Endorsements and appeals by − and about − candidates: Letters

Former Mayor Lister endorses incumbent Mayor McEachern

Oct. 25 − To the Editor:

A vote for Deaglan McEachern is a vote for leadership.

Deaglan has proven his leadership ability and passion for the City as a member of the City Council. All City Counselors make sacrafices  participating in City government and Deaglan is no exception. He is active in many discussions, is a good decision maker and a “team” player when it comes to addressing the many issues that face Council members.  Deaglan is a proud son of Portsmouth growing up here  concerned with the growth and development of the city, advocating for the neighborhoods and the residents of all generations.  He has worked closely with the youth, seniors and the business community addressing issues and working toward potential solutions.  Deaglan is proud of the history in Portsmouth and is concerned with the future.

I urge you to vote for leadership, vote for the future of Portsmouth, vote for a strong City Council by voting for Deaglan McEachern to represent us.

Bob Lister

Portsmouth

Those running for city council must remember to put the people first

Oct. 25 − To the Editor:

To those Rochester city councilors choosing not to seek re-election because they discovered being a politician is hard, what did they think they were getting into, a knitting circle? Why are you giving up so easily? Do you not care enough about the people who elected you and what’s important to them?

You should not have let anyone silence you, intimidate you or tell you what you should think. The people who elected you depended on you to work for them and you let them down. Perhaps it’s best you move along before you could do any more damage.  I mean most of you served as nothing more than a rubber stamp for the bureaucrats anyway, so by not running again maybe we will get people who won’t back down, who won’t give up and will lean into the obstacles they face.

For those running for city wide election this November, I urge you to look at NH RSA Title III, Chapter 47. This part of NH law speaks to the powers of city councils. Along with Rochester’s City Charter, the 39 sub sections of this RSA outline what you will be responsible for. You will find, nowhere in there does it talk about abdicating those responsibilities. You should stand firm on your beliefs, do your own research, make your own decisions, but above all else, work for the people.

Without people there can be no city, so resist taking someone else’s word for what is right for the people of Rochester.  That will be your job. You’re running on a host of things and people will elect you for those reasons. Honor the people by working for them and not giving up.

Fred Leonard

Rochester

If elected, you can count on me to support our schools

Oct. 26 − To the Editor:

I am so proud of each and every community member — teachers, students, parents, residents and school board members — for speaking up at Monday nights' public hearing on state adequacy funding for our schools. As Councilor Witham commented, this should have been a very straightforward approval — but a conversation at the 9/20 finance committee meeting rightly alarmed enough people to show up and ensure that the funds were passed on to the schools as intended.

In that 9/20 Finance Committee Meeting, Ward 4 Councilor Austin initially motioned (joined by Councilor Gibson) to approve only some of the funds to schools (retaining some to "offset tax rates"). After further discussion, Councilor Austin withdrew his motion — but Councilor Gibson still voted against the final motion (the 1 in the 2-1 finance committee vote, as Councilor Gerding had recused himself) to approve the adequacy funds — and then had the audacity to scold the crowd at Monday night's meeting for having the perception that the council intended to keep all or some of those funds.

Multiple councilors expressed surprise at the description of leaking roofs and undrinkable water fountains — saying that these issues should have been raised earlier. I had hoped to see more of the "team approach" we're always hearing about, but instead, we heard councilors reprimanding our school staff and conveying that they didn't trust them with more funds, which we all agree they need. Thanks to Councilor Witham for pushing back against the framing of additional needs as "wish list items" and for expressing trust in our teachers and school staff.

This school funding discussion is why I ultimately decided to run for the Ward 4 council seat. If elected, I will support our schools, listen to our residents and work across the "aisle," so to speak, with our colleagues on the school board to ensure that the largest part of our taxpayer-funded budget — our schools — reflects the bright future of our Somersworth students.

