Since my mild stroke three weeks ago, I have been humbled and heartened by my constituents’ outpouring of good wishes. Your good vibes are hastening my recovery. Thank you, a lot. I am hitting all my physical therapy milestones ahead of schedule and making good progress.
I appreciate the support I’ve received over the years representing the interests of my Orange County constituents. Working together with my legislative colleagues, I believe we’ve done some good work. I try to approach solutions to issues with integrity and practical common sense. I believe I have represented my constituents well, as evidenced by their continued support over many years. I want to reassure the people I represent that, while facing this untimely personal challenge, I continue strong and confident.
I would be grateful for your vote on Nov 8. If I am fortunate enough to win reelection, I will continue to serve Orange County with the same vigor and thoughtful, caring enthusiasm you have come to expect.
Thank you for sustaining me as I beat this untimely personal challenge.
Sen. Mark MacDonald
D-Williamstown
People are struggling due to an 8.2% inflation rate as part of a worldwide problem caused by the pandemic, supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine and oil companies’ windfall profits. Vote on Nov. 8 for Democrats who have specific proposals to make your lives better!
The Republicans would give permanent tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy; cut regulations; privatize government programs and refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are cut. As Republican Senate candidate Bolduc said, “The privatization is hugely important. Getting government out of it…..” Economists say this plan would add to inflation, hurt the economy and take away benefits for which Americans have paid and planned.
Comparing the last four administrations, the Democrats are the best stewards of the economy on every measure. The Biden Administration in partnership with Sen. Hassan and Reps. Kuster and Pappas created 10 million new jobs, with manufacturing jobs at a 14-year high. They passed an infrastructure bill plus a science and Chips Act and lowered drug prices and increased health care subsidies.
Under Republicans, New Hampshire is last in the nation for state funding of education (28%), causing property taxes to increase 15% which are the 3rd highest in the nation with property poor towns having the highest taxes. The Republicans removed $14.7 million from the public school state funding for private and religious education. In addition Republican policies have made our energy costs the second highest in the nation and the most expensive in New England. They have refused to diversify our energy sources, focused on fossil fuels and cut back on funds for energy efficiency.
At the state level and locally we have outstanding Democratic candidates who have specific proposals to fairly and adequately fund public schools, bring down property taxes and improve public education. They have plans for diversifying our energy sources to lower electric rates. In addition they want to address housing shortages, a shortage of health care workers and teachers, and a lack of mental health services and opioid treatment neglected under the Republicans.
Susan Taylor
Plainfield
Vote Cormen in Lebanon Ward 3
Tom Cormen has been my neighbor for 22 years. Our street is filled with Vote for Cormen signs in front yards. There are many reasons for that.
We want smart people in the New Hampshire legislature. Tom has just recently retired from Dartmouth College, where he taught computer science (and at times English composition) throughout his academic career. He is the lead author of one of the best-selling textbooks in his field. If you take the time to look at his website, you’ll find not just where he stands on the issues, but thoroughly reasoned explanations for his positions.
At the top of that list is reproductive autonomy. Tom believes all women must have the right to choose if and when to become a parent. He doesn’t think that he or any of your local elected officials should be involved in such intimate family decisions.
He supports common-sense gun regulation, like background checks, and wants to make not just our schools, but our houses of worship, our grocery stores, and our public spaces safer. He is concerned that too many of your tax dollars are being siphoned away from public schools toward vouchers that allow state funding for private and religious schools. Not a good move when all of our public schools are under financial strain and we need, like never before, a well-educated population. Sending Tom Cormen to the legislature in Concord means strengthening, not weakening, resources for public education.
Tom’s lived in New Hampshire for most of his adult life. He and his late wife, Nicole, have contributed their talents to this community for many years. Tom is not only on the board of COVER Home Repair, he also shows up at its project sites to volunteer for hands-on work like building wheelchair ramps and repairing roofs for people who need them.
Finally, Tom is running as a Democrat. Vote blue.
Susan B. Apel
Lebanon
Issues that aren’t on NH ballot
There are many political signs saying defend choice and education/reproductive rights are on the ballot. First off, education and reproductive rights are not ballot questions on Nov. 8 in New Hampshire.
I assume (which I shouldn’t do) this to mean defend choice for a woman right to abort her baby. Not sure why they are defending choice on this matter since New Hampshire already has a six-month abortion law in place (maybe they want to allow abortions up to birth or even babies born alive)!
I know they don’t defend choice for education. These signs by Democrats only defend choice when it is for their best interest. Many actually think religious schooling/home schooling will skew a child’s development which is not good for society. Democrats don’t want to defend Education Freedom Accounts or a parent’s choice to decide what is the best way to educate their child. Many think teaching grades K-3 about sexual orientation, gender identity and racism is good for these little people. Really K-3! Think this isn’t true, go to, https://www.citizenscount.org/ type in the Democrat candidate’s name in the search box.
To go along with the above, SAU4, Newfound Area School District parents just found some real ugly teachings in the new elementary school curriculum in this past week.
Democrats want it both ways, for abortion, against a women’s choice by what means her child should learn.
Vote for John Sellers, state representative, Grafton District 18, and the rest of the Republican ticket, this time around to protect your freedom, rights, and keep socialism out of NH and the USA.
One team, one voice, one vote, one win to get this right; otherwise, we all will pay the price for the next several years. Vote Nov. 8.
John Sellers
Bristol, N.H.
