With mid-term election less than two weeks away, locals have opinions to share: Letters

Janet Stevens for Executive Council; she'll help Gov. Sununu get things done

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

Let’s think of the Executive Council Election on November 8 .  I focus on the District 3 because my wife, Patty, and I are among the 266,000 citizens spread over the 32 towns that make up District 3 where incumbent Janet Stevens is running against Katherine Harake.  But much of what I say applies to each of the Districts.

First, let’s look at the Executive Council races in general.  Think about what you voters want to achieve.  Governor Sununu is going to win re-election.  The UNH poll of September 21, 2022, shows the Governor is up by a whopping 18%, 55% to 37% , with 8% undecided.  The September 2020 poll showed a similar lead by the Governor. But the election showed an even wider margin, 65% to 33%.  Governor Sununu will win and, once again, will win big.

Again, what do you voters want to achieve?  Does it make sense to vote against yourselves?  If you vote for Governor Sununu because he has better policies, as most will, would you vote for an Executive Councilor to obstruct the Governor and his policies?  Doesn’t make sense.

Of course, you might ask, isn’t the purpose of the Executive Council to act as a balance, as a leveler?  In theory, maybe so. In times gone by, maybe so. In practice, no. Prior to 2021 and Janet Stevens' victory in 2020, The Democrats, with the Council majority, consistently acted in a purely obstructionist manner.  They thwarted the will of the majority of NH voters who voted for the Governor because they backed his policies. They obstructed at most every turn.  They handicapped the Governor. With the Republican majority on the Council after Janet Stevens’ victory, the Governor, during 2021 and 2022, without the prior partisan knee-jerk obstruction, achieved a great deal for common sense Granite State voters.  Why would we voters deliberately inject gridlock by voting in obstructionist councilors?

In District 3, Janet Stevens, during her two years as Councilor, has been more than an excellent servant of NH citizens; perhaps even surprisingly so to all but those who know her. She has been outstanding, a leader on the Council, incredibly industrious, and most thoroughly prepared on the myriad issues evolving from the Council’s regular duties:  on over 2,000 contracts, on judicial and agency appointments, and on matters regarding future infrastructure. Furthermore, she has gone far beyond the routine duties of a Councilor, using her position to act on behalf of us citizens to address and manage many significant difficulties which have arisen during her term. These include, among others too numerous to name, mental health especially for children, veterans' health and housing, clean water in the face of drought effect on arsenic as well as chemicals in wells, the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant emergency, housing assistance in the face of the restricted rental market resulting from the Democrat economic policies, fuel assistance in view of this battering inflation caused by the Democrats, Afghan refugee assistance necessitated by Joe Biden’s failure, access to COVID vaccines, etc., etc.

Janet’s degree in Public Policy from UMass-Amherst and her many years of experience as a business owner in communications, as a local government office holder, as an appointed minister for Cancer Cluster investigation as well as minister for Mental Health, and is a very active leader in numerous civic and charitable organizations, have made her exceptional performance as Councilor no surprise.  You will not find any other candidate for Executive Council with more diligence, dedication, ability, persistence, as well as loyalty and devotion to the citizens of NH than Janet Stevens. Vote for Janet or the other Republican candidate running in your district and do not handicap Governor Sununu.

Michael Mueller

Hampton Falls

Republicans responsible for soaring energy costs in NH

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:How are those higher electric bills working out for you?

The state’s dependency on natural gas should have been curtailed at least by 2019.

Governor Sununu is not serving his constituency well when NH Legislature bills for net metering were vetoed and vetoed again by the governor.

When there was excited, positive publicity that a net metering bill was finally signed into law his appointees stalled putting it into action. NH consumers cannot flip a switch for the use of net metering to save heating and electricity expenses.

The appointees: Daniel C. Goldner, Chairman, and Pradip K. Chattopadhyay, Commissioner. Neither appointee has previous experience to administer New Hampshire’s policy for energy needs and conservation!