Crystal Paradis-Catanzaro

Candidate, Somersworth City Council Ward 4

Legal gambling is a losing hand for NH and its citizens

Oct. 25− To the editor:

I know it was a long time ago, but when I was growing up we were taught that gambling was a bad thing. Not over the counter, but under the table, in seedy back rooms, money quickly passing hands on deserted street corners. Playing the numbers was a "racket" run by "racketeers". We all knew there was Las Vegas, but that was run by The Mob. Horse racing and dog racing were tolerated because supervised to some extent by the State, but "bookies" were the dark side of that and what they did was against the law. There might have been a friendly weekly office pool, but anyone involved in serious sports betting was to be avoided. How things have changed.

Florida and New Hampshire, not coincidentally both without income taxes, were among the first States to introduce public lotteries. Now gambling in many forms is not only authorized in most of the States, but is encouraged, advertised, promoted; the more the merrier, the higher the better. NH now has 8 licensed casinos, and the number is growing. Betting on sporting events is advertised on TV. Most often this is done in the guise of raising money for charity or, as with the lottery, in support of public education.

But look at the figures: with the casino the charity gets only 35% of the take (and at least one location reduced that amount even further by charging rent against that share). That means 65% goes somewhere else---the licensee or the landlord, most likely being one and the same.

Now that we have a sports gambling program the figures are even more interesting. In fiscal 2023, for example, a total of 883 million was spent on the lottery and sports betting combined, providing $36.9 million for public education. That means that $846.1 million went somewhere else. (which may or may not include the 35% to charity). DraftKings, which is the exclusive provider of sports betting in NH had total income of just over $3 billion for that same year, a 91.24% increase over the previous year. Compare that to the annual budget for the State of NH which is in the neighborhood of $6.75 billion. That means that one company earned almost half of what the Legislature has agreed it should spend on its citizens. One of the founders and top officer of DraftKings receives in excess of $5 million dollars in compensation each year; about ten times as much as the highest paid State employee.

So, tell me again how this gambling thing works? Over the past 50 years or so it may have gained in reputation and respectability, all done in the open, but the real winners, the people who end up with the most money, haven't seemed to have changed all that much.

Anthony McManus

Dover

You don't need to like Trump to like his policies

Oct. 26 − To the Editor:

I was wrong about Trump.  The 81 million who voted for Biden were right. Under Trump's presidency, we had historically low inflation, $2 gas, low interest rates, highest wage growth in minority wages, the Abraham accords in the mideast, no new wars, and a great stock market, etc.  Unbearable!

Under Biden, we have had 3 invasions (Ukraine, Israel, and our own border- is Taiwan next?), expensive gas, out of control inflation,  out of control spending, an almost $2 trillion budget deficit), and lots of crime. World War III could break out any time.

A friend recently mentioned he was shocked at how much support Trump still has. My reply- many people really liked his policies. To which he said, but Trump isn't a good guy. I ask all you Trump haters out there 2 things. 1. What is more important- the state of our country, or whether Trump is a good guy? 2. Do you really think Biden is a nice guy?

Dave Bickford

Rye

Use Help America Vote Act funds to improve NH elections

Oct. 26 -- To the Editor:

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 gave New Hampshire federal funds “for the use of improving election security and technology.” The state has been holding onto these funds, and they now amount to “approximately $12.9m,” according to the wording of House Bill 447-FN:  Relative to the purchase of election equipment.  The bill, to allow this money to be spent, will be voted on by members of the NH House Committee on Election Law, on October 31.

The money is there. What is the need? Most of the election equipment currently used throughout NH has aged and may soon be in need of repairs or replacement. Yet the one company that has manufactured the majority of these machines will no longer be in business.

Much effort went into finding other voting machines that met New Hampshire’s standards.  Election officials and other individuals statewide had the opportunity to test out these machines.  The will to purchase the new machines is there, but many municipalities don’t have room in their budgets for such an expense.

HB 447-FN would release federal funds from the Help America Vote Act of 2002, allowing the Secretary of State to “establish a grant system for cities and towns”to apply for these funds.  Why should our cash-strapped municipalities struggle to find the means to ensure a safe and secure voting system, when we are sitting on this federal money?  Please urge your local representatives to support HB 447-FN.

Susan Richman

Durham

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Endorsements and appeals by − and about − candidates: Letters