Sununu, during endorsement event, says there is 'light at the end of the tunnel'

Governor Chris checks out an unfinished product as RP Abrasived CEO Joe Sheen looks on. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - The National Federation of Independent Business has announced its endorsement of Gov. Chris Sununu for governor in next Tuesday's General Election.

The announcement took place on Monday at RP Abrasives, a small business in Rochester located in the Spaulding Industrial Park on Spaulding Avenue.

"Small businesses have thrived under the leadership of Governor Chris Sununu who balanced the state budget during his four years in office, added no new taxes, and even reduced the existing business tax," said NFIB's Assistant State Director in New Hampshire, Simon Thomson. "The governor understands that you can't spend more than you have and that supporting small businesses is the best way to energize the state economy and create more jobs for Granite Staters."

During the ceremony RP Abrasives CEO Joe Sheen thanked Gov. Sununu for his leadership during the pandemic, including setting up the Main Street Relief Fund, which allowed Sheen to offset losses caused by the pandemic's shutdown.

"The Main Street Relief Fund was something I actually thought of in the shower," Gov. Sununu said. "Because we wanted to make something that would get the money out the door fast when we needed it the most."

In accepting the endorsement Sununu added that economically there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

From left, RP Abrasives CEO Joe Sheen, Gov. Chris Sununu, District 6 State Sen. James Gray and Simon Thomson, NFIB Assistant State Director in New Hampshire.

"We're leading the way on the East Coast," he said. "Just two days ago we came in at just 3.7 percent unemployment. We have some of the best-paying jobs in the country and the lowest poverty rate. And thank you, having your endorsement is huge."

The NFIB endorsed State Sen. James Gray, R-Rochester, earlier this month, urging voters to re-elect him to his District 6 Senate slot next Tuesday.

RP Abrasives & Machine Inc. does finish work on metals, plastics and titanium in uses for the defense and medical fields.

During Tuesday's tour of his 16,000 square foot factory Sheen showed the governor how they take a raw production item and "finish" it to painstaking and exacting precision as directed by customers.

The company employs 13 full-time workers.