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VOTER GUIDE ELECTION 2024 – TUESDAY, NOV. 5

POLLING LOCATIONS / VOTING FAQs / GOVERNOR’S RACE / U.S. HOUSE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL / NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE AND SENATE MERRIMACK COUNTY RACES / CONCORD SCHOOL VOTING More at concordmonitor.com

WHAT’S INSIDE

ABOUT THIS VOTER GUIDE F

or many voters, the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election is about two people – Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. There’s no doubt, this may be the biggest election in our lifetimes. Maybe you’re among the few who remain undecided in this critical race. More likely, you made up your mind who you will vote for long before election day. But you’re also interested in knowing a bit more about some of the down-ballot races before you step into the voting booth. That’s why we built this guide. It’s meant to help readers in and around Concord get a quick understanding on how candidates differ on some key issues. We also built it to answer questions you may have about the voting process, such as: How do I register to vote? Is it too late to vote? Where exactly do I vote? What races are specific to my town or city? You won’t find traditional news articles in this guide. We’ve written plenty of those, and you can find them linked from our digital election voter guide on our website. Instead, you’ll find issue breakdowns for each race. This information was gathered from a couple of places. For some of the bigger races and the critical Concord school vote,

it’s come from our own reporting staff. For contested races for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, it’s come through our partnership with Citizens Count, a statewide nonprofit that helps residents and journalists alike understand where candidates stand on issues like housing, taxes, marijuana and education. We hope this guide gives you most of what you need. But we realize that with an election this big, you may have more questions than we can answer in these 24 pages. You can find more in depth information at concordmonitor.com and explore races outside the Capital area at citizenscount.org.

A note about Election Day This guide will help prepare you for voting on Tuesday, Nov. 5. But make sure you visit concordmonitor.com throughout the day to get a sense of what’s happening at the polls, and to hear from some of your fellow residents about what drove them to vote. And plan to visit our site after polls close to see the early returns from Concord and nearby towns. Steve Leone Publisher

WHERE TO VOTE ..................................... 3 VOTING FAQs ......................................... 4 U.S. HOUSE ........................................... 5 GOVERNOR ............................................ 6 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ............................... 7 NH SENATE ............................................ 9 NH HOUSE (MERRIMACK COUNTY) ..........11 MERRIMACK COUNTY ............................21 CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT ...................22

For NH House races outside Merrimack County and for expanded candidate details, visit CitizensCount.org.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

WHERE TO VOTE Polling locations for the Sept. 10 primary elections in New Hampshire. Allenstown : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. at Allenstown Elementary School, 30 Main St. Andover : 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. a.m. at Andover Elementary Middle School, 20 School St. Barnstead : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Barnstead Elementary School, 91 Maple Street Belmont : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Belmont High School, 255 Seavey Road Boscawen : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Boscawen Elementary School, 1 B.E.S.T Ave. Bow : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Bow Community Center, 3 Bow Center Road Bradford : 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. at Bradford Town Hall, 75 West Main St. Canterbury : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Canterbury Elementary School, 15 Baptist Road Chichester : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Chichester Centra School, 219 Main St. Concord Ward 1: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Merrimack Valley High School gym, 106 Village St. Concord Ward 2: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Barn at Bull Meadow, 63 Bog Road Concord Ward 3: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Beaver Meadow School, 40 Sewalls Falls Road Concord Ward 4: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at

Green Street Community Center, 39 Green St. Concord Ward 5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Christa McAuliffe School, 17 North Spring St. Concord Ward 6: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Christ The King Parish Hall, 72 South Main St. Concord Ward 7: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Abbot Downing Elementary School, 152 South St Concord Ward 8: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Bektash Temple, 189 Pembroke Road Concord Ward 9: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Citywide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road Concord Ward 10: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Broken Ground School, 51 South Curtisville Road Danbury : 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Danbury Town Hall, 23 High St. Deerfield : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Deerfield Fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road Deering : 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Deering Town Hall, 762 Deering Center Road Dunbarton : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Noyes Community Center, 20 Robert Rogers Road Epsom : 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Epsom Bible Church, 398 Black Hall Road Franklin Ward 1: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at

Franklin Elks, 125 South Main St. Franklin Ward 2: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Franklin High School, 115 Central St. Franklin Ward 3: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Franklin Middle School, 200 Sanborn St. Gilford : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road Gilmanton : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Gilmanton Academy Building, 503 Province Road Henniker : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Henniker Community School, 51 Western Ave. Hill : 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hill Public Library, 30 Crescent St. Hillsborough : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hillsboro-Deering Middle School Auditorium, 6 Hillcat Drive Hopkinton : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hopkinton High School, 297 Park Ave. Laconia Ward 1: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 1244 Old North Main St. Laconia Ward 2: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at St Andre Bessette Parish Hall, 31 Gilford Ave. Laconia Ward 3: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Laconia Middle School, 150 McGrath St. Laconia Ward 4: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at New Covenant Church @ Memorial Park Clubhouse, 31 Lindsay Court Laconia Ward 5: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Woodland Heights Elementary School, 225 Winter St.

Laconia Ward 6: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. a.m. at Leavitt Park Clubhouse, 334 Elm St. Loudon : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Arthur Colby Safety Complex, 8 Cooper St. Meredith : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Meredith Community Center, 1 Circle Drive New London: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Whipple Memorial Town Hall, 25 Seamans Road Northfield : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pines Community Center, 61 Summer St. Northwood : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Northwood School, 511 1st NH Turnpike Pembroke : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pembroke Academy High School, 209 Academy Road Pittsfield : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pittsfield Middle High School gym, 23 Oneida St. Salisbury : 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Salisbury Town Hall, 645 Old Turnpike Road Sanbornton : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Sanbornton Central School, 16 Hunkins Pond Road Tilton : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Winnisquam High School, 435 W. Main St. Warner : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Warner Town Hall, 5 East Main St. Weare : 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Weare Middle School, 16 East Road Webster : 8 a.m. 7 p.m. at Webster Town Hall, 945 Battle St. Wilmot : 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Wilmot Town Hall, 9 North Wilmot Road

FIND IT FAST

WHAT’S ON YOUR BALLOT? ONLINE SEARCHABLE DATABASE Visit the Voter Guide at concordmonitor.com to access the listing on your computer or phone.

Merrimack County District 28 Concord Ward 3 Merrimack County District 17; Merrimack County District 28 Concord Ward 4 Merrimack County District 18; Merrimack County District 29 Concord Ward 5 Merrimack County District 19; Merrimack County District 30 Concord Ward 6 Merrimack County District 20; Merrimack County District 30 Concord Ward 7 Merrimack County District 21; Merrimack County District 30 Concord Ward 8 Merrimack County District 22; Merrimack County District 30 Concord Ward 9 Merrimack County District 23; Merrimack County District 29 Concord Ward 10 Merrimack County District 24; Merrimack County District 29 Danbur y NH House: Merrimack County District 5 (2), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Deerfield NH House: Rockingham County District 2 (3 seats), Rockingham County District 312 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Deering NH House: Hillsborough County District 27; NH Senate: District 8; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Dunbarton NH House: Merrimack County District 10 (4 seats), Merrimack County District 27 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 8; Executive Council: District 5; US House District: 2

Epsom NH House: Merrimack County District 14, Merrimack County District 27 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Franklin Ward 1 NH House: County District 3 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 25; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 2 Franklin Ward 2 NH House: County District 3 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 25; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 2 Franklin Ward 3 NH House: County District 3 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 25; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 2 Gilford NH House: Belknap County District 6 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Gilmanton NH House: Belknap County District 6 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 6; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Henniker NH House: Merrimack County District 8 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Hill NH House: Merrimack County District 5 (2 seats), Merrimack County 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Hillsborough NH House: Hillsborough County District 30 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 5; US House District: 2 Hopkinton NH House: County District 9 (4

seats); NH Senate: District 15; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Laconia Ward 1 NH House: Belknap County District 5 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Laconia Ward 2 NH House: Belknap County District 6 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Laconia Ward 3 NH House: Belknap County District 5 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Laconia Ward 4 NH House: Belknap County District 5 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Laconia Ward 5 NH House: Belknap County District 5 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Laconia Ward 6 NH House: Belknap County District 5 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Loudon NH House: Merrimack County District 4 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Meredith NH House: Belknap County District 2 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 New London NH House: Merrimack County District 7 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 5; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Northfield NH House: Merrimack County County District 2, Merrimack

County District 25; NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 2 Northwood NH House: Rockingham County District 1 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 2 Pembroke NH House: Merrimack County District 12 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Pittsfield NH House: Merrimack County District 13 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Salisbur y NH House: Merrimack County District 5 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Sanbornton NH House: Belknap County District 3, Belknap County District 8 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Tilton NH House: Belknap County District 3, Belknap County District 8 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Warner NH House: Merrimack County District 8 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Weare NH House: Hillsborough County District 28 (2 seats), Hillsborough County District 44 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 8; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Webster NH House: Merrimack County District 5 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Wilmot NH House: Merrimack County District 6; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2

Allenstown NH House: Merrimack County District 11, Merrimack County District 27 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Andover NH House: Merrimack County District 5 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Barnstead NH House: Belknap County District 7 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Belmont NH House: Belknap County District 4, Belknap County 8 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 2; Executive Council: District 1; US House District: 1 Boscawen NH House: Merrimack County District 1, Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Bow NH House: Merrimack County District 9 (4 seats); NH Senate: District 15; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Bradford NH House: Merrimack County District 8 (3 seats); NH Senate: District 7; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Canterbur y NH House: Merrimack County District 4 (2 seats), Merrimack County District 26; NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 2; US House District: 2 Chichester NH House: Merrimack County District 13 (2 seats); NH Senate: District 17; Executive Council: District 4; US House District: 2 Concord All wards vote in NH Senate District 15; Executive Council District 2 and US House District 2 Concord Ward 1 Merrimack County District 15; Merrimack County District 28 Concord Ward 2 Merrimack County District 16;

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Do you know your House district? What Executive Council race is yours? We have answers.

