1st CD GOP debate feisty as trio question one another
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Jun. 26—MANCHESTER — The first debate among three major Republicans running in the First Congressional District became feisty Wednesday after Newfields business owner Hollie Noveletsky and Derry entrepreneur Chris Bright questioned the conservative credentials of former Executive Councilor Russell Prescott of Kingston.
In turn, Bright called upon Noveletsky to defend her past campaign donations to Democrats serving in the state Senate and Noveletsky said Bright's own past comments reveal lukewarm support for former President Donald Trump.
Noveletsky and Bright condemned Prescott for backing in November 2017 a 50% increase in turnpike tolls to accelerate the widening of Interstate 93 and repairing more red-listed bridges.
A month later, Gov. Chris Sununu blocked the idea that had the support of Prescott and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., who at the time served together on the council.
Prescott said he went along with the Department of Transportation's proposal as a member of an advisory board on the 10-year plan, but he ultimately agreed with Sununu's decision to reject it.
"I would say that's a little bit negative and a misrepresentation of my record," Prescott told Noveletsky.
Center Right sponsored the event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Former House Speaker Bill O'Brien said he decided to turn it over to the candidates, who after eight-minute opening statements, got to question each other.
Bright started the fireworks by questioning why Noveletsky would give $1,000 apiece to 2022 Democratic nominee for governor Tom Sherman of Rye and then State Sen. Burt Cohen, D-New Castle, the latter who once backed a state income tax.
"Do you regret those donations?" Bright asked.
Noveletsky, the owner of two companies that make steel fabrications, said it was part of her campaign to pass state legislation to promote buying American steel.
"I have been working for 'Buy American' (legislation) in the past two decades. To bring forward an incentive to Buy American in New Hampshire, I did pay to play and gave to each of them to get my primary bill passed," Noveletsky said.
Ultimately, the GOP-led Legislature killed Sherman's bill on the topic but included the provision covering state public works projects in a separate bill Gov. Sununu signed into law in 2022.
She added, "I don't regret working for Buy American."
Noveletsky pressed Bright on why he would say last April that Trump failed to unite the Republican Party.
"How is this statement consistent with leadership and conservative values?" she queried.
Bright said the more than 40% support that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley got in the New Hampshire's primary revealed that Trump's polarizing rhetoric at times split the GOP.
"I don't prescribe to fanboy politics; I look at the person based on the issues. I wholeheartedly support him against Joe Biden ... just as a guy, I think some of the (Trump) tweets fell flat," Bright said.
Prescott questioned his opponents not about their own weaknesses on issues, but about how the GOP can defeat Democrat Pappas, a three-term incumbent.
Trump state campaign director Steve Stepanek said when this debate was hatched last April, the criteria was declared candidates who had raised at least $100,000 apiece by the end of March, which limited it to the trio.
