State Representative Matt Wilhelm Endorses Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Citing His “Bold” National Service Plan
Manchester, N.H. — Today, State Representative Matt Wilhelm (Manchester), a two-term AmeriCorps alumnus and state service commissioner for Volunteer NH, is endorsing Mayor Pete Buttigieg for president.
Rep. Wilhelm — who grew up in Nashua and moved to Manchester after college to lead a team of City Year AmeriCorps members serving in high-need public schools — chose to endorse the Mayor after reviewing his national service plan. The Mayor’s proposal, called “A New Call to Service”, will fully fund the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and then build a network of one million national service members by the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence in 2026.
“Last week, Mayor Pete issued a bold plan to dramatically expand voluntary national service in America,” said State Representative Matt Wilhelm. “As a state service commissioner with Volunteer NH and a two-term AmeriCorps alumnus, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of civilian national service to unite diverse Americans and solve problems. I was particularly inspired by Mayor Pete’s commitment to building out regional service ecosystems and empowering our local leaders to create and expand service year positions to address NH-specific challenges like affordable housing, the opioid and mental health crises, and educational inequity.
“In making national service a policy priority, Mayor Pete has shown that he takes seriously the responsibility of unleashing the power and potential of our country’s most valuable natural resource: its people. I’m committed to doing everything I can over the next 7 months to help Mayor Pete win not only our first-in-the-nation presidential primary, but to win the era. The future of our democracy depends on it.”
Rep. Wilhelm will assist with Pete For America’s outreach in his district and to New Hampshire’s service community — and will advise the campaign on public policy issues in the Granite State. Rep. Wilhelm is the second state representative to publicly endorse Mayor Pete, following State Representative Cole Riel, who currently serves as a senior staff member on Pete For America’s New Hampshire team.
Mayor Pete will return to New Hampshire on Friday, July 12 to discuss his national service plan with New Hampshire voters.
ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE MATT WILHELM:
Rep. Matt Wilhelm is a nonprofit leader and member of the NH House of Representatives. He first moved to Manchester in 2005 to lead a team of City Year AmeriCorps members serving in high-need public schools and is currently helping to develop two new civilian national service programs: Granite Service Scholars, which aims to build intergenerational relationships between students and seniors aging in place; and Concert Corps, which leverages the power of live music to create positive social and environmental impact through service. Rep. Wilhelm earned his master’s in public administration at UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy and serves on the boards of Girls at Work, Inc. and Volunteer NH, the state commission for national and community service.