FAQs

WHAT TO KNOW FOR NOV. 5 We turned to our friends at Citizens Count and our own recent reporting to give an update to longtime voters and to answer some key questions for first-time voters What are the ways to vote in New Hampshire? In New Hampshire, you have two options for casting your vote: voting by mail using an absentee ballot or voting in person on Election Day. Voting in person can sometimes mean waiting in line, but it’s a great way to participate in democracy at the federal, state, and local levels. Voting by absentee ballot is typically for those unable to visit the polling station on Election Day due to specific circumstances.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Who is eligible to vote in New Hampshire? To be eligible to vote in New Hampshire, you must be a U.S. citizen, reside in New Hampshire for most of the year, and be at least 18 years old on the day of the next election. New Hampshire residents who attend college in the state are also eligible to vote, provided they don’t vote elsewhere. There is no minimum period of time you must live in New Hampshire to register to vote, but registering to vote is considered a declaration of residency, which may require updating your driver ’s license and car registration. How do I register to vote? There are a few ways to register to vote in New Hampshire: ■ In Person: Visit your town or city clerk’s office. The deadline to register in advance is typically 6-13 days before Election Day. ■ On Election Day: You can register at your polling place if you missed the advance registration deadline. ■ By Mail: In some cases, such as for military or disabled voters, you may be able to register by mail with advance notice. Check with your town clerk for more information. To check if you are already registered, visit the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website.

What identification do I need to bring? New Hampshire law requires voters to show an approved form of ID, such as a driver ’s license, passport, or certain student IDs. If you don’t have your ID, you can still vote by filling out a sworn affidavit and having your photo taken at the polling place. If you complete an affidavit, you will receive a verification letter after the election, which must be returned within 30 days. After this election, affidavits will not be offered, meaning IDs will be required at the polls.

What if someone tries to prevent me from voting? If a poll worker tries to prevent you from voting, first speak with the election moderator at your polling place. If the issue isn’t resolved, you can contact the New Hampshire Attorney General’s hotline at 1-866-868-3703. If you still feel you were wrongly denied the opportunity to vote, you can file an election law complaint with the New Hampshire Department of Justice.

Are ballot selfies allowed? Yes, “ballot selfies” are permitted, meaning you can take a picture of your marked ballot and post it online without fear of legal trouble. However, the moderator has discretion over where photos or recordings can be taken inside the polling place to ensure privacy and that no photos are taken of completed ballots carried from the booth to the clerk.

Are there new voting machines? Many polling places, especially larger cities and towns, use machines to optically scan ballots because they’re faster and more accurate than hand-counting. This election some polling places may use new ballot-counting machines from Voting Works or Dominion, the two companies whose models have been certified by the N.H. Ballot Law Commission, although most will still use the AccuVote machines that have served since before today’s college students were born. Many communities, mostly smaller towns, count ballots by hand. Can I wear political garb to vote? Yes, you can now wear hats, shirts, or other clothing with slogans or candidate names into the polling place. The legislature removed the restriction that made this illegal. However, you still cannot bring campaign materials like signs or buttons, and the moderator has the final say on where campaign displays are placed outside.

What’s new about the ‘I VOTED’ stickers? This year’s “I Voted” stickers will feature fun, creative designs from three fourth-grade students who won a contest. Instead of the traditional flag and star motifs, the new stickers showcase a moose, the Old Man of the Mountain, and a happy angler catching fish. So, wear your sticker with pride as you leave the polls!

By getting a grasp on these basics, you’ll be ready to make your voice heard in the upcoming election! For more detailed information, visit the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website.

U.S. HOUSE - DISTRICT 2

RACE TO REPLACE KUSTER Democrat Maggie Goodlander and Republican Lily Tang Williams

Lily Tang Williams prevailed in a crowded Republican primary.

The following breakdown comes of gun control measures, including from reporting by Charlotte Matherly universal background checks and of the Concord Monitor. bans on assault weapons and bump stocks. She has pledged to take on the Reproductive Rights National Rifle Association and the Maggie Goodlander (Democrat): broader gun lobby if elected. Her focus Goodlander centers her campaign is on preventing gun violence through around expanding reproductive free- stronger regulations, which she bedoms. She frequently discusses her lieves will increase public safety and own experience navigating a stillbirth reduce mass shootings. and accessing care. If elected, she Williams: She opposes gun control supports passing federal legislation to measures, drawing on her experience guarantee a right to abortion and to growing up in China where governprotect reproductive healthcare more ment control was strict. She has called broadly. She views protecting repro- for eliminating gun-free zones, espeductive rights as part of defending cially in schools. Williams believes that democracy and ensuring women’s au- letting people carry guns would be a tonomy. deterrent to mass shootings, arguing Lily Tang Williams (Republican): that “criminals are the problem, not Williams, who describes herself as a the guns.” Her position has earned her liberty-focused conservative, opposes endorsements from prominent naany further restrictions on New tional gun rights organizations. Hampshire’s current abortion law, Economic Policy which permits abortion up to 24 Goodlander: Her economic poliweeks. However, she has stated she would abstain from voting on federal cies focus on breaking up corporate abortion legislation altogether, main- monopolies and supporting small busitaining that it should be a state-level nesses. She argues that large corporations have too much control over issue. prices, and she wants to bring antiGun Laws monopoly measures to Congress to Goodlander: She supports a range help reduce costs for New Hampshire

families. Goodlander also wants to expand federal support for programs that assist families and the middle class, such as affordable childcare and healthcare. Williams: She advocates for limited government and reduced federal spending. She believes that federal assistance programs and interventions have created dependency, which she wants to reverse by cutting back on government spending, including foreign aid. Williams opposes student loan forgiveness and has called for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. She believes the best way to boost the economy is to reduce regulations and cut taxes, which she argues will foster economic growth and personal freedom.

Williams: Williams, herself an immigrant from China, advocates for securing the U.S. border and reforming the immigration system to prioritize legal immigration. She believes the current system is unfair to legal immigrants. She wants stricter border enforcement and an overhaul of policies that, in her view, unfairly advantage illegal immigrants.

Foreign policy Goodlander: She emphasizes ongoing support for Ukraine and advocates for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. She states that U.S. leadership should restrain excessive military action by Israel while maintaining a strong alliance. Goodlander also stresses the need to hold China accountable for its role in the opioid crisis. Williams: She argues that the U.S. has provided enough aid to Ukraine and should instead focus on bringing peace, suggesting that former President Trump could facilitate negotiations. She supports Israel’s right to defend itself. She emphasizes China as a threat and supports trade agreements with other countries in the area to reduce dependence on China.

U.S. HOUSE - DISTRICT 1 Chris Pappas (Democrat, Incumbent) vs. Russell Prescott (Republican) Much of the District 1 race falls outside of the Monitor’s traditional coverage area. For candidate policy positions, visit CitizensCount.org.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Immigration Goodlander: She supports comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship and addresses humanitarian issues. She wants Congress to update the current immigration system to reflect the country ’s values and economic needs, emphasizing that undocumented immigrants should have a fair path to legal status.

Cour tesy

GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

Maggie Goodlander grew up in Nashua and built a career in Washington.

NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR

READY TO LEAD THE STATE Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig are vying to replace Chris Sununu

Candidates Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig held a gubernatorial debate in Nashua in September. The following breakdown comes from reporting by Charlotte Matherly of the Concord Monitor.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Education Joyce Craig (Democrat): The former mayor of Manchester argues that the state isn’t providing enough funding for public schools, putting too much burden on local property taxes. She wants to increase state support and opposes using public funds for private school vouchers. Craig criticizes Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut and has pledged to request his resignation on her first day if elected, emphasizing a focus on strengthening public education. Kelly Ayotte (Republican): The former U.S. senator contends that New Hampshire is spending more on education without seeing results. She wants to improve academic standards, better support teachers and backs the Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), which provide vouchers for families choosing private schooling or homeschooling. She argues that parents should have the flexibility to decide the best educational setting for their children.

Housing

shifting the burden onto local communities, making it harder for them to meet needs without raising local taxes. Ayotte: Ayotte emphasizes fiscal conservatism and opposes what she perceives as Craig’s inclination to raise taxes. She wants to maintain New Hampshire’s “no income and no sales tax” stance and promises to cut state spending where necessary. Ayotte believes that balancing the budget without additional taxes is crucial to preserving New Hampshire’s economic advantage.

