Point of View
Watch this page for updates on issues that matter for our town and state.
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An Appeal to Strafford - Redistricting Matters
Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington is conducting a "Listening" tour of municipalities around the state at her own expense, as her way of understanding the concerns of town mothers and fathers. Her appeal to Strafford town selectmen through Ellen White was declined for September 2021. Ellen suggested a date might be scheduled for October or November. That won't happen, so effectively, our selectmen have declined hearing how votes at the 4 - 1 executive council affect the state's municipalities and inhabitants, given there is currently no check on the power of the governor.
In a series of communications I had with Ellen White on redistricting recently, I urged her to schedule Cinde for an October or November selectmen’s meeting. Without some kind of pressure, they will dismiss requests to hear anything from a Democrat.
Redistricting: After providing background relative the redistricting process, I asked Ellen to provide me with an answer to two questions I presented.
1) Does the Town of Strafford Board of Selectmen formally support the creation of fair redistricting maps? Her response was "yes, doesn't everybody support fair maps?" I responded by telling her no, not everybody, and certainly not legislators of the party in power, and certainly not the United States Supreme Court, which gave a green light to election rigging through partisan gerrymandering.
2) Does the Town of Strafford wish to have its own state representative, thus be its own district, to which it is entitled, having the requisite population of 3,444? Her answer was, no, we like it the way it is. My response was that maybe Strafford's inhabitants would prefer to have their own representative, in conformity with the 2006 amendment to the NH Constitution.
Democrats and the undeclared need to take these things into consideration at town meeting elections, and in the 2022 midterms when voters will decide whether they want an autocracy under Trump, or would like to hang on to whatever it was we had before Trump. He's running again in 2024, and promises revenge.
A meeting of the Kent Street Coalition with some NH heavy hitters the week of October 14, 2021, focuses on what Sununu and the radical right Free State Project plan as the future for Granite Staters (other than increased property taxes and the weakening of public education funding).
- Bob Perry, October 2021
In a series of communications I had with Ellen White on redistricting recently, I urged her to schedule Cinde for an October or November selectmen’s meeting. Without some kind of pressure, they will dismiss requests to hear anything from a Democrat.
Redistricting: After providing background relative the redistricting process, I asked Ellen to provide me with an answer to two questions I presented.
1) Does the Town of Strafford Board of Selectmen formally support the creation of fair redistricting maps? Her response was "yes, doesn't everybody support fair maps?" I responded by telling her no, not everybody, and certainly not legislators of the party in power, and certainly not the United States Supreme Court, which gave a green light to election rigging through partisan gerrymandering.
2) Does the Town of Strafford wish to have its own state representative, thus be its own district, to which it is entitled, having the requisite population of 3,444? Her answer was, no, we like it the way it is. My response was that maybe Strafford's inhabitants would prefer to have their own representative, in conformity with the 2006 amendment to the NH Constitution.
Democrats and the undeclared need to take these things into consideration at town meeting elections, and in the 2022 midterms when voters will decide whether they want an autocracy under Trump, or would like to hang on to whatever it was we had before Trump. He's running again in 2024, and promises revenge.
A meeting of the Kent Street Coalition with some NH heavy hitters the week of October 14, 2021, focuses on what Sununu and the radical right Free State Project plan as the future for Granite Staters (other than increased property taxes and the weakening of public education funding).
- Bob Perry, October 2021
Republicans Announce Plans to Increase Your Property Taxes
Rep. Mary Jane Wallner warns in her column in the Concord Monitor (11/16/20) that New Hampshire Republicans are openly planning to increase local property taxes. I served with Mary Jane for 7 years. She is totally committed to serving her constituents. When she says your property taxes are going up, she is offering a warning that the new Republican majority, elevated to majority status by NH voters, is already serving the wishes of business by reducing their taxes, thus reducing state revenue. Those revenue reductions will need to be made up by increases in property taxes, or reductions in state services. It's that simple. All of this when state revenues are already significantly reduced from the incompetence of Donald J. Trump to lead on the COVID response. Pensions, you say? Yes, at risk. So much at risk.
With redistricting again in the control of Republicans, one must realize that an attempt will be made to intentionally create a district that will make it more difficult for Congressman Chris Pappas - and other Democrats - to be re-elected.
- Bob Perry, January 2021
With redistricting again in the control of Republicans, one must realize that an attempt will be made to intentionally create a district that will make it more difficult for Congressman Chris Pappas - and other Democrats - to be re-elected.
- Bob Perry, January 2021
Republican Majority in the State House - Cause for Concern
A big thanks goes out to everyone in the Strafford community who promoted the Democratic team by hosting yard signs, standing at the polls, and above all, taking time to vote in the important 2020 election. Meanwhile, the election results in New Hampshire give cause for concern. We are thrilled that Joe Biden prevailed in the Granite State, and we were able to maintain our Democratic Congressional representation and elect Democrat Cinde Warmington to the Executive Council. At the same time, Republicans saw dramatic gains in the State House, Senate and Executive Council. From raising property taxes to attacking access to voting, Republicans are in the process of changing life in New Hampshire. We all need to pay attention.
How Strafford voted last November.
How Strafford voted last November.
Bob Perry, a frequent contributor to this page, is a former State Representative who chaired the Strafford Town Democrats for more than 16 years. He is a longtime board member of Open Democracy New Hampshire, and a darn good blueberry picker, too!
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Take a virtual guided tour of the New Hampshire State House with Virginia Drew, Director of the State House Visitor Center.
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