Louis Frank Edelblut (born May 21, 1961)[1] is an American businessman and politician who is the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education.[2][3] Edelblut formerly served as a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[4] During his term in the House, Edelblut represented Hillsborough County District 38, including the towns of Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Greenville, Greenfield, Hancock, Hillsborough, Lyndeborough, Wilton, and Windsor. He served on the Finance Committee,[5] Special Committee on Pensions,[6] and the Child and Family Law Committee.[7] He was a Republican candidate for Governor of New Hampshire in 2016, narrowly finishing second in the primary.[8]

Frank Edelblut
Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education
Assumed office
February 16, 2017
GovernorChris Sununu
Preceded byVirginia Barry
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
from the 38th Hillsborough district
In office
December 3, 2014 – December 7, 2016
Preceded byRichard Eaton
Succeeded byJohn Valera
Personal details
Born
Louis Frank Edelblut

(1961-05-21) May 21, 1961 (age 63)
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKathleen Ciarlo
Children7
EducationUniversity of Rhode Island (BS)
Hellenic College (MTS)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and career

edit

Edelblut attended the University of Rhode Island where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – Accounting in 1983. Edelblut also holds a Masters of Theological Studies from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, 2015.[citation needed]

Edelblut started his career as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach) where he worked as a Certified Public Accountant auditing a variety of businesses.[citation needed] He then briefly worked as the CFO for one of his PwC clients, Niagara Corp.,[citation needed][9] In 2013, he left Common Angels and now does early-stage investing on his own.[citation needed]

Political career

edit

Edelblut served on the New Hampshire House of Representatives Finance Committee,[5] Special Committee on Pensions[6] and on the Child and Family Law committee.[7]

Edelblut was the prime sponsor of a number of bills in 2016, including bills on net metering, freedom of speech on college campuses, arming otherwise-unarmed New Hampshire National Guard facilities,[10] supporting the ability of members of the military to wear dress uniforms in graduation ceremonies, and several measures in the family court to try to reduce conflict in already difficult divorce proceedings.[11]

In 2016, Edelblut announced he would not seek reelection as state representative and would instead be a Republican candidate for Governor of New Hampshire during the 2016 primary election. Edelblut ultimately lost the election to now-Governor Chris Sununu by fewer than 900 votes. The pair appeared at a joint press conference on the steps of the Capital Building the day following the election, where Edelblut endorsed Sununu.[12]

In January 2017, Governor Chris Sununu nominated Edelblut to be the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education. Edelblut was confirmed by the Republican led New Hampshire Executive Council in February.[2]

Personal life

edit

Edelblut and his wife have seven children, all of whom have been home educated.[13][14][15] He has competed in triathlons[16] and Nordic ski racing,[17] including a biathlon.[18]

References

edit
  1. ^ "About the Commissioner".
  2. ^ a b "Frank Edelblut confirmed as NH education commissioner". unionleader.com. February 15, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Frank Edelblut".
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - NH State House - Hillsborough 38 Race - Nov 04, 2014".
  5. ^ a b "House Finance Committee". Gencourt.state.nh.us. New Hampshire House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "House Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Plans". Gencourt.state.nh.us. New Hampshire House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "House Children and Family Law Committee". Gencourt.state.nh.us. New Hampshire House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  8. ^ DiStaso, John (September 25, 2015). "Updated: Sununu, Forrester, Edelblut attend Republican Governors Association meeting". WMUR. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "Frank Edelblut". Angel.co. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  10. ^ "New Hampshire: Petition to Governor Hassan to Arm the National Guard!". Nraila.org. July 23, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  11. ^ "Frank Edelblut". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Updated: Frank Edelblut concedes gop Governor's primary race endorses Chris Sununu". wmur.com. September 14, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "Frank Edelblut". Lfda.org. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Meet Frank". Frankedelblut.com. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "Frank Edelblut for Hillsborough 38 (Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Hillsborough, Lyndeborough, Wilton & Windsor)". Nhcornerstone.org. October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  16. ^ "THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN WATER SWIM TRAINING - SWIM TRAINING WITH ENDLESS POOLS". Endlesspools.com. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  17. ^ Sibilia, Janice (Winter 2008). "Bill Koch League" (PDF). New England Nordic News. 13 (2): 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  18. ^ "New England Nordic Ski Association Winter Event Guide 2007-2008" (PDF). Nensa.net. New England Nordic Ski Association. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 10, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
edit
New Hampshire House of Representatives
Preceded by
Richard Eaton
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
from the 38th Hillsborough district

2014–2016
Served alongside: Richard McNamara
Succeeded by
John Valera