Craig: She believes the state’s housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach, including improving infrastructure systems like water and sewer, and zoning changes at the local level to support increased development. She also said she’ll cut red tape to help make it easier to build housing and streamline approvals. Ayotte: She proposes removing excessive regulations on housing development, particularly those delaying approvals. She supports reviewing state-owned properties for potential Reproductive Rights housing development and prioritizing Craig: Craig asserts that she is the infrastructure improvements. Ayotte says that working closely with the pri- candidate who will protect reproducvate sector is essential to solving the tive rights fully. She says the right to abortion should be codified into state housing issue. law and would nominate justices to the Taxes and Budget state’s Supreme Court who support Craig: Craig states that she won’t abortion access. implement a sales or income tax and Ayotte: She says she would not sign aims to achieve her policy goals within any law that restricts abortion rights the existing tax structure. She says beyond the current state law, which alher experience managing budgets in lows abortions up to 24 weeks. Craig Manchester equips her to navigate the has attacked Ayotte for previously votstate’s financial challenges, especially ing in Congress for an abortion ban. as federal relief funds diminish. Craig Ayotte says that vote included excepbelieves that state funding cuts are tions for rape, incest, and the life of the

GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

pregnant person.

Local vs. State Authority Craig: Craig emphasizes the need for state and local governments to work together on shared issues such as education, housing, and substance abuse. She believes these problems can’t be solved by municipalities alone and requires state support. Ayotte: Ayotte believes in maintaining a balance between state oversight and local autonomy. She argues that the state’s role should not infringe on local decision-making and that a balanced state budget will allow more resources to flow back to local communities.

Overall Vision Craig: She presents herself as the experienced local leader who understands community-level needs and will bring that perspective to the governor ’s office. She wants to address inequities in state support and prioritize local voices in policy discussions. Ayotte: She frames her campaign as a continuation of Gov. Chris Sununu’s policies, focusing on economic stability, low taxes, and protecting the state’s current path.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

COUNCIL’S UNIQUE ROLE

Department of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut answers questions from the Executive Council in 2022.

Joe Kenney (R-I) Joe Kenney, the Republican incumbent, has represented District 1 on New Hampshire’s Executive Council since 2014, with a brief one-term gap. A lifelong resident with a background in the military and legislative service, Kenney stresses his experience and dedication to state projects such as redeveloping the Laconia State School, addressing food security in Coos County, and overseeing significant infrastructure projects like the new men’s prison in Concord. As the state faces its first budget cycle without federal ARPA funds, Kenney emphasizes fiscal responsibility. He likens his role to

What is the New Hampshire Executive Council? The Executive Council is a unique fivemember body that works alongside the governor to oversee key aspects of state governance. It is the only council of its kind still existing in the United States, originating from the Colonial era when there was a strong distrust of executive power. Today, the council plays an essential role in maintaining checks and balances within New Hampshire’s government. What are the main responsibilities of the Executive Council? The council's primary responsibilities include? ■ Approving state contracts: The council reviews and approves all state contracts valued at $10,000 or more, ensuring that taxpayer money is spent responsibly. ■ Nominating officials: The council votes on the governor’s nominations for various important positions, including judges, commissioners, notary publics, and justices of the peace. ■ Overseeing the state budget: The council monitors state budget spending to ensure fiscal responsibility. ■ Managing the 10-year Highway Plan: The council oversees the planning and implementation of long-term infrastructure projects in New Hampshire, such as highway construction and maintenance. How does the Executive Council affect everyday life? The Executive Council has a significant

impact on the state’s financial management, public services, and infrastructure. For example, its approval of state contracts directly affects public health, education, transportation, and other key services. Additionally, the council’s decisions on appointments shape the leadership and functioning of various governmental departments and judicial bodies. Is the Executive Council involved in national issues? While the Executive Council primarily focuses on state matters, it can sometimes influence national conversations. For instance, its decisions on contracts with certain providers, such as Planned Parenthood, have drawn attention beyond state lines. How are Executive Council members elected? New Hampshire is divided into five districts, each represented by one councilor. Each councilor represents about 263,000 residents and is elected every two years. Elections are held alongside other state and federal elections, and party control of the council can shift during these elections. Are Executive Council meetings open to the public? Yes, the Executive Council conducts its business in open meetings. This allows members of the press, voters, and other stakeholders to observe the decision-making process and participate in discussions.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

DISTRICT 1

So, what exactly is the Executive Council?

The following information is condensed from previous Concord Monitor reporting. You can read full articles at concordmonitor.com. Refer to the listing on Page 3 to see which district presents your town or city. For party designations, D is for Democrat, R is for Republican and I is for incumbent.

New Hampshire Bulletin

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL being "1/5th of a lieutenant governor," advocating for prudent use of the council's influence to benefit the state. Kenney argues for continuity in leadership, aiming to maintain the state’s quality of life with the experience and insight he has gained over decades of service.

Emmett Soldati (D) Soldati, an entrepreneur and community activist, is making his second bid for the Executive Council, this time in District 1. Owner of Teatotaller Café in Concord, Soldati is known for his activism, including a legal win against Meta and public resistance to protests at his café. He advocates for change on the council, emphasizing the need to restore funding for family planning services, which the council has rejected multiple times. Soldati is also critical of certain agency heads and aims to ensure that future appointments reflect strong leadership. Environmental protection is another key issue for him, especially in safeguarding the state’s natural resources amid legislative debates. He hopes to reshape the council's role from merely reacting to controversies to setting strategic goals that benefit the public. Soldati's focus is on using the council’s power to foster vision and positive change, rather than maintaining the status quo.

DISTRICT 2

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Karen Liot Hill (D) Hill, a 19-year city councilor from Lebanon, is focused on restoring funding for Planned Parenthood, which has been cut by the Republican majority on New Hampshire’s Executive Council in recent years. Hill believes that women’s health shouldn’t be a partisan issue and sees this funding restoration as a priority. On housing, she aims to develop workforce housing by leveraging state-owned land, following a model used in Lebanon to build small developments. Hill also seeks to maximize federal resources for essential programs like housing, education, and food assistance, ensuring that New Hampshire fully utilizes available federal funding. Her stance on the participation of transgender athletes in sports is personal, as her daughter is transgender; she condemns discrimination and stresses the importance of addressing broader family issues in politics.

Kim Strathdee (R) Strathdee, a four-time candidate for the council, has a personal connection to Planned Parenthood, having relied on its services when she was uninsured. She supports funding the organization, ac-

knowledging its role in providing essential health care for women. Strathdee’s approach to addressing New Hampshire’s housing crisis involves repurposing abandoned buildings before considering new land development. Her priorities also include infrastructure improvements, particularly for bridges and dams, with a focus on northern New Hampshire. Strathdee emphasizes being accessible to constituents, pledging to be responsive and actively listen to their concerns. On the issue of transgender athletes, she argues that individuals assigned male at birth should not compete on girls’ teams and proposes the formation of inclusive intramural teams as an alternative to ensure fairness and comfort for all participants.

DISTRICT 4 Jim O’Connell (D) O’Connell, vice chair of the Manchester School Board and a former business executive, brings decades of experience in public service and the private sector. Originally from Ireland, he has lived in New Hampshire for over 30 years and focuses on delivering practical, local solutions. O’Connell's platform emphasizes improving access to reproductive rights, healthcare, and education while addressing the rising costs pushed onto local communities. He advocates for prioritizing people over ideology and calls for the council to shift away from partisan politics. His experience includes managing a $300 million school construction project and advocating for workers’ rights, which he believes prepare him to handle the council's responsibilities. O'Connell is also a strong supporter of New Hampshire’s 10-year transportation plan and aims to find "New Hampshire solutions to New Hampshire problems" without outside influence.

John Stephen (R) Stephen, a former commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and founder of a consulting firm, emphasizes government efficiency and bipartisan collaboration. His background includes roles under five governors, giving him a comprehensive understanding of state operations and the ability to work across party lines. Stephen's priorities are reducing bureaucratic delays in permitting for businesses, improving collaboration between state departments, and

COURTS maximizing taxpayer value by ensuring effective delivery of services. He also has experience in the nonprofit sector, cofounding Veterans Count at Easter Seals, and believes his past roles uniquely qualify him to streamline government processes on the Executive Council. Stephen aims to ensure that government services are delivered efficiently to meet the needs of New Hampshire residents while minimizing administrative costs.

DISTRICT 5 Melanie Levesque (D) Levesque, a former state senator from Brookline, is challenging Wheeler with a focus on increasing support for public services. As the first African-American woman to serve in the New Hampshire Senate, Levesque advocates for funding reproductive health clinics, public education, and transportation. She also wants to replace Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, who has promoted school vouchers — a policy she opposes. Levesque has budgetary concerns, particularly around the phase-out of the state’s interest and dividends tax, which she argues benefits the wealthy and reduces state revenue. She is committed to exploring solutions for affordable housing, including the use of federal funds, and values being accessible to constituents. Levesque sees her role on the council as one that can directly impact citizens' daily lives, especially in areas of health and education, and is eager to serve as a “strong voice” for public service if elected.

Dave Wheeler (R-I) Wheeler, of Milford, is running for his eighth nonconsecutive term on New Hampshire’s Executive Council. A fiscal conservative, Wheeler’s main focus is limiting state spending, particularly as COVID relief funds are set to expire and the upcoming budget is expected to be leaner. He stresses the importance of maintaining New Hampshire's low-tax environment, arguing that responsible budgeting is crucial to preserving what he calls the “New Hampshire advantage.” Wheeler also prioritizes judicial confirmations, stating that he seeks judges committed to upholding the Constitution rather than interpreting it loosely. On recent issues like the indictment of Supreme Court Justice Anna Hantz Marconi, Wheeler adopts a waitand-see approach, emphasizing the importance of due process. Outside politics, he owns two businesses, Maranatha Carpet & Construction and Miracle Acres Farm.

