Jay Ruais | |
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![]() Ruais in 2024 | |
57th Mayor of Manchester | |
Assumed office January 2, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Joyce Craig |
Personal details | |
Born | Salem,New Hampshire,U.S. | August 28,1985
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Veronica Ruais |
Education | Gettysburg College (BA) American University (MPA) |
Website | Campaign website |
Jay P. Ruais [1] is an American politician from the state of New Hampshire who is the current mayor for the city of Manchester,New Hampshire. Ruais is a Republican who was elected mayor of Manchester in November 2023. [2] [3]
Ruais was born on August 28,1985, [4] in Salem,New Hampshire. [5] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Gettysburg College in 2008,as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from American University in 2013. [6]
In 2008,Ruais was part of then-incumbent Senator John Edward Sununu's 2008 reelection campaign team,where Sununu lost to Democratic challenger Jeanne Shaheen. [5] He later worked as a legislative assistant for former Congressman Frank Guinta from 2011 to 2013. [7] After Guinta lost his congressional seat to the preceding Democratic seatholder,Carol Shea-Porter,in the 2012 reelection race, [8] Guinta appointed Ruais as his campaign manager for the 2014 House race, [5] in which Guinta defeated Shea-Porter and served until 2017. [9]
Ruais has served as a lobbyist for the Transportation Intermediaries Association since 2013. [5] [7] He was sworn into the New Hampshire Army National Guard on August 6,2020. [1] [10]
Ruais is a parishioner at Ste. Marie Church on the West Side of Manchester,as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 5163. [11] Ruais has worked in the nonprofit sector, [12] including for Catholic Charities of New Hampshire. [13] In November 2019,he was a speaker on behalf of the Addiction Policy Forum at an FDA public meeting on the opioid crisis. [6]
Ruais has spoken openly about his past struggles with alcoholism and his two DUI arrests,the latest of which was in 2010,and has said he has been sober since March 9,2010. [10] He lives in Ward 7 of Manchester and is married to Veronica Ruais,who immigrated from Peru in 2005. [4] He is a practicing Roman Catholic. [11]