Richard H. Girard is a well known and highly respected public figure and opinion maker in southern New Hampshire. A native of Manchester, NH, Rich has devoted the past quarter century of his life to serving and educating the community about the critical issues in local politics and government.
Rich’s diverse background includes running for and holding public office, providing leadership and management for other candidates’ political campaigns, extensive experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors, being sought as a political commentator by media outlets across the region, and having started and run three businesses, including this one. Rich has hosted Girard at Large in the Morning since September 26, 2011.
He is well-known for his ability to communicate with the public through multiple outlets. His highly-anticipated and popular columns regularly appeared in The Manchester Express and The Hippo Press, informing public opinion to great acclaim…at least from most! He appeared regularly on The Charlie Sherman Show, commenting mostly on local topics, and has hosted Girard at-Large, a widely watched weekly public affairs show on Manchester Public Television, featuring a broad array of guests ranging from city officials to presidential candidates, since 2007.
In 1997, Rich was the first person elected to the newly-created position of Alderman at-Large in the city of Manchester. In this role, he was instrumental in developing innovative and forward-thinking strategies to reform city government, reduce spending and taxes, and foster economic development. Previous to that, Rich was an assistant to long-term Manchester Mayor Raymond J. Wieczorek, where he oversaw the daily operations of his office and the city, overhauled a $165 million operating budget, and restructured city efforts to track legislation in the New Hampshire General Court.
In 2001, Rich challenged Mayor Robert A. Baines’ first re-election bid, developing an unprecedented grassroots effort that not only reinforced his campaign, but bolstered the campaigns of several other candidates simultaneously seeking positions to other local offices. In 2012, Rich was one of nine people elected to the city’s Charter Commission from a field of more than sixty candidates that included many prominent political and community figures in a year with record voter turn out. In 2015, Rich was elected to an at-Large seat on the Manchester Board of School Committee, unseating a popular incumbent.
In private business, Rich started and owned Girard Marketing, LLC, a successful marketing consulting and services brokerage company. Since 2002, he has worked, and continues to work, with Primerica, Inc, to capably assist families and businesses with their insurance, investment, debt and other financial services needs. He has hosted this show since September 26, 2011, winning multiple Merit Awards from the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters in 2015 and 2016, the first and second years he submitted entries for consideration.
Rich has worked tirelessly as a community ambassador lending his voice to numerous social, not-for-profit, political, athletic and ethnic heritage organizations, serving as a trustee, board member, or committee member, and spearheading multiple community events.
Rich was graduated from Manchester’s West High in 1987 and was graduated in 2001, magna cum laude, from Boston College with a degree in Political Science where he focused on city politics, government and land use planning. He also was graduated in 1986 from the St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program where he studied Law & Government.
Though business and politics are Rich’s passion, they pale in comparison to his most deeply rewarding and meaningful roles to date; that of devoted husband to Jennifer, proud father to Dominic, Colette, Madeleine, Emeric and Amelie, and communicant at Ste. Marie’s Parish on Manchester’s West Side.