Retirement age for judges This is condensed from previous Monitor reporting. In the upcoming election, voters will have the chance to weigh in on a constitutional amendment about the retirement age for judges. What does the proposed amendment change? This amendment would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75, requiring judges to step down before their 76th birthday. Currently, judges must retire at 70, a rule dating back to 1792. The amendment would not change the retirement age for sheriffs, who would still retire at 70. Who would be impacted by this amendment? If passed, the amendment would affect seven judges who turn 70 by 2030, including two New Hampshire Supreme Court justices. Advocates argue that keeping experienced judges longer would benefit the judicial system, particularly as case numbers are rising. What are the arguments for and against the amendment? Supporters say raising the age would retain valuable experience and knowledge. Opponents argue that keeping older judges on the bench blocks opportunities for younger legal professionals to step into those roles. Why now? The amendment received overwhelming support in the State House and Senate and requires a twothirds majority from voters to pass. With people living longer, proponents argue that it makes sense to update a rule created centuries ago to match today’s realities. This proposal ultimately raises the question: Should New Hampshire extend judges’ careers to retain experience, or make way for fresh perspectives in the courtroom?

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE SENATE

A look at four key districts A look at the candidates in Districts 7, 8, 15 and 17

Stu Green (D) Green, a political newcomer, returned to his hometown of Andover in 2020 after two decades of military service. He describes himself as a “centrist” focused on repairing what he sees as the fraying political fabric. Green’s platform emphasizes tax fairness, specifically opposing an income or sales tax while seeking to reduce taxes on low- and middle-income residents. He argues for halting cuts for high earners and large corporations, though he remains open to limited increases in the state’s meals and rooms tax, citing its impact primarily on tourists rather than residents. Green is also an advocate for public education funding, supporting a state Supreme Court decision that would mandate increased state contributions per student, which he believes would relieve local property tax burdens. On school choice, he is cautious about education freedom accounts, concerned by their rising costs and potential impact on public school resources. On social issues, Green supports enshrining abortion rights in state law and opposes recent legislation restricting transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, calling it a solution to a rare problem that diverts attention from pressing state needs.

Daniel Innis (R-I) Innis is a seasoned politician with two terms in the Senate and a background as a professor and former dean at the University of New Hampshire’s business school. He moved to Bradford in 2022, where he won his current seat. Known for his fiscal conservatism, Innis opposes new taxes, particularly any form

DISTRICT 8 David Trumble (D) Trumble, a Weare-based organic vegetable farmer, is prioritizing increased state funding for public schools and robust climate action. Criticizing New Hampshire’s last-in-the-nation ranking in statefunded public education, Trumble argues that the state should fulfill its constitutional obligation to fund schools rather than leaving municipalities to cover the shortfall through property taxes. This gap, he argues, disproportionately affects less affluent towns without a substantial property tax base, creating inequities across school districts. Trumble also advocates for a state climate action plan, drawing on his experiences as a farmer dealing with unpredictable weather impacts like early frosts and heavy rainfall. He is especially focused on expanding solar energy, noting that New Hampshire lags behind other states in solar adoption. Trumble aims to increase the state’s solar output from its current 1% toward levels achieved by neighboring states, which are reaching 20% or higher. On social issues, he emphasizes the need to protect reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights, underscoring his belief in

equality and dignity under the law for all residents. Trumble views these priorities as essential to building a just, sustainable, and inclusive New Hampshire.

Ruth Ward (R-I) Ward is seeking a fifth term, emphasizing her commitment to parental control in education, support for gun rights, and fiscal prudence on climate policies. Living in Stoddard, Ward believes the state has already increased funding to support public education, pointing to the recent allocation of $169 million directed to districts with greater need, especially those with lower property values. Rather than funneling more funds solely into public schools, Ward supports expanding Education Freedom Accounts, which give parents the flexibility to allocate state funding toward private schooling or homeschooling. She argues that this approach provides families with greater educational choice without “robbing” resources from public schools. On climate change, Ward expresses skepticism, calling some current climate policies excessive and questioning the extent of warming. While she acknowledges slight temperature changes, Ward believes climate policies should avoid unnecessary economic burdens. Beyond education and climate, Ward is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, framing gun rights as integral to New Hampshire’s identity, and opposes broad legislative changes affecting school healthcare or curriculum without significant parental input.

DISTRICT 15 Pamela Ean (R) Ean moved to New Hampshire almost 30 years ago and has taught in the Merrimack Valley School District. As a “libertarian-leaning” Republican, Ean advocates for reducing state business taxes and rolling back recent state bail reforms. She prioritizes housing affordability but opposes state intervention that overrides local zoning controls, emphasizing local authority in these deci-

sions. Ean supports the state’s school voucher program, which channels public funds to families choosing private or home-school education; however, she would prefer a tax system where residents without children in public schools are exempt from school property taxes. Ean’s stance on social issues is nuanced: she generally supports New Hampshire’s existing abortion laws, allowing abortions up to 24 weeks, but remains undecided on potential legislation proposing further restrictions, such as a 15-week limit. On marijuana legalization, Ean favors permitting home-growing for personal use over a state-controlled sales model, which she views as a potential new tax. She backs Governor Sununu’s decisions on border security but believes border enforcement should rest solely with state authorities, not the federal government.

Tara Reardon (D) The Concord Democrat has deep local ties, being a lifelong resident of the Capital City with a long political history, including 12 years in the state House, roles on the Concord City Council, and service on the School Board. Her career also includes leadership as head of the state Employment Security Commission and as a lawyer with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. Reardon’s policy priorities center on reproductive healthcare access, affordable housing through state-led zoning reform, and expanded childcare subsidies. She supports enshrining abortion rights, including access to contraceptives, medication abortion, and IVF, within state law to protect reproductive freedom against potential federal changes. On housing, Reardon argues for loosening local zoning regulations to boost affordable workforce housing. She also supports marijuana legalization through either private or state-managed sales, viewing it as an opportunity for regulatory revenue. Although she opposes new taxes, including sales, income, or capital gains taxes, Reardon does not support further reductions to business taxes. Endorsed by figures like Congresswoman Annie Kuster, Reardon is the frontrunner in this Democraticleaning district but faces scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest linked to her husband’s lobbying work, an issue still unresolved by the state ethics committee.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

DISTRICT 7

of income or sales tax, and has focused his campaign on criticizing Green for purportedly wanting to raise taxes—a claim Green disputes. Innis supports maintaining New Hampshire’s education freedom accounts, which allow public funds to be redirected to private schooling for lower-income families. He argues that the program’s financial impact on public schools is negligible. On education funding, he has voiced concerns about the state Supreme Court’s pending decision, fearing the mandated increase could destabilize the budget and lead to cuts across other programs. On social issues, Innis has opposed expansions of abortion protections, supporting the state’s current 24-week limit. Additionally, Innis voted for a law prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, which he defends as consistent with his values, even as his stance contrasts with the view of Kearsarge Regional School District within his district.

NH STATE SENATE DISTRICT 17 Howard Pearl (R-I) Pearl is completing his first term in the state Senate after previously serving in the House of Representatives. A lifelong Loudon resident, he runs his family’s Pearl and Sons Farm, a sixth-generation farm, which he says grounds his perspective on the challenges Granite Staters face. Pearl’s commitment to his community is reflected in his roles as Loudon Town Moderator, a member of the Zoning Board, and a board member of the Merrimack County Farm Bureau. Endorsed by Governor Chris Sununu, Pearl is focused on lowering property taxes without implementing an income or sales tax, aiming to shield residents from additional financial burdens. He advocates for robust support of law enforcement, specifically in addressing border security and the fentanyl crisis, believing law enforcement needs comprehensive resources to maintain safety. Pearl is also committed to defending constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, framing these protections as fundamental to preserving New Hampshire’s independence from federal influence. Valuing his community’s trust, he hopes to continue building a strong, resilient community by supporting policies that reinforce the state’s local values and livelihoods.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Kelly Roberts (D) Roberts has spent 16 years as Deerfield’s town clerk and tax collector and previously served as president of the New Hampshire Tax Collectors Association. A Deerfield native, Roberts sees high property taxes as a critical issue for New Hampshire, especially given the state’s reliance on local taxes to fund education. She aims to relieve this burden by advocating for the state to cover a fairer share of education costs, which would alleviate pressure on towns and reduce the tax load on property owners. Roberts is also dedicated to promoting affordable housing, reproductive health access, including safe and legal abortion, and protecting democratic processes. Having witnessed the challenges residents face due to rising property taxes, Roberts is particularly concerned about the impact on homeowners with fixed or modest incomes, whose ability to remain in their communities is threatened by increasing costs. Committed to equitable governance, Roberts draws on her leadership experience to address these challenges with integrity and an openness to collaboration, inviting District 17 residents to help shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for the state.

