Every city and town in New Hampshire will answer the same question on Tuesday, November 3: whether to limit the growth of the school portion of the property tax for two years. [2] It comes after the candidate races, often on the back of the ballot, so read to the end. The question passes only if 60 percent of the people who answer it vote yes. Blank answers are not counted. [3]

What a yes vote does

For the 2027-28 and 2028-29 budget years: [2][3]

1. The amount raised by local school taxes may not exceed the prior year’s amount, adjusted for inflation (the Northeast Consumer Price Index) and for new construction in the town.
2. SAU central office spending may not exceed 6 percent of total district appropriations.
3. Bonded capital projects are excluded from both limits.

The limit starts from what a district raised the year before. The levy can still grow with inflation and new construction. Northeast inflation ran 4.3 percent in the year to June 2026, so a capped levy could have risen by that much plus new construction. [3] If a district needs more, the statute provides an override, and the override goes to the voters, not to the school board. [7]

One town’s record: Claremont

The figures below come from NH School Facts, which compiles Department of Education and Department of Revenue Administration data and links each number to its source. [4]

• Local school property taxes were $10,754,372 in 2007-08 and $19,974,136 in 2025-26, an 86 percent increase. Consumer prices rose about 55 percent over the same years.
• Students living in Claremont numbered 1,789 in fall 2013 and 1,405 in fall 2025, a 21 percent decline.
• Cost per pupil in the Claremont School District was $26,013 in 2024-25, 15 percent above the state average and 67 percent above the 2000 figure after inflation.
• Schools take 57 cents of every property tax dollar Claremont residents pay.

Taxes outran prices by about thirty points while enrollment fell by a fifth. Last year the district also found a deficit of roughly $5 million, part of it federal grant money that earlier administrators never claimed for reimbursement. [5] A levy cap would not have caught a missed reimbursement. It does mean a board can no longer cover such failures with a larger tax bill without first asking voters.

Your own town’s figures are on NH School Facts. Look them up before you vote. [4]

This is not the cap Claremont rejected in March

Claremont’s March warrant article pegged future budgets to a per-pupil figure from a year of emergency cuts, and the administration said it would force $9 million in reductions. Voters defeated it. [6] The November question works differently. It leaves the district’s current levy in place and limits only the rate of growth from there. [3]

Before you vote

Polling hours and locations vary by town. Your town or city clerk can confirm them, along with registration requirements. In Claremont, polls are open 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Wards 1 and 2 vote at Claremont Middle School, 107 South Street, and Ward 3 at Disnard Elementary School, 160 Hanover Street. Claremont’s Supervisors of the Checklist hold a final session Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., at City Hall, 58 Opera House Square, and you can also register at the polls on Election Day with photo identification, proof of citizenship and proof of address. [1]

At 60 percent, the threshold is high. Bring the people in your household, and remind them to finish the ballot.

Paid for by the Sullivan County Republican Committee, 24 Opera House Square, Claremont, NH 03743.

Sources

1. City of Claremont, Voter Registration and Information
2. NHPR, “Court upholds school tax cap question that will be on NH ballots,” Sept. 28, 2026
3. New Hampshire Bulletin, Ethan DeWitt, “A new law puts school district tax caps on the November ballot. Here’s how it works,” July 17, 2026; on blank ballots, Steve Marchand, The Politics of New Hampshire, Sept. 24, 2026
4. NH School Facts, town lookup for Claremont, captured Oct. 15, 2026
5. NH School Scoop, Sept. 22, 2026
6. Valley News, Patrick O’Grady, “Claremont voters defeat budget cap,” March 11, 2026; Feb. 9, 2026 preview
7. HB 1300 (2026), text of RSA 32:5-i

First, I must apologize. Several folks on our Signal Chat asked about the meeting time/date/location. I relied on our renewed committment to the Calendar on the SCGOP website. Unfortunately, we had previously agreed to avoid timing conflict with the upcoming (and Sold Out!) Harvest Dinner in Charlestown, to reschedule the monthly meeting a week earlier.