It is public record that Eversource has donated to our governor’s reelection campaign $100,000.

Remove regulatory barriers so people have the freedom to expand their energy options and lower costs. Increase funding for low-income energy efficiency programs.

Expedite offshore wind production of the offshore wind turbines.

There is not any offshore wind production now and catch up is essential. Recent good news reported by the New Hampshire Bulletin: Outreach on energy and food assistance approved by the Executive Council.

With smart foresight used with the proper administrators, I cannot believe assistance would be a necessary Executive Council vote.

The horse has left the barn, it’s too late to close the door.

Sue Nastasi

Rollinsford

Ruminations on Republican talking points

Oct. 23 − To the Editor:

INFLATION: The US rate is high! But, at 8.2% it is one of the lowest rates in industrialized nations, and it is only one of three in which the rate is falling! So, I guess we Republicans should give a big round of applause to Joe Biden.

CRIME: Crime in 2020 was 60% lower than in 1980. The crime rate began to consistently decline in the early 1990s and fell every year between 2001 and 2020. But for some reason we’re calling it a crime wave—despite the facts.

ABORTION: We are pretty much against it, no matter what the mother, father, doctor want. Our motto: “politicians know best.” Or maybe our motto is “the church knows best”?

OPEN BORDER: Customs and Border Patrol turned back 2 million people crossing the Mexican-US border so far in 2022, an all-time record. So, I guess we need to thank Joe Biden for keeping our border closed.

DEFUND THE POLICE: Only we Republicans have even mentioned defunding the police in the last year or more. Maybe the Dems have just lost interest?

LAW AND ORDER: We are all for it when it comes to people of color; the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, that attempt to overthrow the results of the election, injuring 115 police officers—not so much.

Being a Republican sure gets complicated!

Michael Frandzel

Portsmouth

Vote Tom Sherman for governor − a candidate we can trust

Oct. 23 − To the Editor:

One quality that I look for in political candidates is trustworthiness because I hate to hear one thing in a campaign and then find the candidate doing the opposite of what they promised.

This election, we have a chance to choose a candidate for governor we can trust, and that candidate is Dr. Tom Sherman.

In particular, Chris Sununu has consistently supported the fossil fuel industry during his terms as governor, and now I see ad after ad saying that he now supposedly supports renewable energy. We can trust Tom Sherman to support green energy every day as governor just as he has promised.

Dr. Sherman is also pro-choice and supports women’s reproductive rights. He will keep his promise to ensure that women have the right to control their bodies. Here again, Chris Sununu has promised one thing and done the opposite. Sununu signed an abortion ban in NH even though he claims to be pro-choice.

We can also trust Tom Sherman to be a governor who understands the daily struggles of average families. Tom Sherman will follow through with supporting our schools. He will also work to give property tax relief without an income tax or sales tax.

I will happily vote for Tom Sherman for Governor on November 8^th because he will keep his promises of reproductive freedom, property tax relief and other family-friendly issues.

I hope that you will vote for Tom Sherman,- too.

June Fabre

Exeter

Hilliard will bring back a reasonable voice to the NH executive council

Oct. 23 − To the Editor:

After reading Annemarie Timmins’ article in the October 21^st Foster’s Daily Democrat that the Executive Council voted once again to halt funding for programming designed to reduce teen pregnancy in Sullivan County and Manchester, it is clear that District 1 Councilor Joe Kenney is failing New Hampshire’s children.  Although he voted in the past to support this program, one with proven results of reducing teen pregnancy, Kenney has voted to halt this funding because of his misguided belief that this program somehow violates “parents’ rights,” despite the fact that parents must grant permission for their children to participate.  Kenney’s vote is the latest in a concerning pattern that demonstrates he is a party politician first and foremost and has a complete lack of regard for the voters he is supposed to represent.

