New Hampshire
‘A little red pocket on the New Hampshire border’: The national fissures splitting a competitive Mass. state rep. race – The Boston Globe
The district’s longtime Republican consultant, Sheila Harrington, resigned after Governor Charlie Baker picked her for a clerk Justice of the Peace job.
Now, regardless of headwinds that would make the midterms a banner yr for Republicans throughout the nation, Massachusetts Democrats see a main alternative to flip a seat that has been in GOP fingers since 1984, with Margaret Scarsdale, former chair of the Pepperell Choose Board, set to be the get together’s customary bearer within the race.
Two candidates who’ve by no means held elected workplace are vying for the Republican nomination. Andrew Shepherd, a farmer with average politics, and Lynne Archambault, a health studio proprietor who takes a extra MAGA stance.
So, who’s main?
“I don’t suppose anybody’s a shoo-in proper now,” stated Karen Riggert, a Groton resident, impartial, and a buddy of Harrington who beforehand labored on her campaigns. “Sheila was fortunate to be in workplace for so long as she was.”
The 40,000-resident district — which incorporates all or a part of Groton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Ashby, Townsend, and Dunstable — sits at a political crossroads. Harrington was first elected in 2010 and reelected 5 occasions, principally with out having to place up a lot of a combat. She’s a popular average Republican who was endorsed by Governor Charlie Baker. However in 2020, a Democrat, Deb Busser, got here near unseating her, shedding by about 800 votes.
Busser, although, isn’t too shocked on the loss.
“You’ve received to know — the district has at all times been extra conservative, and for a very long time has been a bit of crimson pocket on the New Hampshire border,” Busser stated.
Nonetheless, in 2020, Joe Biden would have gained practically 56 p.c of the vote beneath the newly drawn district traces, boundaries that shall be used beginning this election. However traditionally, the realm has routinely elected Republicans on the state degree.
State Senator Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat who represents cities simply south of the district, described the purple 1st Middlesex District as a far cry from jap Massachusetts.
It’s “ignored by Boston and the State Home, and that’s all the things from fixing roads and bridges to not offering sufficient help to rural college districts to underwhelming job development,” he stated.
That constellation of considerations has made the district fertile political floor for a average Republican, observers say.
And of the candidates operating, the one hewing closest to Harrington’s model of politics is Shepherd, who runs a Townsend water supply firm.
A mustache-sporting, button-down-wearing farmer whose household has referred to as the district house for greater than 100 years, Shepherd peppers his Fb web page with a hodgepodge of patriotic posts and “Tractor Discuss” movies. And whereas Shepherd holds some conservative views, similar to opposing vaccine mandates, he leans into conciliation and moderation, and says, for instance, relating to abortion, the federal government shouldn’t “inform any individual what to do in that regard.”
“For my part, individuals who supported Sheila and align themselves together with her views and her values will help Andrew,” stated Joanne Foran, who ran a number of of Harrington’s campaigns.
Shepherd, who interned for Harrington and Baker, stated he’s forging his “personal model of Republicanism.”
When requested, he wouldn’t share his presidential vote in 2020.
“I’m not within the nationwide model of politics,” Shepherd stated. He prioritizes securing state funding for the district and juicing what he characterised as a sluggish native economic system.
“I’m the man that’s shoveling that turkey [excrement],” Shepherd, who raises turkeys, stated at a latest marketing campaign occasion. “And I’m able to go all the way down to Beacon Hill and shovel the [excrement] . . . for our district.”
However there’s a extra conservative pressure of Republican politics within the district, one that’s ascendant within the Massachusetts state get together and the nationwide GOP.
From Shepherd’s proper comes his main challenger: Lynne Archambault, a Pepperell mom of three, schoolteacher, and proprietor of a health studio in Pepperell.
Archambault is operating on a platform of stopping essential race idea from being taught in colleges, pushing again on vaccine mandates, and supporting the police.
“We share plenty of conservative beliefs,” Shepherd stated of his main challenger. “I believe we go about it a bit of in a different way.”
She is a self-described “conservative Republican” who voted for Trump in 2020 however stated going ahead she’s a fan of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis if he steps into the 2024 presidential race.