I failed to notify and update the calendar, thus the last minute notice.

And so, after much fanfare, I am belatedly announcing the SCGOP monthly meeting shift to tomorrow night, Tuesday October 6 at the SCGOP office in Claremont.

Second order of business. A brief recap of our member appreciation night at our previous monthly meeting in Newport at the Salt Hill Pub Annex.

We hit the meeting room capacity for the annex, every chair was spoken for. As Virginia Drye reminded me. some of the chairs were claimed twice. Fortunately for your treasurer, the music did not stop while I occupied her chair. There are worse sins.

Courtey of our Chairman’s invitation, we had a fabulous explanation of how NH runs elections from our speaker, Ross Berry. Prior to the meeting, I was unfamiliar with Rep. Berry. His presentation provided both a history of why election reform bills have been such a hot topic, as well as what the future holds. Rep. Berry’s insights were both timely and thoughtful. I feel LESS confident in the security of past elections, and MORE confident of our elections going forward.

It would be hard to find a more timely and relevant topic, with a more informed speaker.

Let it be known, writing a check for the member appreciation meeting with such a good speaker and maximum attendance is the easiest payment a treasurer with ever make.

Spot on, for Rep. Berry.

In spite of my scheduling and calendar failures, I hope to see you at our regularly scheduled meeting in Claremont, tomorrow night.

a suggestion….

NH is known as an early champion of gun rights at the state level, 2A as we call it. Thanks to 15 years of effort from Cato, DC v Heller, and numerous followon federal lawsuits, the NH advantage in 2A has been extended to the nation.

After enjoying Rep. Berry’s presentation, I feel that his full throated defense of the ballot box might constitute the next wave of NH Advantage. NH is leading in this endeavor, much like we did in gun rights. What say you?

Thirteen Republicans for Sullivan County’s thirteen House seats

On November 3, Sullivan County voters fill 13 seats in the New Hampshire House across eight districts (Valley News; Ballotpedia). Republicans have a nominee for every one of them (NH Secretary of State).

The slate pairs proven legislators with first-time candidates who earned their reputations in town government and local business. Among the nominees who answered the 2026 Citizens Count survey questions on taxes and school choice, every one opposes an income tax and supports Education Freedom Accounts. Several races were decided by a few hundred votes in 2024, and one by 16 (Ballotpedia).

Sullivan 1 through 5

Sullivan 1 (Grantham): Joel T. Hutchins

Joel Hutchins is making his second run for this seat after challenging Democratic incumbent Brian Sullivan in 2024 (Ballotpedia). A Grantham husband and father of two, he supports Education Freedom Accounts and business tax cuts, and he opposes income, sales, and capital gains taxes (Citizens Count).

Sullivan 2 (Cornish, Plainfield): Michael Belanger

Michael Belanger retired to Cornish in 2020 after 37 years with the Departments of Defense and State, and he now runs the Chase House Inn. He wants a cap on annual property tax increases and wider access to Education Freedom Accounts. He also backs paper ballots with hand-count audits and opposes ranked-choice voting (mikebelanger4nh.com).

Sullivan 3 (Charlestown, Newport, Unity): three seats, three incumbents

Steven Smith of Charlestown is Deputy Speaker of the House and Vice Chair of the Rules Committee, now in his eighth term (gc.nh.gov). A small business owner who co-owned Smith Scale Speedway (Ballotpedia), he champions HB 1300, which would let voters set limits on local school taxes (steve4nh.com). His view of the budget fits in one line: “We don’t have a revenue problem we have a spending problem” (steve4nh.com).

Skip Rollins of Newport is Vice Chair of State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (gc.nh.gov). He was the top vote-getter in Sullivan 3 in 2024 (Ballotpedia). His votes include cutting the Business Enterprise Tax and widening Education Freedom Account eligibility (Citizens Count).

