By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
CLAREMONT – The city of Claremont is represented in the state legislature by four districts: Districts 3, 4, 5, and 10. While 3,4, and 5 represent Claremont’s first, second and third wards, the District 10 representative has a floterial district, in that the position represents three wards (1, 2, and 3) to ensure balanced representation of the population. A floterial district is one that wouldn’t have enough population for its own representative, but combines other low-population areas to make up one district with one representative.
State representatives in New Hampshire are compensated $200 for serving on the legislature. All 400 legislative seats are up for election every two years.
John Cloutier, a Democrat and long-serving representative of District 10, is challenged this November by Conlin Smith, a Republican.
John Cloutier
(D)
Hometown: Claremont
Eagle Times: What particular skills or experience do you have that make you the best candidate for the House of Representatives for Sullivan County, District 11?
John Cloutier: Am now running for what would be my 14th consecutive term if re-elected the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Nov. 6. I am a Claremont native, who has lived and worked at various jobs in Claremont much of my life. I had a 100-percent attendance record for all New Hampshire House and Sullivan County Delegation meetings during 2016-18 Term, with a career average 94 percent attendance record for all House meetings since being elected in 1992. Also I am presently the ranking Democrat on House Public Works & Highways Committee as well as Sullivan County Delegation Chair. While I will stand up for my beliefs, I also know how to work together and compromise for the greater good of Claremont and New Hampshire with other legislators who may not share all of my beliefs.
ET: Is there a particular issue or problem you are focused on for the upcoming term?
JC: I would do what I can to help reduce or at least stabilize Claremont’s property taxes, including more state support for Grade K-12 public education, which so heavily relies on property taxes. Also would like to stop the state’s downshifting of costs onto municipalities, like public employee retirement cos
ET: What achievements have you made in the past that are relevant to what you want to achieve in the legislature?
JC: In 1997, I was the prime sponsor of the law that raised the required age of seat belt use from 12 to 18. A bill that has prevented serious injuries and saved the lives of our young people. In 1999 I helped former Acworth Rep. Jay Phinizy pass legislation that removed the tolls on Charlestown’s Cheshire Bridge, thus making all the Connecticut River’s bridges toll-free for the first time in our history. Finally, in 2008 as Chair of the Long Range Capital Planning & Utilization Committee, I helped insure that the National Guard Armory on Winter Street was given back to the City of Claremont, property that the City later sold to a private business and thus returned to the property tax rolls.
ET: What challenges are facing the legislature in the upcoming term?
JC: In addition to reducing local property taxes like those of Claremont, I believe New Hampshire faces many other challenges. But I will mention two that I hope the New Hampshire Legislature can adequately address in the next term. First, we should help workers, and thus hopefully attract and keep more young people in our state by raising the minimum wage, passing some form of paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance, and investing in higher education, especially our community colleges as well as CTEs, which is short for our Career & Technical Education Centers. Second, we should improve our transportation system by providing more funds for maintaining our roads and bridges as well as bus and rail service.
Conlin Smith
(R)
Hometown: Claremont
Eagle Times: What particular skills or experience do you have that make you the best candidate for the House of Representatives for Sullivan County, District 11?
Conlin Smith: I am 25 and live and work in Claremont. I know the challenges for young people without a college degree who are trying to get by. My experience working in local restaurants and the gym brings a fresh current perspective that we need in Concord.
ET: Is there a particular issue or problem you are focused on for the upcoming term?
CS: Opportunity for people who work trades and manufacturing used to be plentiful here. I want to work on policies that encourage young people to remain Claremont and be excited about the opportunities here.
ET: What achievements have you made in the past that are relevant to what you want to achieve in the legislature?
CS: I formed a plan, committed to it, and worked hard to execute it. My parents were not happy when I left Keene State College. I decided that I did not need to spend all that money on a degree to achieve my goal, which was becoming a personal trainer. I worked in three area restaurants (two in Claremont) for a few years, working my way up to manager while getting certified for training. I succeeded. I won’t lie, I work a lot. Still, I got where I wanted to be and I want to inspire others with the message that they can achieve it if they just work for it.
ET: What challenges are facing the legislature in the upcoming term?
CS: New Hampshire is getting older. Young people are leaving. If we are going to have a future, we need young people, like myself, to believe in New Hamphshire. Our biggest challenge is how we create policies and and opportunities to achieve this. It does have to be our focus though.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.