Interviewing
the candidates
We like to approach elections as a job interview for each candidate. Typically, an employer would consider the hard skill sets of the candidate and their previous work experience. What hard skills do they have in the economic, nonprofit and social sectors?
For example, when a doctor is running for office, I would assume that he or she understands bills and legislation affecting our health and well-being. The slate below of Democratic candidates encompasses years of real life experience such as skills in the legal, health, economic and administrative sectors. They’ve all worked as senior staff in their respective fields.
For example, Jay Buckey currently serves as the head of the Sullivan County Public Defender’s office. In that role, he has direct experience with the extreme problem of opioid abuse. Sullivan County has the second highest rate of opium deaths in New Hampshire. If elected, he’ll advocate for a drug court for Sullivan County to bring a new approach to a crisis that has destroyed many New Hampshire families. Sullivan County is the only New Hampshire county that doesn’t have a drug court.
We’d like to encourage Cornish voters and others to help elect the candidates below that care about real solutions to our current challenges and issues based on a lifetime of professional highly-skilled work experience. They’ll move our nation and state towards a more secure, economically productive, healthier, and democratic future for all. Please vote for… Sen. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, Dr. Tom Sherman, state Sen. Suzanne Prentiss, Councilwoman Cinde Warmington, Dr. Bill Palmer, Jason Bourne, Jay Buckey and Kathleen Eames.
Judith Kaufman, Nancy Wightman, Linda Hallock, Janice Orion, Shideko Terai
Cornish
The role of guns
in violent crime
The Republicans blame the Democrats for the spike in crime that began under President Trump. However, most Republicans don’t propose solutions and refuse to discuss the role of guns in crime. Murder rates are far higher in Trump red states than Biden blue states and sometimes they are highest in cities with Republican mayors. Kevin McCarthy’s Bakersfield, led by a Republican mayor has twice the murder rate of Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco, with a Democratic mayor. Six out of the eight states with the highest per capita murder rates are red states and red and blue cities have similar rates of crime.
New Hampshire is the fifth most friendly state for gun owners. Our gun incidents have increased in the last year after the Republicans passed legislation refusing to follow federal gun laws, including the bipartisan gun safety legislation supporting red flag laws and giving extra scrutiny to 18-21 year olds and those showing violent tendencies. The law also would fund mental health treatments. Adults are allowed to bring guns into schools and local law enforcement can’t intervene until shooting starts. Republicans are discussing defunding the FBI, which focuses on terrorism, gangs, human trafficking, pornography and white collar crime. Some Republicans have called the insurrectionists who attacked police officers with flag poles, “patriots.” Their refusal to accept election results has led to more domestic terrorism.
Crime is a complex problem. Specific Democratic proposals for community policing and increased resources, including support staff for police, have lowered crime. Democrats also emphasize the importance of education, jobs, housing and opioid and mental health treatment in preventing crime. The American Rescue plan was passed without any Republican votes and it funded increased foot patrols for high-crime areas and crime prevention infrastructure. Maggie Hassan cosponsored “The Invest to Protect Act” which would provide $250 million to small police departments. Democrat Jay Buckey who is running for Sullivan County attorney, has proposed Drug Courts which can lower crime 45%. Sullivan County under Republicans is the only county without a drug court.
Vote for Democratic candidates who have real proposals to lower crime rates!
David F. Taylor
Plainfield
Well represented
in Orange County
We are supporting Mark MacDonald’s reelection to the Senate.
We have known and worked with Mark for over 30 years, both in his prior teaching life, and as our stalwart voice in the Vermont Legislature. He demonstrates intelligence, and willingness to fight for environmental and social justice. Interestingly, he seems to be known more by his colleagues as a stickler for accountability and abiding by the rules. That is his reputation on the Senate Finance and Natural Resources Committees.
The most important ways he has impressed us personally are:
■ He was instrumental in crafting the legislation that enabled expansion of broadband in our area through the formation of communication union districts. That legislation has changed our community fabric by enabling ECFiber to serve rural Vermont, and in the process ECFiber become a model for other districts in Vermont.
■ Mark deserves commendation for his deep appreciation of how climate change is a problem that is affecting us all and needs to be addressed at both the local and national levels. His approach consistently works toward keeping money spent on energy circulating locally.
■ We don’t know any politician who is more visible at community events and meeting constituents in door-to-door campaigning, We appreciate how well he knows his district and the needs of our people.
We feel well represented by Mark and hope you will support him, too.
Abbe Meiling and
Jerry Ward
Randolph Center
Klar distorts
opponent’s record
As a history professor and a journalist we work with facts. We believe that facts are equally important in politics.
We find the distortion of facts in the John Klar campaign for Orange County Senator disturbing. Klar has repeatedly promoted untruths in his print ads, digital ads and his mailers about Mark MacDonald’s record.
In addition, we are disturbed by the fear-mongering in which Klar has engaged. He has sought to stir bigotry by issuing diatribes against Black Lives Matter and the teaching of so-called critical race theory in schools (even though it is a discipline that is taught only in law school classes). He has issued ad hominem attacks on LGBTQ students and called for stripping trans students of protection in schools. His political vitriol and irresponsible use of “alternative facts” strikes us as out of step with Vermont politics, which prides itself on civility.
We have supported Sen. Mark MacDonald in the past and are disappointed we cannot vote for him this year due to redistricting. Mark’s honesty and dedication to Vermonters in Orange County deserve to be rewarded. Orange County has long been well served by him and, in our view, should continue to be. We hope he earns your vote.
Alexis Jetter and
Annelise Orleck
Thetford Center