A guide for young voters Concord Monitor reporters Michaela Towfighi, Alexander Rapp and Charlotte Matherly teamed up with other young New Hampshire journalists to connect with the state’s young voters. They built a digital guide to help clarify the voting process as well as provide trusted, vetted and nonpartisan information on candidate positions’ on issues most salient to young voters as they make their decisions. Inspired by the work of The Baltimore Beat, the Granite State News Collaborative project was designed, reported and produced by student and young professional journalists from The Clock, The Concord Monitor, The Equinox, GSNC, The Laconia Daily Sun, The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Nashua Ink Link, The New Hampshire and The Presidency and the Press program at Franklin Pierce University.

collaborativenh.squarespace.com/know-your-vote

FAMILIAR FACES: This project included three Monitor reporters and two recent interns. From lef t, reporters included Charlotte Matherly, a James Madison University graduate who covers the state house for the Monitor and our sister paper, the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript; Alexander Rapp, a UNH graduate, who covers sports and news for the Monitor and who led Spanish translation on key elements of the project; Michaela Towfighi, a Duke graduate who covers the Monitor’s Two New Hampshires beat; and former Monitor interns and UNH graduates Sarah Donovan and Max Scheinblum.

Free Concord shuttles on Election Day Free rides to polling places on Election Day are being offered throughout New Hampshire, including the Concord region. Concord Area Transit and Mid-State Transit are offering free voter shuttle service Nov. 5, from people’s homes or workplace to any polling place and back again. Rides must be scheduled in advance by calling 603225-1989 – the sooner the better, but trips must be scheduled by 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, the day before

the election. Many other transit services around the state are offering voter shuttles, including municipal bus services in Nashua, Dover and Exeter. Concord Area Transit provides regular bus service in Concord and also has a twice-daily service between Concord and Laconia. Mid-State Transit provides doorto-door transportation for people over 60 and adults with disabilities throughout Merrimack and Belknap counties.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE

Merrimack County House races For candidate surveys from Rockingham, Belknap and Hillsborough counties, visit citizenscount.org

Lorrie Carey (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Other; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Other; Stricter gun laws: For.

Rick Devoid (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Undecided. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided.

■ “R” designates Republican; “D” is Democrat; “I” is for the incumbent. ■ The surveys were conducted by Citizens Count, a nonprofit, bipartisan

organization that tracks legislation. Citizens Count is a partner of the Concord Monitor and other members of the Granite State News Collaborative. ■ Responses are included for candidates who completed the Citizens Count survey or those who have a detailed voting history. ■ Photos are included for those who uploaded a photo to Citizens Count. ■ For responses labeled “Other,” more details can be found at citizenscount.org. ■ Only surveys from contested races are listed. Those not listed can be found at CitizensCount.org. The following seats and candidates are running in uncontested races: District 2, Northfield, Greg Hill; District 14, Epsom, Dan McGuire; District 15, Concord Ward 1, Tracy Anne Bricchi; District 19, Concord-Ward 5, Mary Jane Wallner; District 20, Concord Ward 6, Eric Gallager. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

DISTRICT 3 (2 seats) Franklin Wards 1,2 and 3

Scott Burns (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Undecided; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against;

Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: Undecided.

Ernesto Gonzalez (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Justine Hoppe (D) Did not complete Citizens Count sur vey

Bryan Morse (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through

local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

DISTRICT 4 (2 seats) Canterbury, Loudon

Jose Cambrils (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Other. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For;

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Boscawen

ABOUT THESE SURVEYS

DISTRICT 1

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other:Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Edward Friedrich (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Ruth Heath (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with pri-

action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization Michael Moffett (R-I) with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase fund- enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: ing for child care providers: Unde- Against. cided; Majority of Deborah Aylward (R-I) public school funding through local propEducation: “Education Freedom erty taxes: For. Account” program: For; Increase fundHealth: Ban abor- ing for child care providers: For; Majority of public school tion during 1st trimester: Undecided; funding through local property taxes: UndeBan abortion during cided. 2nd trimester: UndeHealth: Ban aborcided; Guarantee tion during 1st right to abortion before 24 weeks: Untrimester: Against; decided; Repeal ban on abortion after Ban abortion during 24 weeks: Against; Protection for inter2nd trimester: state travel related to gender, abortion: Against; Guarantee Undecided. Economy: Broad-based income right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Against; Protection for interstate Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum travel related to gender, abortion: wage increase: Against; Encourage lo- Against. Economy: Broad-based income cal zoning changes for housing develtax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: opment: For. Climate change: Climate change Against; Business tax decrease: For; action: Undecided; Expand net meter- Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage loing opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization cal zoning changes for housing develwith home-growing, no sales: Against; opment: For. Marijuana legalization with private Climate change: Climate change sales: Against; Marijuana legalization action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. with state-run stores: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private Against. sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. DISTRICT 5 (2 seats) Other: Require local immigration Andover, Danbury, Hills, Salisbury, Webster enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against. vate sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

Louise Andrus (R-I)

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Undecided. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Other. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change

Lorna Carlisle (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For;

Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

David Nesbitt (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: Undecided.

DISTRICT 6 Sutton, Wilmot

Victor Prieto (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Undecided. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY crease: No Response; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Other. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: No Response.

DISTRICT 8 (3 seats) Bradford, Henniker, Warner

Tony Caplan (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Undecided; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Undecided; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: For.

Sherry Gould (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Undecided. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Undecided; Protection for interstate travel

related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Eileen Kelly (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

James Parker (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Other. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Other; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Other; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Other; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Other.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

portunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Other; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Thomas Schamberg (D-I) Other: Require local immigration Education: “Education Freedom enforcement: No Response; Stricter Account” program: Against; Increase gun laws: For. funding for child care providers: For; Dorothy Hitchmoth (R) Majority of public school funding Did not complete Citizens Count through local prop- sur vey erty taxes: Against. Claire Ketteler (R) Health: Ban aborEducation: “Education Freedom tion during 1st trimester: Against; Account” program: For; Increase fundBan abortion during ing for child care providers: Other; Majority of public school 2nd trimester: funding through local Against; Guarantee property taxes: For. right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Health: Ban aborRepeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: tion during 1st For; Protection for interstate travel retrimester: Other; Ban lated to gender, abortion: For. abortion during 2nd Economy: Broad-based income trimester: Other; tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Guarantee right to Against; Business tax decrease: abortion before 24 Against; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encour- weeks: Other; Repeal ban on abortion age local zoning changes for housing after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income action: For; Expand net metering optax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: portunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Against; Business tax decrease: For; with home-growing, no sales: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum Marijuana legalization with private wage increase: Against; Encourage losales: Undecided; Marijuana legaliza- cal zoning changes for housing develtion with state-run stores: Undecided. opment: Against. Climate change: Climate change Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. laws: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; DISTRICT 7 (2 seats) Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with New London, Newbury state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration Karen Ebel (D-I) enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Education: “Education Freedom Against. Account” program: Against; Increase Gregory Sargent (D) funding for child care providers: For; Education: “Education Freedom Majority of public school funding Account” program: Against; Increase through local prop- funding for child care providers: Other; Majority of public erty taxes: No Reschool funding sponse. through local propHealth: Ban aborerty taxes: No Retion during 1st sponse. trimester: Against; Health: Ban aborBan abortion during tion during 1st 2nd trimester: trimester: Against; Against; Guarantee right to abortion Ban abortion during before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on 2nd trimester: No Reabortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gen- sponse; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal der, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No Retax: No Response; Broad-based sales sponse; Protection for interstate travel tax: No Response; Business tax de- related to gender, abortion: No Recrease: No Response; Capital gains sponse. Economy: Broad-based income tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for tax: No Response; Broad-based sales tax: No Response; Business tax dehousing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change crease: No Response; Capital gains action: For; Expand net metering optax: No Response; Minimum wage in-

sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun laws: Against.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Other. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Stephanie Payeur (D-I)

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

Natalie Wells (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax:

Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Other; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

DISTRICT 9 (4 seats) Bow, Hopkinton

Eleana Colby (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: No Response; Broad-based sales tax: No Response; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

David Germain (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against.

Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Darlene Gildersleeve (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No Response; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: No Response; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No Response. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Muriel Hall (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel re-

lated to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: For.

David Luneau (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

John Martin (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Other. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

Matthew Poulin (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Undecided; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local

DISTRICT 10 (4 seats) Dunbarton, Hooksett

Stephen Boyd (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Madalasa Gurung (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Undecided; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease:

For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. John Leavitt (R-I) Other: Require local immigration Education: “Education Freedom enforcement: Against; Stricter gun Account” program: For; Increase fund- laws: Against. ing for child care providers: For; MaYury Polozov (R-I) jority of public school funding through local Education: “Education Freedom property taxes: No Account” program: For; Increase fundResponse. ing for child care providers: Against; Health: Ban aborMajority of public tion during 1st school funding trimester: For; Ban through local propabortion during 2nd erty taxes: Other. trimester: For; GuarHealth: Ban aborantee right to abortion during 1st tion before 24 weeks: No Response; trimester: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Ban abortion during Against; Protection for interstate 2nd trimester: Undetravel related to gender, abortion: No cided; Guarantee Response. right to abortion before 24 weeks: UnEconomy: Broad-based income decided; Repeal ban on abortion after tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interAgainst; Business tax decrease: For; state travel related to gender, abortion: Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum Against. wage increase: For; Encourage local Economy: Broad-based income zoning changes for housing develop- tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: ment: For. Against; Business tax decrease: For; Climate change: Climate change Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum action: No Response; Expand net me- wage increase: Against; Encourage lotering opportunities: Against. cal zoning changes for housing develMarijuana: Marijuana legalization opment: For. with home-growing, no sales: No ReClimate change: Climate change sponse; Marijuana legalization with action: Against; Expand net metering private sales: For; Marijuana legaliza- opportunities: Undecided. tion with state-run stores: No ReMarijuana: Marijuana legalization sponse. with home-growing, no sales: For; Other: Require local immigration Marijuana legalization with private enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: sales: For; Marijuana legalization with Against. state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration William Lynch (D) enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Did not complete Citizens Count Against. sur vey

Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No Response. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Undecided.

