For most of my career, I’ve been committed to public service. Since my wife and I first moved to Canaan, in 2000, I’ve served on the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board. I helped create and now chair the Canaan Economic Development Community to broaden our tax base and provide some relief to homeowners. We’ve supported the Canaan Library, the Police Department, Friends of Canaan Main Street and I’ve substituted at Mascoma Valley Regional High School.
I’m running as a Democrat for the Grafton District 9 seat in the New Hampshire House to continue my commitment.
The stakes are high. While some shout about freedom, they would deny freedom to those who don’t look or think like they do. I support real freedom for all of us. Freedom for women to make their own reproductive health care decisions. Freedom for quality public schools and support for teachers. Freedom from fear that rising property taxes will drive people out of their homes while the state increases the burdens on our towns. And the most basic democratic freedom, the freedom to register and vote.
Real solutions for affordable housing and child care, the negative effects of climate change and increased economic opportunity for all require hard thinking, not simplistic political slogans or empty promises.
I’m ready to get to work, and if you live in Canaan, Dorchester and Orange, I humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 5 for New Hampshire House, Grafton District 9.
Thomas Oppel
Canaan
GOP candidates for Vermont Senate
I am proud to endorse both Andrea Murray and Jonathan Gleason, two exceptional candidates for Vermont Senate with a shared vision of practical, sustainable progress for the state. Andrea Murray is a voice of integrity, representing everyday Vermonters rather than bureaucracy. With deep roots in farming and small business, she brings a grounded perspective, championing sensible policies over one-size-fits-all mandates. Her commitment to economic strategies prioritizes real, long-term solutions that benefit our communities, not just political optics. Andrea’s approach to environmental progress is realistic and respectful of Vermont’s unique challenges, ensuring that our state makes meaningful strides without overburdening local communities.
Similarly, Jonathan Gleason is a dedicated leader ready to represent Windsor County in the state Senate. A seasoned professional in the energy sector and small business, Jonathan combines financial discipline with a deep understanding of Vermont’s economic landscape. He is committed to common-sense energy solutions and sustainable fiscal policies, emphasizing government accountability to taxpayers. Jonathan’s passion for collaboration and balanced leadership is vital for a state Senate that has grown increasingly polarized. He also prioritizes education, advocating for sustainable funding models that meet the needs of all Vermont students.
Together, Andrea and Jonathan embody a practical, solutions-oriented approach to Vermont’s most pressing issues. Their dedication to sustainable progress and community-focused leadership makes them the kind of representatives Vermonters need. Join me in supporting Andrea Murray and Jonathan Gleason for a stronger, more resilient Vermont.
Patrick Danaher
Hartford
Craig will protect our freedoms
“Live Free or Die,” the New Hampshire state motto … what does it mean to you? Which freedom do you cherish most?
I believe that the freedom of each citizen to make decisions about their bodies is absolutely essential. The freedom that women currently have in New Hampshire to make decisions about their own bodies is in danger of being taken away if Kelly Ayotte becomes the next governor. Her long history of opposition to abortion is well documented, so are her lies to the public to convince us otherwise. Please don’t be fooled by her lies!
Joyce Craig will protect the reproductive freedom, which includes abortion, that women rightly have in New Hampshire. She will support, protect and expand access to reproductive health care. New Hampshire is the only New England state that does not have legal protections for abortion. Joyce Craig will codify this right when she is elected governor. The governor’s race is critically important to ensuring the freedom that women have access to reproductive health care, but so is every race for state representative and state senator. Please vote on Nov. 4 for the candidates who will protect the freedom of women. I strongly urge you to vote for Joyce Craig and all the Democrats on the ballot.
If “Live Free or Die” does not protect the freedom of every citizen in this state, we will need a new motto.
Ann E. MacConnell
Newport
A lawmaker
who listens
I love Vermont. But every two years, the fall colors also bring the political flyers out, and this makes me worry about the life we have here. The ads follow the current Republican Party style of running for office, which is to attack the other guy and promise to lower taxes. The lowering taxes thing never mentions which services they plan to cut or eliminate. Less education? Less health care? Less road repair and maintenance? Less public safety? End school lunches? Close the state parks? Mystery guys, in terms of policy and pretty vague about would happen if they got into office.
If you want to know about the real agenda below the cut taxes promise, look at states like Florida and Texas, where abortion is illegal, schools are forbidden to mention global warming or support gay or trans students. States where gun rights are so much more important than stopping school shootings. MAGA, in all its glory. The far right is already here in Vermont, but they just don’t run the state yet. We are kinder and smarter than that.