Archambault launched what she referred to as a voter’s information. It stated her opponent doesn’t oppose vaccine mandates and doesn’t oppose essential race idea in public college curriculums. Shepherd stated he was “disgusted” at this, questioning how she might get away with misconstruing his positions.
One late June night, Pepperell’s senior middle held a candidates evening that includes all 4 challengers. The GOP variations have been stark.
One resident stood up and requested all of the candidates to present a sure or no: “Do you imagine the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump?”
Outright “no’s” from three candidates. Archambault paused.
“I’m going to say there was some fraud,” she stated. “However I’m not certified to say if it was stolen.”
On abortion, Archambault is unabashedly in opposition to abortion rights.
Shepherd highlighted the chance for the district to run an area electrical utility and stated he needed to remain out of federal points. Archambault’s first phrases in her opening assertion on the Republican debate: “Joe Biden.”
Whoever the GOP victor, Democrats are relying on their presumptive nominee, Scarsdale, who has racked up quite a few endorsements from liberal statewide organizations and sitting lawmakers. She is embedded in native politics. A Georgia transplant, she first ran a writing and consulting enterprise and had stints in environmental activism.
Scarsdale, who will face the GOP nominee together with impartial Catherine Lundeen, stated she is “fiscally conservative” and “socially accountable,” repeatedly describing herself as somebody who rolls up their sleeves. She voted for Baker and Biden, and touted her “lifelong Republican supporters.”
In an interview, Scarsdale struggled to reply questions on a number of of her coverage proposals.
When requested about her priorities if elected, Scarsdale stated she hopes to reform how soil dumping websites, like one deliberate in Pepperell, are chosen, however she stated she’s uncertain if this could possibly be addressed through legislative motion. Scarsdale added she hoped to safe extra state assist for native colleges and fund workforce improvement in environmentally sustainable industries.
No matter points most animate voters, native or nationwide, old-school door-knocking would possibly determine the race.
Stated Foran, the previous Harrington aide: “It’s actually going to be who has a stronger presence.”
Simon Levien will be reached at simon.levien@globe.com. Comply with him on twiitter @simonjlevien.
New Hampshire
Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester
MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Fire, AMR and police responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries at Silver Street and Maple Street Friday.
Firefighters and AMR arrived just after 5 p.m. and immediately requested additional ambulances after finding multiple people needing medical care.
Five vehicles were involved, including some parked on the side of Maple Street. The first vehicle, a grey 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, was operated by a 53-year-old man from Manchester, who sustained life-threatening injuries. A trauma alert at the Elliot was requested, and AMR transported the driver.
The passenger of the Chevrolet was a 50-year-old man also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries.
The second vehicle involved was a green 2001 BMW 540I, operated by an 18-year-old man from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash. The passenger of this vehicle was a 28-year-old male also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash.
The third vehicle involved was a silver 2004 Nissan 350Z, operated by a 17-year-old male from Manchester who sustained minor injuries as a result of this crash.
The fourth and fifth vehicles, a green 1999 Honda Accord and a grey 2008 Scion TC, were parked on Maple St.
Several witnesses who saw the vehicles moments before the crash said the BMW and Nissan operated by the teens appeared to be road racing at a very high speed.
One witness said the BMW was in the left lane, with the SUV in the right lane, as the Nissan approached they described it attempting to pass on the right and subsequently crashed into the parked cars.
A utility pole with a significant number of power lines was broken from the impact of the vehicles. Eversource was requested to the scene and expected to work through the night on replacing it.
The Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the cause and factors of this crash.
If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit at 603-668-8711.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
New Hampshire
Contoocook Motorcyclist Indicted On 4th OUI Charge: Court Roundup
CONCORD, NH — A Merrimack County grand jury indicted the following people recently.
Jonathan E. Ball, 63, of Academy Road in Pembroke, on two felony possession of child sexual abuse images charges. He was accused of possessing videos of a boy being raped on Feb. 13 in Pembroke. Ball was previously convicted of possession of child sexual abuse images in August 2011 in Merrimack County Superior Court.
Skylar Bennett, 41, of Snow Street in Concord, on motor vehicles; penalties and controlled drug act; acts prohibited charges, both felonies. He was accused of possessing cocaine while driving on Fisherville Road in Concord on June 23 after the NH DMV certified him as a habitual offender.
