Voters in New Hampshire House District Sullivan 6 will fill three seats on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Republicans Dale Girard, Wayne Hemingway and Emily Sandblade face Democrats John Cloutier, Chris Cogswell and Lisa Gosselin. All six live in Claremont.
The Valley News sent a survey to the candidates about their experience, why they are running and what they see as the biggest issue facing the state. Their answers, edited lightly for style, appear below.
Five of the six candidates responded, and most point to property taxes and school funding as the major issues. The Democrats who responded focus on raising state revenue by reinstating repealed taxes, taxing based on ability to pay or trimming corporate tax breaks. Girard calls for controlling spending and ending what he describes as the shifting of state costs to local taxpayers. Hemingway calls for common-sense reforms to make the state more affordable. Sandblade did not return the questionnaire.
JOHN R. CLOUTIER
Democrat · NH House Sullivan 6
John R. Cloutier
68, Democrat, Claremont
Political experience: State representative for Claremont since 1992.
Professional experience: Currently a private security officer; has served as a substitute teacher in local schools.
Community service: Vice president, Friends of Claremont’s Fiske Free Library.
Why are you running? To continue as a strong voice for Croydon, Claremont and the rest of Sullivan County.
Biggest issue: Adequately funding K-12 public schools without relying on burdensome local property taxes. First, I would consider all revenue raisers that tax New Hampshire residents based on their ability to pay, and eventually reduce or totally eliminate programs like school vouchers, which mainly benefit wealthy families.
Online: cloutier4nh.net; Facebook: Cloutier for Claremont State Rep.
CHRIS COGSWELL
Democrat · NH House Sullivan 6
Chris Cogswell
36, Democrat, Claremont
Political experience: Claremont City Council, at large.
Professional experience: Consulting engineer and specialist in sustainability, data analytics and innovation.
Community service: Claremont Soup Kitchen; Sullivan County Humane Society; various pro bono consulting projects.
Why are you running? I want fairness and accountability for the people, and right now both are sorely lacking in Concord. I am also a young professional who came from poverty, something not common in New Hampshire politics.
Biggest issue: Economic stagnation. We need to become a state where it is good to raise a family and grow a career, not just a good place to retire. Part of that is fixing our overly generous tax breaks that go toward large, out-of-state corporations. And part of it is good policies like taxing legal marijuana.
Online: cogswellfornewhampshire.com
DALE GIRARD
Republican · NH House Sullivan 6
Dale Girard
59, Republican, Claremont
Political experience: Six years on the Claremont City Council, five as mayor; two years as a New Hampshire state representative.
Professional experience: Business owner with 27 years of experience managing and operating Golden Cross Ambulance.
Community service: Past president of the Claremont Rotary Club; longtime volunteer supporting Stevens athletics.
Why are you running? I am running to give back to my community and be their voice in Concord. I believe in protecting local control and finding practical solutions to ease the burden of ever-rising property taxes.
Biggest issue: New Hampshire faces many challenges, including housing, school funding and rising property taxes. Property taxes are the biggest concern. We must control government spending, stop shifting state costs to local taxpayers, protect local control and deliver meaningful tax relief.
Online: girard4nh.com
LISA R. GOSSELIN
Democrat · NH House Sullivan 6
Lisa R. Gosselin
68, Democrat, Claremont
Political experience: First-time candidate.
Professional experience: Retired clinical audiologist of nearly 40 years.
Community service: Volunteer, Center for Safer Communities; secretary, Friends of the Fiske Free Library.
Why are you running? Because, like many of you, I’ve spent the last decade watching property taxes rise, affordable housing disappear and our Legislature continue to avoid school funding reform.
Biggest issue: That issue is affordability. Affordability is an issue due to rising property taxes, which are largely the result of the state’s elimination of revenue sources such as the interest and dividends tax [she wrote “income and divedends tax”; confirm] and business profits taxes. Solution: reinstate those taxes to offer property tax relief.
Online: gosselinfornh.com; Facebook: Lisa for NH
WAYNE J. HEMINGWAY
Republican · NH House Sullivan 6
Wayne J. Hemingway
63, Republican, Claremont
Political experience: New Hampshire state representative; county delegate; executive finance; Claremont city councilor; Zoning Board of Adjustment member.
Professional experience: Retired Army master sergeant and battalion operations NCO; business owner, restaurateur and loan officer.
Community service: I am committed to helping families, supporting veterans and serving our community.
Why are you running? I am running to be a strong voice for Claremont, Croydon and Sullivan County, fighting for taxpayers, veterans and accountable government that delivers common-sense solutions for our communities.
Biggest issue: When I talk with people in Claremont, Croydon and across Sullivan County, I hear the same concerns: property taxes, school funding and housing costs. We need common-sense reforms that make New Hampshire more affordable while protecting local communities and taxpayers.
Online: Facebook: wayne4nh
| CANDIDATES: STILL WANT TO BE INCLUDED? If you are running for office in the Upper Valley and have not received the Valley News candidate questionnaire, contact Managing Editor Allison Rogers at arogers@vnews.com or 603-727-3220, or Deputy Editor Molly Hughes at mhughes@vnews.com or 603-727-3213. |