The Republican redistricting changed the choices available to voters in the Upper Valley, Grafton, and Sullivan County in the state’s House, Senate, and Executive Council races. There is a serious primary on the Democratic side.
The Executive Council is essential to women’s access to health, maternity and family planning. In recent times, every time Republicans have controlled the 5-person council, it has voted to fund Planned Parenthood and the other two free-standing clinics in New Hampshire that include abortion access in their reproductive services. Two terms ago, President Obama was able to send funds another way, but it has become more difficult, especially for the two independent clinics.
The council also votes on all governor appointments, from Supreme Court justices to department heads to river commissioners; and on all contracts above a minimum amount. The delay of the COVID vaccination program and the reappointment of Sununu’s anti-public school education commissioner were also among the damage.
The redistricting split the North Country in two to pit current District 2 councilor Cinde Warmington of Concord against former District 1 councilor Mike Cryans of Hanover. Grafton, Sullivan and much of Cheshire counties now form the bulk of District 2 of Warmington.
Cryans won in District 1 in 2018 and served on a Democratic-majority board. He provided a strong and effective voice for the North Country and our region as we all know.
Warmington won in District 2 in the 2020 Republican sweep, serving as the only Democrat with Republicans. She has adopted the entire state as her constituency, posting videos and texts from each meeting on key actions and their impacts. An experienced and minority lawyer, she negotiated or defeated a number of bad appointments and contracts. It stimulated the recruitment and funding of 4 excellent candidates for the other districts, giving us the chance to regain control in November despite the redistricting. She’s served the whole state well, and that’s my choice.
Please vote in the September 13 primary.
Suzanne Almy
Lebanon
We face many immediate problems. The cost of food is increasing day by day, as well as that of fuel oil/propane. Gas prices hit anyone who needs a vehicle, and in rural New Hampshire, everyone needs a vehicle.
We all have less money to save or spend. If I’m right, within a year or so the jobs that we can’t find workers for today will start to disappear. Less money and more fuel and food means less businesses have to build or sell and they will start to fail. I don’t want to patch it but fix it. Open the pipelines and stop giving our oil to China. New Hampshire first.
Many of you may already know that I am running as the State Representative for District 18 in Grafton County, which covers 10 cities.
My concern is, can people make it through this winter?
I still have hope for New Hampshire. I will work with anyone to help people survive this winter.
I need to know what your needs are and what you think the government can do to help you. At the same time, we don’t need more government.
We may be managing now, but that will change. I know many of you have already started changing the way you do things to make the money last.
The primary is September 13, then the general election is November 8. I’m willing to do what I can to represent you, but without your vote, that will never happen. So number one you need to vote, number two I need this vote, number three we need lots of other caring, like-minded conservative people to get elected, so spread the word.
John Sellers
Bristol, New Hampshire
Contrary to Barry Smith’s assertion (letter, “Hypocrisy and Duplicity,” July 8), the Supreme Court did not “destroy” women’s reproductive rights. Nothing in this ruling precludes reproduction. Rightly or wrongly, the court simply referred the issue of abortion to the states. Many believe that the Court complied with the doctrine of the separation of powers which is at the heart of our system of government.
Second, Smith falsely asserted that the Constitution “referred to the separation of church and state.” He says no such thing. Here is the actual wording: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of any religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…. The Founders simply wanted to prevent the creation of a state-sponsored religion. Smith’s injection of such a lie into an already contentious issue is anything but helpful.
Dick Tracy
Laconia, NH
I was saddened to learn a new word the other day. It was on the doorstep of my local bookstore, Morgan Hill in New London.
The word is “showrooming” and its definition involves taking pictures of books in store windows and then going to Amazon to buy them at a discount. There are so many reasons to embrace the buy local theme, I encourage everyone to give it a try.
Janet MillerHaines
New London
Alison Johannensen has the strength of character, intelligence, work ethic, humor and compassion to become an effective Windsor County Deputy Judge. She has a new interest and desire to fill the position.
I have known Alison for 16 years as a close friend and also as an onstage collaborator in local musical theater productions. On stage, as a dancer and actor, Alison directs, creates and teaches. As a friend, neighbor or family member, Alison invariably shows up to provide quiet support to those in crisis or need.
Over those years, I have watched Alison and her husband raise two strong daughters while working full time. Alison’s work has been that of a highly organized, committed and skilled paralegal. Remarkably, she also found time to support her community by serving on local councils and regularly volunteering at events such as Zack’s Place’s annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot fundraiser.
Voting in the August 9 primary is one way to create a better future. I will vote with confidence for Alison Johannensen to serve as Associate Judge of Windsor County.
Sara Norcross
Reading, Vermont.
The recent majority opinion of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade contained a footnote in a CDC report that includes the phrase “national infant supply” related to the baby market in that country. Additionally, during oral argument, a judge noted the widespread availability of baby drops at a shelter, clearly implying that the convenient option of abandonment obviates the need for access to abortion. These lines of thought signal the inappropriate view that adoption is a solution to the “problem” of abortion.
Like abortion, adoption is a matter of reproductive rights. The idea that adoption is a win-win transaction ignores the trauma, corruption, iniquity, and white Christian saviorism found in the adoption industry. The brilliant “win-win” adoption narrative overlooks the complex issues facing both adoptees and birth mothers. It also completely ignores the horrors of gray market activity, trafficking, and coercion that are present in the industry, especially with cross-country adoptions. Consider the child-rescue language that permeates the marketing materials of many adoption agencies that rely on a steady supply of babies to generate revenue, disproportionately disrupting kinship ties and cultural norms for families of color. and underfunded communities.
Adoption by definition implies the breaking of family ties to replace them with different family ties. Please do not use or endorse adoption as an anti-abortion argument. To do so would be to ignore the underappreciated pain and loss felt by many adoptees and birth mothers.
Steve Skillman
Grantham
Reverend Steve Gehlert’s letter in the July 12 Forum “Trumps Offers Evangelical Christians a Radical Choice” hit hard in its first sentence, “Evangelical Christians who have chosen to ignore his immorality, dishonesty, his racism and his cruelty should be asking, is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or Donald Trump. This question has been bugging me since Trump became President. Do they see themselves in him?
Is this how a cult starts?
Nancy Parker
Lebanon