Germano Martins (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks:

Robert Ray (D)

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

James Newsom (D)

zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No Response. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana Thomas Walsh (R-I) legalization with state-run stores: For. Education: “Education Freedom Other: Require local immigration Account” program: For; Increase fund- enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: ing for child care providers: No Re- Against. sponse; Majority of Al Turcotte (D) public school funding through local propEducation: “Education Freedom erty taxes: No Re- Account” program: Against; Increase sponse. funding for child care providers: For; Health: Ban aborMajority of public tion during 1st school funding trimester: Against; through local propBan abortion during erty taxes: No Re2nd trimester: For; sponse. Guarantee right to abortion before 24 Health: Ban aborweeks: No Response; Repeal ban on tion during 1st abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protrimester: Against; tection for interstate travel related to Ban abortion during gender, abortion: No Response. 2nd trimester: No ReEconomy: Broad-based income sponse; Guarantee right to abortion tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on Against; Business tax decrease: No abortion after 24 weeks: For; ProtecResponse; Capital gains tax: Against; tion for interstate travel related to genMinimum wage increase: Against; En- der, abortion: For. courage local zoning changes for housEconomy: Broad-based income ing development: Against. tax: No Response; Broad-based sales Climate change: Climate change tax: No Response; Business tax deaction: Against; Expand net metering crease: No Response; Capital gains opportunities: Against. tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Encourage local zoning changes for with home-growing, no sales: No Re- housing development: For. sponse; Marijuana legalization with Climate change: Climate change private sales: For; Marijuana legaliza- action: No Response; Expand net metion with state-run stores: For. tering opportunities: For. Other: Require local immigration Marijuana: Marijuana legalization enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: with home-growing, no sales: No ReAgainst. sponse; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No ReDISTRICT 11 sponse. Other: Require local immigration Allenstown enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against. Matthew Pitaro (R)

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

lated to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: For; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

crease funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Undecided. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Other. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: For.

Dianne Schuett (D-I)

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Other. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: Other; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Other; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with priDISTRICT 12 (2 seats) vate sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: UndePembroke cided. Other: Require local immigration Peter Mehegan (R) enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun Did not complete Citizens Count laws: Other. sur vey

sponse; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: Against.

DISTRICT 13 (2 seats) Chichester, Pittsfield

James Allard (Independent)

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private Brian Seaworth (R-I) sales: Against; Marijuana legalization Maurice Regan (D) Education: “Education Freedom with state-run stores: Against. Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase fundOther: Require local immigration Account” program: Undecided; In- ing for child care providers: No Re- enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws:

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY

Sally Kelly (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Other; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration

Daniel Schroth (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: For; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: Undecided; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Other; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Other. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Clayton Wood (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Other. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against.

DISTRICT 16

DISTRICT 17

Concord Ward 2

Concord Ward 3

Connie Lane (D-I)

Diana Freeman (R)

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

Did not complete Citizens Count Sur vey

Laurence Weissbrot (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Beth Richards (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: No Response; Broad-based sales tax: No Response; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Other; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

DISTRICT 18 Concord Ward 4

Kristen Jackson (R) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: No Response; Mini-

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Cyril Aures (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Other. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Other; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against.

enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: For.

Against.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY mum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against.

James “Jim” MacKay (D-I)

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Other. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: For; Broad-based sales tax: Undecided; Business tax decrease: Undecided; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

age local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

sponse; Minimum wage increase: No response; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No response. Climate change: Climate change action: No response; Expand net metering opportunities: No response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration Timothy Soucy (D-I) enforcement: No Response; Stricter Education: “Education Freedom gun laws: No response. Account” program: Against; Increase James Roesener (D-I) funding for child care providers: For; Education: “Education Freedom Majority of public school funding Account” program: Against; Increase through local prop- funding for child care providers: For; erty taxes: No Re- Majority of public school funding sponse. through local property taxes: No ReHealth: Ban abor- sponse. Health: Ban abortion during 1st tion during 1st trimester: Against; trimester: Against; Ban abortion durBan abortion during ing 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee 2nd trimester: right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Against; Guarantee right to abortion Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on For; Protection for interstate travel reabortion after 24 weeks: For; Protec- lated to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tion for interstate travel related to gentax: No Response; Broad-based sales der, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: No Response; Business tax detax: No Response; Broad-based sales crease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Business tax detax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: No Response; Capital gains crease: For; Encourage local zoning tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; changes for housing development: Encourage local zoning changes for For. Climate change: Climate change housing development: Other. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opaction: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. portunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Rewith home-growing, no sales: No Re- sponse; Marijuana legalization with sponse; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalizaprivate sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Retion with state-run stores: For. sponse. Other: Require local immigration Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For. gun laws: Other.

Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Merryl Gibbs (D-I)

DISTRICT 21

DISTRICT 22

DISTRICT 23

Concord Ward 7

Concord Ward 8

Concord Ward 9

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

Robert G. Bertrand (R)

Dennis Blankenbeker (R)

Andrew Georgevits (R)

DISTRICT 24

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encour-

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: No response; Increase funding for child care providers: No response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No response; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Re-

Education: “Education Freedom Concord Ward 10 Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: UndeThom Bloomquist (R) cided; Majority of Education: “Education Freedom public school funding through local prop- Account” program: For; Increase funderty taxes: For. ing for child care providers: Other; MaHealth: Ban aborjority of public school funding through local tion during 1st property taxes: For. trimester: Against; Ban abortion during Health: Ban abor2nd trimester: tion during 1st Against; Guarantee trimester: Other; Ban right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; abortion during 2nd trimester: Other; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Guarantee right to Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Unabortion before 24 decided. weeks: Other; Repeal ban on abortion

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No Response; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Other; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No Response. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Other.

Alvin B. See (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Against. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Education: “Education Freedom DISTRICT 26 Account” program: Undecided; Increase funding for Andover, Boscawen, Canterbury, Danbury, child care providers: DISTRICT 27 (2 seats) Hill, Loudon, Salisbury, Webster Undecided; Majority of public school fundAllenstown, Dunbarton, Epsom, Hooksett Mason Donovan (D) ing through local property taxes: Education: “Education Freedom Kathleen Martins (D) Against. Account” program: No Response; InHealth: Ban abor- crease funding for child care Education: “Education Freedom tion during 1st providers: No Response; Majority of Account” program: Against; Increase

funding for child care providers: No Response; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No Response; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: For; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: No Response; Capital gains tax: No Response; Minimum wage increase: No Response; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: No Response. Climate change: Climate change action: No Response; Expand net metering opportunities: No Response. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: For.

Carol McGuire (R-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Against; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: For. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Undecided; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Undecided; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Against; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Undecided; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun laws: Against.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

trimester: Other; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Other; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Other; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Other; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration Matthew Hicks (D-I) enforcement: Against; Stricter gun Education: “Education Freedom laws: Undecided. Account” program: Against; Increase James Thibault (R) funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public Education: “Education Freedom school funding Account” program: For; Increase fundthrough local prop- ing for child care providers: No Reerty taxes: Other. sponse; Majority of Health: Ban aborpublic school funding tion during 1st through local proptrimester: Against; erty taxes: No ReBan abortion during sponse. 2nd trimester: Health: Ban aborAgainst; Guarantee tion during 1st right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; trimester: No ReRepeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: sponse; Ban abortion For; Protection for interstate travel reduring 2nd trimester: lated to gender, abortion: For. No Response; Guarantee right to aborEconomy: Broad-based income tion before 24 weeks: No Response; tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Business tax decrease: For; No Response; Protection for interstate Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum travel related to gender, abortion: No wage increase: For; Encourage local Response. zoning changes for housing developEconomy: Broad-based income ment: For. tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Climate change: Climate change Against; Business tax decrease: Other; action: For; Expand net metering op- Capital gains tax: No Response; Miniportunities: For. mum wage increase: No Response; Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Encourage local zoning changes for with home-growing, no sales: Unde- housing development: Other. cided; Marijuana legalization with priClimate change: Climate change vate sales: For; Marijuana legalization action: No Response; Expand net mewith state-run stores: For. tering opportunities: No Response. Other: Require local immigration Marijuana: Marijuana legalization enforcement: Against; Stricter gun with home-growing, no sales: No Relaws: For. sponse; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No DISTRICT 25 Response. Other: Require local immigration Franklin Ward 1, 2 and 3 and Northfield enforcement: No Response; Stricter gun laws: Against. Joyce May Fulweiler (D)

after 24 weeks: Other; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Against; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Other. Climate change: Climate change action: Other; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Undecided. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE - MERRIMACK COUNTY Raymond Plante (R)

DISTRICT 28

DISTRICT 29

DISTRICT 30

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Undecided. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Undecided. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Undecided; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Undecided. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Concord Wards 1, 2 and 3

Concord Ward 4, 9 and 10

Concord Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8

Brian Blackden (R)

Claude Lompufu Bongambe (R)

Robert C. Washburn, Sr. (R)

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: No Response; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: No Response; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: No Response; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: No Response; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: No Response; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: No Response. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: No Response. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: No Response.

