Mayor's Bio

Mayor Dana S. Hilliard is serving is 5th term as Mayor of the Hilltop City. A graduate of Somersworth High School, he attended Keene State College earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in ’95 and Plymouth State University with a Master Degree in Educational Leadership in ’11.

Entering elected public service when he was 20, he served 5 terms in the NH House from 1993 – 1997 and from 2005 – 2008. He also served two terms on the City Council representing Ward 4 from 2002 – 2004 and At-Large from 2006 – 2010. He has served on numerous City Committees, Boards and Commissions since High School. He was awarded the Pink Triangle Award in 2008 from the University of New Hampshire, for his commitment to diversity and civil rights and the New Hampshire Democratic Party Kathy Sullivan Courage and Leadership Award (2013).

Currently in his twenty-second year of education, he served as a para professional for two years at Somersworth Middle School before becoming part of the Social Studies Department at Somersworth High School where he taught for 6 years before entering into administration serving as Assistant Principal for three years and a 10 years as the Principal of Somersworth Middle School. In 2021 Dana moved to the SAU level where he now serves as the Director of School District Operations. For his 21st century approaches in educational leadership, he was named the 2013 A+ Administrator by the New England League of Middle Schools. He is the recipient of the New England Education Opportunity Association- NEOA Achiever Award (2009) and the Council for Opportunity in Education National TRIO Achievers Award (2014). Under his leadership, Somersworth Middle School was named 2019 New Hampshire Middle School of the year (New Hampshire Excellence in Education Award “Edies”)

Mayor Hilliard and his husband Sean reside in Somersworth. An avid Bruins fan, he enjoys hockey season, traveling and running and biking.