Walter “Terry” Spilsbury of Charlestown brings an attorney’s training and a Columbia MBA to the House, where he is Vice Chair of Education Funding and serves on Finance (Ballotpedia; gc.nh.gov). At home he chairs the Charlestown Planning Board (Citizens Count). He wants schools to lean less on property taxes and calls no income tax “the ‘NH Advantage’” (Citizens Count).

Sullivan 4 (Acworth, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, Washington): Ron Rule

Ron Rule of Langdon is a former CEO who says he brought jobs back from China, and he founded the Langdon firearms maker New Hampshire Arsenal (ronrule.com). He opposes any income, sales, or broad-based tax and wants to clear barriers to new housing (ronrule.com). His approach to governing: “Decisions about our towns should be made in our towns” (ronrule.com).

Sullivan 5 (Springfield, Sunapee): George C. Grant

George Grant of Sunapee won this seat in 2024 by 16 votes, 1,686 to 1,670 (Ballotpedia). A retired building contractor with planning board experience, he serves on the House Housing Committee (Citizens Count; gc.nh.gov). He supports Education Freedom Accounts and local caps on school district taxes (Citizens Count).

Sullivan 6 through 8

Sullivan 6 (Claremont, Croydon): three seats

Dale Girard is Claremont’s mayor, now in his second term, and a lifelong resident who graduated from Stevens High School in 1985 (girard4nh.com). He has run a business since 1999, including the Golden Cross Ambulance service (Ballotpedia). Elected to the House in 2024, he joined the Republican Party in April, saying his views no longer lined up with the Democrats (NHPR). He supports Education Freedom Accounts and opposes every broad-based tax (Citizens Count).

Wayne Hemingway enlisted in the Army at 17 and retired as a Master Sergeant after 38 years of service (wayne4nh.com). A Claremont city councilor at large (Citizens Count), he won his House seat in 2024 and serves on State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (gc.nh.gov). His platform puts lower taxes and lower energy costs first, along with firm support for parents’ role in education (wayne4nh.com).

Emily Sandblade of Claremont is a retired physicist and physics and computer science instructor who still works part time as an engineer. She served in the House from 2012 to 2014 (Citizens Count), representing Hillsborough 18 (Ballotpedia). She favors more school choice and zoning that allows duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and tiny homes (Citizens Count).

Sullivan 7 (Charlestown, Cornish, Newport, Plainfield, Unity): Margaret M. Drye

Margaret Drye has lived in Plainfield for 46 years and has volunteered with the Cornish Rescue Squad for just as long as a nationally registered EMT (dryenh.com). She is clerk of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee (gc.nh.gov) and chairs the Plainfield Finance Committee (Citizens Count). She won this seat in 2024 with 53.6 percent (Ballotpedia), and her bills include a business tax credit for child care and help for volunteer first responders (dryenh.com).

Sullivan 8 (Acworth, Claremont, Croydon, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, Springfield, Sunapee, Washington): two seats

Jonathan Stone is a lifelong Claremont resident, a former state representative, a three-term city councilor, and chair of the Sullivan County Republican Committee (jonathanfstone.com). He co-owns Black Op Arms (Citizens Count) and finished first in the September primary (Citizens Count). On the campaign trail he hears about property taxes more than anything else (Valley News).

Cathy Peschke of Croydon, the self-described “Tax Fighting Mom,” has worked for school choice since 2008 (peschke4nh.com). She is credited with helping pass the 2017 Croydon Bill and with advocacy for Education Freedom Accounts in 2021 and 2023 (peschke4nh.com). An audiologist and substitute teacher who homeschooled her two children, she wants to end property taxes at age 65 (peschke4nh.com).

Vote on November 3

The general election is Tuesday, November 3 (Valley News). Check which district your town belongs to above, then vote for every Republican on your ballot, including the floterial seat in Sullivan 7 or Sullivan 8.

These candidates need volunteers for door knocking and rides to the polls. Reach the Sullivan County Republican Committee through sullivannhgop.com to sign up.