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Undecided; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: Other; Capital gains tax: Against; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: Other. Climate change: Climate change action: Other; Expand net metering opportunities: Against. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Against.

Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: For; Increase funding for child care providers: Undecided; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: For; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: For; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Against. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Against; Broad-based sales tax: Against; Business tax decrease: For; Capital gains tax: Undecided; Minimum wage increase: Against; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: Undecided; Expand net metering opportunities: Undecided. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with private sales: Against; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Phillip James Walker (D) Other: Require local immigration Education: “Education Freedom enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Account” program: Other; Increase For. funding for child care providers: Jim Snodgrass (D) Against; Majority of Education: “Education Freedom public school funding through local prop- Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; erty taxes: Against. Health: Ban abor- Majority of public school funding tion during 1st through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during trimester: Against; Ban abortion dur2nd trimester: ing 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; right to abortion before 24 weeks: Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: Against; Repeal ban on abortion after For; Protection for interstate travel re24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate lated to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Undecided; Broad-based sales tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: tax: Undecided; Business tax deOther; Business tax decrease: Other; crease: Against; Capital gains tax: UnCapital gains tax: Other; Minimum decided; Minimum wage increase: For; wage increase: For; Encourage local Encourage local zoning changes for zoning changes for housing develop- housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change ment: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opaction: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. portunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: Undewith home-growing, no sales: Against; cided; Marijuana legalization with priMarijuana legalization with private vate sales: Undecided; Marijuana lesales: Against; Marijuana legalization galization with state-run stores: Undecided. with state-run stores: Other. Other: Require local immigration Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun enforcement: For; Stricter gun laws: Undecided. laws: Other.

Kristina “Kris” Schultz (D-I) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: No Response. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: Other; Business tax decrease: Other; Capital gains tax: For; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: No Response; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: For. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Against; Stricter gun laws: Other.

Gary Woods (D) Education: “Education Freedom Account” program: Against; Increase funding for child care providers: For; Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: Against. Health: Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against; Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against; Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For; Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For; Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: Undecided. Economy: Broad-based income tax: Other; Broad-based sales tax: Other; Business tax decrease: Other; Capital gains tax: Other; Minimum wage increase: For; Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: For. Climate change: Climate change action: For; Expand net metering opportunities: For. Marijuana: Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For; Marijuana legalization with private sales: For; Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against. Other: Require local immigration enforcement: Undecided; Stricter gun laws: For.

MERRIMACK COUNTY

THE COUNTY RACES The following article by David Brooks is reprinted from the Concord Monitor ’s Oct. 17 edition. For a closer look at the races for County Commissioner District 3 or County Sheriff, visit concordmonitor.com.

GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

House Speaker Sherman Packard, right, presents former Speaker Steve Shurtleff with a plaque honoring his service to state government on Shurtleff’s last day in the House. Shurtleff, of Concord, is running unopposed for Merrimack County Commission District 1. He will likely fill the seat currently held by Tara Reardon, who is running for NH State Senate District 15.

Croft

Cassidy

Sheriff Job: The sheriff ’s department provides a variety of law enforcement tasks, including providing security in all courts and transporting prisoners from jails to court hearings; providing dispatch services for police, fire and ambulance in many smaller towns; serving warrants and finding fugitives from justice; and serving civil papers for many types of cases, including evictions, child custody and domestic violence suits. Salar y: $81,648. In January 2026 it goes to $85,730. Employees: 65 full-time and parttime and per diem positions, including deputies, court security, administrative support and dispatchers. 2024 Budget Overseen: $5,183,939 Candidates: David Croft (D), in-

virtually no duties since a 2011 court reorganization. County Attorney Candidates: Jane Bradstreet (D), Job: Prosecutes felonies and mis- incumbent; JR Hoell (R) demeanor appeals in state courts. Equivalent of a district attorney in many other states. It does not handle federal cases, which are taken up by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Concord. 2025 Salary: $121,113. In January 2026 it goes to $139,280 Employees: 34, attorneys and support staff. 2024 Budget: $4,562,619 Lovlien Doherty Candidates: Paul Halvorson, incumbent, unopposed. cumbent. Frank Cassidy (R)

County Treasurer Job: Charged with collecting the county property tax from municipalities, overseeing financial accounts and investing county funds. Salar y: $4,000 for a part-time position. The position is part of the business office. Candidates: Davis Bernstein (D); Mary Heath (R), incumbent

Register of Deeds Job: The office processes and keeps records about the selling and buying of land and buildings, including plans, foreclosures and the like. Salar y: $77,010. In January 2026 it goes to $79,510 Employees: Six full-time positions. 2024 Budget: $698,734 Candidates: Erica Davis (D) incumbent; Samantha Morse (R)

County Commissioners

Job: There are three county commissioners, who are elected by district and serve staggered terms. They oversee the property and real estate belonging to the county, notably the jail and nursing home, and the various departments and the county budget, which in 2024 is $103,585,208. District 2, which covers 17 communities around Concord including Boscawen, Canterbury, Loudon, Pembroke, Warner and Franklin, is not up for election this year. Salar y: $11,000 (chairman), others get $10,000 as of January 2025. Candidates: District 1 (Concord, Bow): Steve Shurtleff (D) unopposed, no incumbent. District 3 (Allenstown, Dunbarton, Epsom, Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Pittsfield): David Lovlein Jr. (R), incumbent; David Doherty (D). District 2 is not up for election this year, due to staggered terms of office.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

All 10 counties have the same positions. Most are two-year terms. Here are some details about the positions in Merrimack County, courtesy of county administrator Ross Cunningham. The positions are presented here in the order they appear on most ballots.

In most elections, voters wonder about the candidates. For the county races at the bottom of our ballots, most people wonder about the office. With that uncertainty in mind, the Monitor put together this short primer on the county positions up for election. But first, a little history. New Hampshire was divided into counties in 1769, largely to make courts more accessible in the days when travel was tough. In 1855 county governments were formalized and took other functions that were too expensive for towns but not suitable for statewide government, such as county jails and the “county farm,” which housed indigent people. In recent decades, the legislature has moved many of those functions away from counties to towns and cities, while oversight of courts has shifted to the state. The process hasn’t been neat and tidy, however, as can be seen most obviously in the job of Register of Probate. The Register of Probate used to oversee the recording and maintenance of wills, trusts, adoption records and equity records plus some other legal documents. There were 10 of them, one in each county. When New Hampshire unified courts in the late 1980s, the oversight of the documents was made part of the state government, and a reorganization of the courts in 2011 removed virtually all other work from the registrar. The probate registrar’s primary job is now the preservation of files that have “the potential for historical significance.” So why wasn’t the position eliminated? Because constitutional changes made in 1877 require it to exist, elected on a county-by-county basis. To get rid of the job would require amending the state constitution; a couple attempts to do so have failed. Then there’s the vexing question of elected versus appointed. Why, for example, do the folks running the county nursing home and the county jail get appointed by the county commissioners, but the folks running the county sheriff ’s office and county attorney ’s office get elected by the public? There’s no reason aside from tradition and historical accident, really. There have been several efforts to change this in the state legislature, usually by making all of the positions appointed rather than elected, without any success.

CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

SIX CANDIDATES, 3 SEATS The following information is condensed from previous reporting by the Concord Monitor, and includes information from the Oct. 24 candidate forum hosted by the Monitor. The six candidates are vying for three atlarge seats.

Clint Cogswell Clint Cogswell, a former school board member, brings substantial experience to the race. He also spent 26 years as a principal in the district, including serving as the board president during early discussions about a new middle school. Cogswell doesn’t have a strong stance on whether the new school should be located in East Concord but emphasizes the importance of the board respecting the community’s perspective. He sees the ongoing debate as an opportunity for more community involvement and believes that broader engagement could lead to better support for whatever decision is ultimately made. Cogswell is cautious about the proposed charter amendments, which would require voter approval for school relocations and large property sales. He believes they could complicate decision-making processes and limit the board’s ability to govern effectively. He points to his prior experience managing school budgets and working with limited resources as valuable skills for navigating financial challenges. Cogswell notes that declining enrollment and staffing levels are areas of concern, and he advocates for more strategic discussions around budget management to balance educational quality with fiscal responsibility.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Barb Higgins (incumbent) Barb Higgins, a 15-year board member seeking her fifth term, has a long history in Concord as a parent, educator, and elected official. She is a former teacher in the district and argues that her experience gives her insight into how board decisions affect students and staff. Higgins opposed the current board’s

MONITOR SERIES

decision to relocate the middle school to East Concord, citing concerns about the level of community input. Although she doesn’t believe it’s too late to reconsider the location, she has shifted her focus toward rebuilding trust and ensuring that residents feel their opinions are valued. Higgins has expressed reservations about the charter amendments, aligning with other incumbents who worry that the measures could restrict the board’s flexibility in responding to urgent matters. She has spoken about the need to keep the board focused on educational outcomes rather than political disputes, emphasizing that student needs should take priority in decision-making. Higgins also addresses broader district challenges, such as the budget pressures related to state funding shortfalls and the rising costs of services, advocating for a balanced approach that considers both fiscal constraints and educational quality.

