pennsylvania and is a life long Democrat.

Skip taught high school briefly in Maryland before his Marine Corps stint and thereafter joined the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. His last assignment with the FAA was seven years at Boston Logan Tower and Approach Control.  Following the PATCO strike he returned to school and earned his MBA, and then enjoyed a long career with Nashua Corporation.  The first few years was spent with the Computer Products Division, and then the Office Products Division, heading the international copier group.

Skip was Managing Editor of the online running magazine Cool Running.com before retiring in early 2016 to run for State Representative.  He now represents Hillsborough District 35 (Nashua Ward 8) in the State House in Concord.

Skip has been a coach for track and cross-country as well as wrestling.  He has been an adjunct professor of business and social studies at Southern NH University and Franklin Pierce.  He is a long time-runner, having completed 43 full marathons, hundreds of road races, and 134 mountain races, including 27 up Mount Washington.  He wrote a weekly half page article in the Nashua Telegraph called the Runner’s Journal from 1995 through 2004.

Skip has three grown children; his son Aaron lives in Newmarket and is a 26-year veteran of the New Hampshire Air National Guard.  Two daughters, Leslie and Traci, both live in the San Francisco Bay area, and they work in community development and union organizing respectively.  Skip’s interests, in addition to political affairs and running, include biking, hiking, kayaking and volunteering at non-profits, including the Nashua Soup Kitchen.

Skip is a charter member of the Gate City Striders Running Club.  He served several terms as Club President and was elected to the Gate City Striders Hall of Fame.  He remains involved in community affairs.  He directs and administers road races throughout the region.

Political Views

1. Supports passenger rail for the city of Nashua and the Merrimack Valley of NH, as well as dependable public transportation in cities, towns and rural regions of NH.
2. Economic Justice is key, including a living wage for all, affordable child care, universal medical coverage, and lower property taxes.
3. Educational Reform has high priority, including early education for ages 3-4, full day kindergarten, adequate public school funding K-12, and affordable higher education at New Hampshire public colleges and Universities.
4. Social Justice is necessary for a democracy, including voting rights, and non-discrimination for all persons, immigration reform, and sanctuary for all those fleeing conflict and danger.
5. Environmental protection is a life-long endeavor, including streams and lakes, wetlands, forests, the oceans and green energy initiatives.  In every way possible and available, mitigation of climate change is critical.
6. Infrastructure improvement and repair are required, including pedestrian and bikeways as well as—and in harmony with—roadway and rail upgrades and expansion.