I like Larry Satcowitz as my state rep. Larry returns emails and listens to his constituents. Larry had the moral courage to stand up to the trappers and hound hunters, and supported some gun safety laws, trying to make families safer after domestic violence. These positions makes the gun-loving crowd angry at him. Larry has enemies because Larry votes from an informed and compassionate place. I want Larry as my representative. I don’t want some guys promising to save me money on taxes and then suddenly pushing a Texas- or Florida-style set of laws here in Vermont. I love the goodness and kindness of our state, and I want to keep it that way.
Gary Hillard
Randolph
Hart for Vt. Senate
I’ve participated in Vermont’s legislative process, as a citizen and business owner, for decades, and served as an appointee in the executive branch for four years. With that experience, a phenomenon I see clearly coming out of Montpelier is that “death by a thousand cuts” to our rural way of life is a very real thing. The cumulative impact of poorly developed legislation is causing serious issues for families trying to get by and rural businesses competing in the global economy.
I’ve noticed that incumbent legislators have gotten religion on several key issues recently. Take Senator Mark MacDonald as a case in point. A recent campaign ad states that he’s pledging to “find creative solutions to lower property tax rates,” “craft a healthcare future that lowers costs,” “double down on opiate prevention and treatment,” “support broadband expansion to our most rural areas,” “support more affordable housing,” and “bring Vermont’s roads and bridges back up to Vermont standards.”
Haven’t these issues gotten severely worse and/or had no noticeable improvement, with him already serving for decades, in what should theoretically be one of the 30 most influential seats in the Legislature? Don’t forget he’s an elder statesman, in a supermajority party, and vice chair on the Finance Committee, and the Natural Resources and Energy committee. Committees where energy policy and property tax policy are decided. There’s a saying that “We can’t solve problems by using the same thinking we used when we created them” and I think that directly applies here. If he had new ideas, as a senior senator, he should have already gotten the job done.
As an alert and informed observer of the goings on in Montpelier, with a moderate’s ideology, my experience has been that MacDonald is not an effective legislator, has not used his position to solve problems directly within his purview, nor do I think that’s about to suddenly change. It’s time we elect a new senator. Please join me in voting for Larry Hart, an empathetic, considerate, polite, moderate, and lifelong resident of Orange County.
Sam Lincoln
Randolph Center
A true
public servant
Thomas Oppel is a superb candidate to be our next state representative for Grafton House District 9, serving residents in Canaan, Dorchester and Orange. Oppel lives in Canaan. He chairs the Canaan Economic Development Committee and has served on the Canaan Planning Board since 2021. He is a former English teacher and is deeply committed to our public schools. Oppel believes that all people have the right to meet with their medical providers to make their own health care decisions, without interference from politicians.
Oppel has almost 40 years of dedicated public service at local, state, and national levels. As chief of staff to the secretary of the Navy, he managed the recovery plan for the Gulf Coast following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In January 2017, he was awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest award the Navy can award to a civilian employee. As executive vice president at the American Sustainable Business Network, he has initiated improvements for our democracy, climate resiliency and a more inclusive economy.
Please join me in voting for Thomas Oppel for Grafton House District 9.
Helen Skeist
Canaan
A better choice
for the economy
Last winter I pulled the plug on my television, although I kept my wi-fi and landline, and I am so glad I don’t have to watch those awful ads folks are telling me about. Apparently the Ayotte campaign is hollering about that old Halloween standby — whooo …. income taxes are coming — but we all know that was settled years ago when over 65% of New Hampshire voters said no to a Constitutional Amendment.
But let’s look at the taxes that have gone up: our property taxes. Which party has held the governor’s seat and the majority in the House and Senate? The Republicans. They own these increases because they are pushing all costs down to cities and towns and local communities. Who is taking the hit? You and your bank account.
As you decide which gubernatorial candidate to vote for, ask yourself: Who has a clear track record of improving the economic status of New Hampshire residents?
The answer is Joyce Craig. Under her leadership, Manchester has been named a tech hub bringing in over $88 million dollars in economic development. Those are our federal tax dollars coming back to the state. She also created 7,000 new, family-sustaining, jobs, invested in public schools, reduced violent crime by 38%, and supported the creation of over 2000 housing units.
If it’s the economy that influences your vote, pick Democrats. We won’t put millionaires and their bank accounts and dividends first.
Deborah H. Bacon Nelson
Hanover
The writer is chairwoman of the Hanover/Lyme Town Democrats.