The Sullivan County NH Republican Committee

Author: WebAdmin

  • 🗳 Manchester Election Integrity Concerns Raised

    Shared by Tom Luther, SCGOP Treasurer

    This post, originally circulated within the Manchester Republican Committee, is being cross-posted here on the SCGOP news blog by Treasurer Tom Luther to remind readers that election integrity in New Hampshire depends on committed volunteers in every community. While Manchester may seem distant to Sullivan County residents, the concerns raised underscore the value of vigilant, local oversight—something that strengthens our entire state’s electoral process.

    Concerns from Ward 12 in Manchester

    During the most recent election in Manchester’s Ward 12, questions were raised about ballot box security and transparency. The concerns stem from a discussion between election volunteer Deb Roux and public official Matt Conley. Deb is requesting the re-opening of a recount case dated November 13.

    Key Issues Raised by Deb Roux:

    1. Security Tape Missing
      The official report stated that ballot boxes were not opened. However, Deb argues this claim cannot be verified, as no security tape was visible on the tops of the boxes.
    2. Unexplained Duct Tape
      One ballot box appeared with duct tape on it during the recount. Deb insists that no duct tape was used or present at the polling location, and this was confirmed by others at the archive building.
    3. Ample Tape Was on Hand
      Deb remained at the polling site until after 2:30 AM and observed Jamie Bassil finishing the sealing process. She presented a photo showing plenty of security tape left on Jamie’s roll, refuting the idea that they ran out of tape.
    4. Suggested Remedy: Election Night Photos
      Deb and others have asked city officials to allow photographs of sealed ballot boxes on election night, before they are taken to the City Clerk’s office. This practice, already allowed in some towns and supported by a judge in the Regina Barnes case, would help validate recount integrity by allowing a side-by-side comparison of boxes. Despite Secretary of State Dave Scanlan supporting the practice in email correspondence, Manchester officials have denied the request.

    “We need volunteers in all 12 wards,” Deb says.
    “If just one person stays to observe the sealing of the boxes, it could ensure the process is done correctly.”

    🌼 Spring Cleanup — and a Bit of SCGOP Pride

    As the weather improves, many towns are organizing local cleanup days. If you’re participating, feel free to wear your SCGOP swag—our hats and T-shirts are perfect for showcasing your involvement.

    📸 If you appear in a local newspaper photo, grab a copy or screenshot so we can share your civic spirit online.

    Let’s do our part—and don’t MASS up New Hampshire!

    This blog post contributed by Tom Luther

  • May 2025 SCGOP Meeting Location Change

    The SCGOP May Monthly Meeting will be held on Tuesday May 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM. The Plainfield-Cornish Republican Town Committee will be hosting at the Masonic Lodge at 36 School Street Cornish NH 03745.

    *** Please note the change of location ***

  • 2025 Lincoln Reagan Dinner: Early Bird Tickets Available!

    Watch the recording of Steve MacDonald’s speech and view photos of the event here

    🎉 Save the Date: 2025 Lincoln Reagan Dinner – Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now! 🎉

    The Sullivan County Republican Committee cordially invites you to our signature annual event—the 2025 Lincoln Reagan Dinner, taking place on Saturday, May 3rd from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Croydon Volunteer Fire Department, 828 Route 10, Croydon, NH.

    This year’s dinner promises to be an evening of great food, fellowship, and fun—complete with a delicious buffet catered by Sumner House, exciting raffles, and ample free parking.

    💥 Act Now to Save!
    Take advantage of our Early Bird Ticket Special — just $75 per person if you purchase by April 19th. After that, tickets will be $85 per person.
    👉 Click here to get your tickets on Eventbrite

    🎤 Guest Speaker: Steve MacDonald

    We are honored to welcome Steve MacDonald, an award-winning blogger, owner of Grok Media LLC, and managing editor of GraniteGrok.com, as our featured guest speaker.
    Steve is a well-known voice in New Hampshire conservative circles—an articulate commentator on current events, liberty, and local issues. His work has energized grassroots conservatives across the state, and we’re excited to hear what he has to share.

    💬 Don’t wait—space is limited, and this event always draws a crowd.
    Lock in the early bird rate today and join fellow Republicans for a memorable evening in support of our shared values.

    🎟 Click here to purchase your tickets now

    We look forward to seeing you on May 3rd!

  • Exploring Educational Options with Jody Underwood

    You may recall my promising to introduce speakers at SCGOP meetings with an advance blog post on our website, and email to promote such occasion.

    Please welcome Jody Underwood of Education Options (EdOpt) to speak at our April meeting. Consider browsing the website in advance:  https://edopt.org.  Note that  your SCGOP Treasurer and Vice Chair are active in EdOpt. The entire EdOpt team is described therein.

    The EdOpt mission is to provide information, support, and connections to families who want to explore education options. To do this, we hold expos in different regions around the state, connect people to the resources that will help them, and support families in their efforts to educate their children.