Sarah Sadowski Sarah Sadowski, a district parent and project director at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, is focused on increasing transparency and public participation in school board decisions. With four children in Concord schools, Sadowski seeks to represent the interests of families and ensure that community members have a say in shaping educational policies. She said she is motivated by what she sees as the board’s lack of sufficient engagement with residents on the middle school project, and she advocates for revisiting the decision to ensure the public’s concerns are addressed. Sadowski signed the petition to add the charter amendments to the ballot but has expressed concerns about their potential to limit the board’s ability to govern efficiently. She supports a balanced approach to budgeting, one that aims to maintain educational quality while being mindful of tax implications. Sadowski emphasizes the importance of smaller class sizes and additional teaching assistants to address learning gaps that arose during the pandemic. She advocates for community-driven solutions and believes

RETHINKING RUNDLETT

that fostering more civic engagement cational challenges. Walsh supports the decision to build a new middle would benefit the district as a whole. school in East Concord, arguing that it Joe Scroggins represents the most practical solution Joe Scroggins, a disaster restora- for meeting the district’s long-term tion project manager, is new to the needs despite the opposition. race but echoes concerns about the Walsh is opposed to the proposed board’s communica- charter amendments, which she artion on the middle gues would make it harder for the school decision. He board to respond swiftly to urgent believes the board needs, such as emergency school reloneeds to be more cations. She believes these measures transparent and re- could result in higher costs and project sponsive to commu- delays. Walsh is also focused on implenity feedback, partic- menting educational reforms, includularly regarding sig- ing a new reading curriculum and exnificant projects. panded language offerings, to improve Scroggins supports the proposed char- student outcomes. She highlights the ter amendments as a way to give resi- need for better state funding to allevidents more control over major deci- ate budget pressures and sees the sions like school relocations, though board’s role as protecting the district he acknowledges that the additional from state policies that she views as layers of bureaucracy could compli- detrimental to public education. cate the board’s processes. He sees Andrew Winters these measures as a response to what Andrew Winters, a district parent he describes as a lack of sufficient public engagement in the middle school and member of the Concord Zoning Board, decided to run for the school decision-making process. board after feeling Scroggins focuses on addressing that the current budget transparency and the tax impliboard did not adecations of the new middle school proquately engage with ject. He suggests a more detailed proresidents on the midcess for prioritizing expenditures and dle school decision. communicating clearly about necessary budget cuts. He points out that Winters emphasizes the board’s budget challenges are the need for greater transparency and compounded by factors such as legally public involvement in mandated services, including special education. He advocates for soliciting major district decisions. Although he more feedback from families, educa- criticizes how the board handled the tors, and the broader community to middle school project, he has not comguide decision-making. Additionally, mitted to supporting a specific locaScroggins emphasizes the importance tion for the new school. His focus is on of supporting teachers to help stu- ensuring that the community’s perdents recover from learning disrup- spectives are more fully integrated into the board’s decision-making protions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. cesses. Pamela Walsh (incumbent) Winters identifies declining student Pamela Walsh, the current board enrollment as a key issue that will afpresident, is running for her second fect the district’s budget over time. He full term. Walsh was first appointed notes that as the population of schoolthrough a special age children decreases, the board may election in 2020 and face difficult decisions about staffing has since positioned and resource allocation. Winters advoherself as an advocates for a proactive approach to encate for maintaining gaging with the community and bethe board’s opera- lieves that by making the board’s protional autonomy. As a cesses more open, public trust can be parent in the district restored. He also discusses the chaland a former chief of lenges of addressing COVID-related staff to Gov. Maggie learning loss, suggesting that the disHassan, she draws on her local and trict work closely with teachers to find state-level experience to navigate edu- solutions tailored to student needs.

Visit concordmonitor.com to read the Monitor’s coverage of the future of Concord’s middle school. You’ll find details about the history of the school, why some view a rebuild near Broken Ground as a necessity, why others think it should be rebuilt at its current site in the South End. Plus, you can see how Concord residents who were recently polled feel.

CONCORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHARTER AMENDMENTS

What do the charter amendments say? Question 1: “No Concord public school existing as of January 1, 2024, including but not limited to the District’s middle school, (Rundlett Middle School), shall be relocated from the parcel on which it was situated as of January 1, 2024, to be rebuilt or replaced elsewhere, without an affirmative simple majority vote of Concord School District voters voting on the question ratifying such relocation.” Question 2: “No parcel of real property owned by the Concord School District, larger than one acre, shall be sold, gifted, or exchanged by the District without an affirmative simple majority vote of Concord School District voters voting on the question.” Both are intended to take effect immediately if they pass.

What do the amendments mean? If question 1 passes, it would require the school district to get approval from a majority of voters any time it wishes to move a school from one location to another. Voters would have to make a decision during a regular school district election or a specially scheduled election. The next municipal election in Concord is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. If question 2 passes, it would require the school district to get approval from a majority of voters any time it wishes to sell, gift, or exchange

What are the arguments in favor of the charter amendments? The arguments in favor are twofold. First, adoption of the amendments would likely reopen debate on the location of Concord’s next middle school and give residents a vote over its future. Second, the amendments would strip the board of some of the unique power it holds. Concord is currently the only fully autonomous school board in the state, meaning it can set its budget without getting approval from voters or the city council. While neither amendment would affect the board’s control over its budget, An updated design of the planned middle school next to Broken Ground. supporters argue the amendments would give residents some say over more than one acre of land it owns. A court battle: It is not an absolute other major decisions the board makes Currently, the school district can sell, certainty the amendment would defini- on rare occasions. gift, or exchange property without get- tively trigger a vote because there is What are the arguments against ting voter approval. Those decisions some argument over its applicability to would also need to be made during a the middle school. The school board’s the charter amendments? district-wide election. attorney has argued the decision would be exempt from a vote because Passage of the amendments would I’m still confused about New Hampshire does not allow likely delay the middle school project – retroactive application of charter perhaps significantly – which could inwhat a ‘Yes’ vote versus amendments. crease costs due to inflation. More a ‘No’ vote means. But not everyone agrees the appli- broadly, opponents of the amendments A “Yes” vote means you support im- cability would be considered retroac- also argue that school board members plementing the new voting require- tive. Though the board has already are elected to make decisions that ofments. A “No” vote means you support voted on the location of the school, pro- ten require significant research and the status quo. ponents of the amendment say the subject-matter expertise. They say school would not actually be “relo- these amendments would slow down If Question 1 passes, how will it cated” until the funding and bond for planning and could place the district in affect the middle school project? the new building is approved or until a bind in the event of an emergency, such as a building fire. students move in years from now. There are a number of ways the The Attorney General’s office has Do you have to vote the adoption of Question 1 could affect the declined to opine on the issue. “That is future of the middle school project. an issue better resolved by the courts,” same way on the questions? A reconsideration by the school Assistant Attorney General Brendan No, you don’t. They are separate board: Though the school relocation O’Donnell stated following his office’s questions and so you can vote “Yes” on amendment has been framed as a ref- review of the amendments. erendum on the middle school project, Current school board President one and “No” on the other. it is not directly a vote on that project. Pamela Walsh, who is running for reWhy are the amendments Nonetheless, because of how the election and opposes both amendamendment arose, strong majority ments, committed at a candidate foworded as statements support for it could signal significant rum on Thursday to “honor ” the rather than questions? community dissatisfaction with the amendment’s applicability to the midThe language of the amendments board’s decision to build the middle dle school decision if it passes. Barb school at Broken Ground and lead the Higgins, the other incumbent running, would go directly into the school disboard to reopen and potentially re- and each of the four challengers have trict’s charter, the governing document for the district. You can think of verse its decision. If the new school made the same commitment. was built at the Rundlett site, it would A delay:Passage of Question 1 the language as new rules for the disnot constitute a school relocation and would likely delay the completion of trict, rather than traditional ballot questions. would not trigger a city-wide vote. the project. A vote: If the board sticks with its Staff writer Catherine McLaughlin decision to move the school to the Bro- What’s the deal with Question 2? ken Ground land, the amendment The amendment that would create contributed reporting. Jeremy Margowould likely trigger a vote to approve a voter approval requirement for sales lis can be contacted at jmargolis@ relocating the middle school. of property was motivated in part by a cmonitor.com.

CONCORD MONITOR, Saturday, November 2, 2024

Local election results in Concord on Nov. 5 will include tallies for a pair of amendments to the school district’s charter that would give the public more say over major decisions involving school building moves and property sales. While those amendments have been tied to the district’s controversial middle school project and could ultimately affect that project’s future, neither is a direct vote on the location of the project. Rather, the amendments would change the governance of the school district more broadly, forcing the board to secure district-wide voter approval whenever it wishes to either relocate a school building or sell more than one acre of property. Currently, the nine-member school board can take these actions on its own. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the charter amendments.

desire to have some control over the future of the Rundlett building if the middle school is indeed relocated. The district has yet to decide what it would do with the building. Following the consolidation of Concord’s elementary schools a decade ago, several of the former schools were sold.

The following article by Jeremy Margolis is reprinted from the Concord Monitor’s Oct. 26 edition. Several readers asked us to clarify exactly what the charter amendments mean.

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ANNUAL REPORT TO READERS The Monitor will publish its fourth annual report to readers in late December. Like in past years, this will tell you a bit more about ourselves, what we’ve worked on over the past year and what we’re planning for 2025. It will be inserted into the Weekend Monitor, so be on the lookout.