District 1 voters - you have a choice of who represents you on the Executive Council.  It is time to remove Joe Kenney and his ultra conservative agenda from office and cast your vote on Nov. 8 for Dana Hilliard.  Dana will bring back a logical and reasonable voice to the Executive Council.  As a long time public school educator as well as having served in state and local politics for over 20 years, Dana has a deep understanding of the challenges our children face growing up today.  His passion to support each child and the educational programs that will help them grow up to be happy and healthy adults has been his life’s work.   His extensive experience navigating the political landscape will help return the Executive Council back to a decision-making body that advocates for all NH residents and not a body that promotes an extreme political agenda.

Join me on Nov. 8 and vote for Dana Hilliard, District 1 Executive Council.

Lori Lane

Rochester

Republicans are not the answer to inflation

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

The biggest problem facing Americans today is inflation, according to most polls.  While Republicans are blaming Democrats for these rising prices, they should be looking at their own track record.  Granite Staters, under Republican Party control of the NH State Legislature and Governor’s office, saw their energy costs double this past year, making New Hampshire energy rates the highest in the country.

Inflation is a global event, and the US rate is lower than the rate in other industrialized places like Europe.  So, the act of blaming Democrats is a political ploy to attract votes.  Republicans have offered no alternative plan to control inflation.  This means that inflation will continue or could possibly get worse under Republican control.

Democrats in Washington passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers the cost of key items such as prescription drugs. They’ve also been able to reduce the price of gasoline for much of the summer.  All this was done without a single Republican vote.

As the minority party, Republicans could do more than block needed legislation. In addition to offering alternative anti-inflation measures, they could have worked with Democrats to find compromises that would help most Americans.  Instead, they have done neither.

Voting for the party that sits back and points fingers without offering help or their own solutions is not going to fix inflation.  America works best when we have a two-party solution. Unless and until the Republicans show a willingness to work with Democrats, it will be difficult to find answers to problems like inflation.

"Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles." ~ Tina Fey

James Fieseher MD

Dover

Stand up and be counted at the polls Nov. 8. Vote Republican.

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

Remember!  Each and every candidate with a D beside their name supports the programs of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi.  If you really want all of America to look like California, then vote D.  If not, then vote R.

"Live Free or Die" is our New Hampshire motto. I really don't want to see it change to "Live D and Die Broke."

Mary Weston

Dover

Keep Moving our State Forward with Holly Sargent from York

Keep moving Maine forward with Holly Sargent from York

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

Holly Sargent has my full support for State Representative from York, House District 147.  She is a natural leader whose experience as a York parent, resident and community promoter, especially in her work in bringing us the York Auditorium at York High School shows her knowledge of our town and her ability to lead on important issues that affect us. She is ready to be a responsible and positive voice for us in Augusta. I am thankful that she will continue to protect our State’s reproductive rights, our democracy and the State’s work on climate change and resilience - so important for our town.

With the election of Holly Sargent (District 147) and Gerry Runte (District 146) on November 8th, York will continue to be part of moving our state forward. I am proud to have been involved in that for eight years and am so happy that there are good citizens from York like Holly and Gerry who are offering to serve our truly great State of Maine.

Lydia C. Blume

State Representative, House District 3

York, Maine

How stupid does Don Bolduc think we are?

Oct. 24 − To the Editor:

According to the New York Times “Interest rates, energy costs and inflation are rising around the world… Central banks worldwide are raising interest rates to battle inflation, which has been fueled by a surge in demand as the coronavirus pandemic ebbed and a spike in gas prices driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

According to a recent political ad from Don Bolduc, inflation is caused by two people, Maggie Hassan and Joe Biden.

When this absurdity is added to his statement that women’s health access belongs to the “gentlemen” in the state legislature saying, “This is the best way I think, as a man, that women get the best voice.” It begs the question, just how stupid does Bolduc think we are?

Donna Theobald

Rye

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast NH, ME residents sound off ahead of Nov. 8 mid-term: Letters