    The two pillars of this approach are that parents bear the responsibility of educating their children. Likewise, parents bear the cost of educating their children. NH resources are limited. This is no different than shopping for groceries.

    Given:

    •  the 30 plus year history of reputational drag imposed on Claremont by the former executive councilor Volinsky through various legalist shenanigans;
    • the recent school board election which closely defeated our candidate;
    • the recent chaos at a the last school board policy review meeting, revealing a 9 year old optional trans gender policy;
    • the dire tax impact of Claremont’s SAU costs on raising a family in Claremont;
    • the budgetary impact of both state and federal funding and policy reform.

    With these constraints, dramatic improvement in education funding and delivery is on offer. Freedom in education is finally going in the right direction.

    Overpriced underperforming education and its property tax consequences cross political boundaries. This is the NH hill to die on.

    Jody has been invited to explain the new territory of education options available to parents and kids.

    Your SCGOP team welcomes this presentation and hopes to use it as a springboard to greater public understanding of critical issues, tax consequences, and organizational growth into developing and running candidates for local positions. This is our mission.

    Please invite motivated parents and education entrepreneurs. Sullivan County has been ground zero for poor education policy. We reap the tax and social consequences of those poor decisions. The time for change is ripe.

    —Tom Luther

    This blog post contributed by Tom Luther

  • Free Market Principles in Claremont’s Charity Sector: A Model for Efficiency and Cooperation

    This week, I witnessed an unexpected example of Adam Smith’s division of labor in action—within Claremont’s growing network of charitable organizations. The principles of free markets, particularly the efficiency that emerges from cooperation and specialization, are well-established. Despite being outlined over 400 years ago, Smith’s insights into industrial productivity find strong support in Claremont’s nonprofit ecosystem. Here, the benefits of specialization, combined with seamless communication, highlight the profound advantages of free-market capitalism—even within the charity sector. As in business, productivity in charity work matters.

    According to the NH Coalition to End Homelessness, Sullivan County boasts one of the most effective charitable infrastructures in the state. What makes Claremont unique is the cooperation, competition, and specialization among providers addressing a range of social issues—veterans’ services, elderly care, homelessness, addiction recovery, abuse intervention, food distribution, shelter, transportation, and pregnancy support. Each of these services operates within its niche, avoiding administrative redundancy while maximizing impact. The flexible information-sharing among these groups forms the backbone of this system, offering a personal, decentralized approach that allows for greater agility and responsiveness. This is our “special sauce”—Claremont is leading the way in charitable efficiency.

    The concept brings to mind Leonard Read’s classic essay I, Pencil or Adam Smith’s famous pin manufacturing example—both illustrating the power of specialization and decentralized cooperation. By contrast, inefficient government projects, such as Weathersfield, VT’s duplicate firehouses or Plainfield’s public library disputes, serve as cautionary tales of bureaucratic inefficiency. Even within Sullivan County and the broader Upper Valley, Claremont stands out as a best-in-class example of social service delivery. When productivity increases, growth follows—and business, even in the nonprofit sector, is booming.

    As I continue attending NHCEH’s outreach events, I will share follow-up insights on these efforts. My perspective is rooted in Charles Marohn’s Strong Towns philosophy and his recent book, Escaping the Housing Trap, which I advocated for during the event and continue to distribute. I remain optimistic that the housing market’s challenges stem from policy decisions that can be reformed, legal frameworks that can be adapted, and cultural shifts that can be embraced.

    Ultimately, I believe that addressing these systemic issues is the most significant factor in reducing homelessness. Stronger economic policies will lead to sustainable growth, greater opportunities, and a future where communities can provide more. And more is always better.

    —Tom Luther

    This blog post contributed by Tom Luther

  • Emily Sandblade: Advocating for Claremont School Board Changes

    Emily Sandblade

    Emily Sandblade, 71, is running for a seat on the Claremont School Board, citing a strong commitment to improving educational standards and ensuring responsible fiscal management.

    Sandblade previously served one term in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Goffstown, ten years ago. She is an engineer working part-time, a retired physicist, and a former college instructor in computer science and physics.

    Focus on Academic Improvement

    Sandblade emphasized the need to raise educational standards in Claremont schools.

    “Right now, students are scoring at a 38% competency level on standardized tests,” she said. “The School Board needs to heavily focus on getting the Claremont School District out of the bottom quarter of New Hampshire schools.”

    Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer Representation

    In addition to improving academics, Sandblade believes that taxpayers and stakeholders deserve better representation in school district decisions.

    “It takes a school to bankrupt a village,” she said. “Next year, education will cost about $28,000 per student. Are Claremont families receiving good value for the sharply increased taxes on their homes?”

    Commitment to Educational Choice

    Sandblade previously ran for the New Hampshire House in November from District 6, representing Claremont and Croydon. In that campaign, she advocated for expanding educational choice for parents while reducing the tax burden. She also supports the expansion of Educational Freedom Accounts, which provide tuition vouchers for families seeking alternatives to public schools.

    Please vote for Emily Sandblade for Claremont School Board on Tuesday, March 11, 2025!