Alexander Sakovits, 33, of Timberwood Drive in Lebanon, on criminal threatening and three reckless conduct charges, all felonies. He was accused of forcibly taking ahold of the steering wheel of a vehicle twice on Route 3A, causing an intimate partner to lose control of the vehicle and drive off the road, and firing a gun in the direction of an intimate partner in Hooksett on June 16.
Anthony “Andy” M. Sanborn, 62, of Eagle Drive in Bedford, on theft by deception and theft by unauthorized taking charges, both felonies. He was accused of misrepresenting gross receipts from Win, Win, Win, LCC, and-or the Draft receiving more than $1.5 million from the Main Street Relief Fund that he was not qualified to receive on June 9, 2020, in Concord.
Shawn S. Smith, 52, of North Main Street in Franklin, on a felony second-degree assault-domestic violence charge. He was accused of strangling an intimate partner on Aug. 24 in Franklin.
Mary Smolinsky, 32, of Country Land Drive in Haverhill, on possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl, and possession of crack cocaine charges, all felonies, in Bow on April 18.
Matthew Stark, 36, of Revere Place in Franklin, on a felony controlled drug act; acts prohibited-methadone charge on Dec. 7, 2023, in Franklin.
Jennifer Sullivan, 55, of Batchelder Street in Laconia, on a felony possession of methamphetamine charge on Aug. 7 in Northfield.
John H. Tracey, 61, of Main Street/Route 103 in Contoocook, on motor vehicles; penalties and driving-operating under the influence of drugs-liquor-fourth offense charges, both felonies. He was accused of riding a motorcycle on Route 103 in Warner on July 12 after being deemed a habitual offender by the NH DMV.
Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.
New Hampshire
Property Tax Rates; Arrests; Best Ski Town; Where’s Santa? PM Patch NH
Community Corner
Update on $100M housing initiative; YDC trial goes to a jury; register for the Southern NH Tour of Lights; how to support local businesses.
CONCORD, NH — Here are some share-worthy stories from the New Hampshire Patch network to discuss this afternoon and evening.
This post features stories and information published during the past 24 hours.
City Of Concord Sets New Tax Rate: $27.69 Per $1,000 Assessed Value: Penacook residents in the MV School District will pay $30.64 per thousand rate due to higher school taxes; tax bills due Jan. 2, March 31.
Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
New Hampshire’s $100M Housing Investment Beginning To Pay Off: Polls consistently show housing costs are a top priority for Granite Staters and many employers say housing makes hiring a big challenge.
Concord Man Arrested On Mass. Child Enticement, Obscene Matter Charges: Richard Wayne Talbot Jr. was arrested Tuesday night at the McDonald’s Restaurant on Loudon Road, connected to charges in Methuen, Mass.
Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Residents Arrested On Nonappearance In Court Warrants: Nashua Cop Log: Plus: Thief with priors arrested on new theft charges; woman arrested on trespass charge; man arrested on domestic violence charge.
NH One Of Top Ten States For Outdoor Recreation Economic Activity: An annual report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says outdoor recreation added $3.9 billion to New Hampshire’s 2023 economy.
North Conway Named Best Ski Town In 2024 By Readers Of USA TODAY: The town beat out places like Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Vail, Colorado, and Stowe, Vermont, which all made the Top 10 of the list.
Franklin Woman, Manchester Man Face DUI Charges: Concord Police Log: Nottingham woman charged with criminal trespass; perp with priors arrested on new theft charges; pair arrested on warrants at Chipotle.
In New Hampshire, Not All Nonprofit Hospitals Are Alike: For many needy families in New Hampshire, one pillar of the safety net is their local nonprofit hospital.
Here’s How Much Thanksgiving Dinner Could Cost In NH; How To Cut Costs: According to the latest Consumer Price Index, grocery prices are about 1.1% higher this year than last and 28% higher than in 2019.
Fatal, Fiery Crash; Pedestrian Struck, Killed By Train: PM Patch NH: Cops seek tips after bank robbed; homeless camp fire extinguished; fun events; beware of E-ZPass text scam; newspaper gets $1M pension loan.
Here are some other posts readers may have missed:
House Registration – Southern NH Tour of Lights
Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.
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