Sources

• NH Secretary of State, 2026 Republican State Primary
• Citizens Count, 2026 NH House primary results
• Ballotpedia, NH House elections 2026
• Valley News, Sept. 8, 2026 primary results
• Valley News, Sept. 2, 2026 Sullivan 8 preview
• NHPR, Apr. 28, 2026, Girard party change
• Candidate pages: Hutchins, Belanger, Smith, Rollins, Spilsbury, Rule, Grant, Girard, Hemingway, Sandblade, Drye, Stone, Peschke

Only 10 tickets left! 

Early Bird Pricing Ends Tonight!

Join Sullivan County Republicans for our annual Harvest Dinner

October 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Sumner House in Charlestown, NH.

We’ll be serving up a delicious full buffet dinner including appetizers, and dessert.  There will be raffle prizes and Conservative camaraderie.

Our keynote speaker is former NHGOP chair and former RNC Committeeman, Chris Ager!

Check out our special discount for couples!

Register soon because space is limited.

SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE! 

We hope you’re able to join us!

If you can’t join us, please consider a sponsorship or a donation. 

Saturday, October 17, 2026 6:00 PM

Harvest Dinner – 2026 – Sullivan County Republican Committee

Buy tickets

The Sumner House

To SCGOP members and friends. Prepared Wednesday, September 9, 11:45 am. All figures below are unofficial returns from the NH House Republican tracker (elections.nhhouse.gop). The Secretary of State has not yet posted the certified town-by-town sheets; when it does, these numbers will be updated. Unity and Washington had not reported in most races at the time of writing.

The short version

Republicans in Sullivan County settled both of our contested primaries and nominated a full slate for November. Jon Stone and Catherine Peschke won the two Republican nominations in House District 8. Tobin Menard of Newport won the Executive Council District 2 nomination district-wide, and he did it with a stronger margin in Sullivan County than anywhere else. At the top of the ticket, Governor Kelly Ayotte, John E. Sununu for U.S. Senate, and Lily Tang Williams for Congress each carried every Sullivan County town that has reported.

Turnout figures are not yet available from the state; we will circulate them once the Secretary of State publishes the ballots-cast spreadsheet.

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Contested Republican primaries

State Representative, Sullivan District 8 (two seats) Towns: Acworth, Claremont, Croydon, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, Springfield, Sunapee, Washington. 10 of 11 precincts reporting; Washington outstanding.

Candidate	Votes
Jon Stone, Claremont	1,070
Catherine Peschke, Croydon	652
Sebastian Zyzdorf, Goshen	490
Write-ins	12

Stone led in every reporting town except Croydon (Peschke 63, Stone 52, Zyzdorf 35) and Goshen (Zyzdorf 39, Stone 37, Peschke 17). Sunapee was the largest precinct: Stone 232, Peschke 153, Zyzdorf 84. The three Claremont wards together gave Stone 511, Peschke 270 and Zyzdorf 224. Peschke’s margin over Zyzdorf for the second seat, 162 votes, exceeds the roughly 115 Republican ballots expected from Washington, so the outcome will not change.

Stone and Peschke face Democrats Hope Damon (incumbent, Croydon) and Samuel Deering (Washington) in November.

Our thanks to Sebastian Zyzdorf for running a clean race and putting his name forward. We need people willing to do that.

Executive Councilor, District 2 District-wide, 84 of 98 precincts reporting.

Candidate	Votes	Share
Tobin Menard, Newport	6,784	55.1%
Kim Strathdee, Plymouth	5,528	44.9%

Sullivan County delivered for its own. Across the 13 county precincts reporting, Menard beat Strathdee 1,339 to 801, or 62.6%, more than seven points better than his district-wide share. Newport went 243 to 136, Sunapee 195 to 88, and the Claremont wards 414 to 183 combined. Strathdee edged Menard only in Grantham (86 to 80) and Cornish (56 to 55).

Menard faces incumbent Democrat Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon and independent John Rutherford of Grantham in November. This is the seat we most need to flip, and the county’s margin last night is the base he will build from.

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Top of the ticket in Sullivan County

The statewide nominees were never in doubt, but the county numbers are worth knowing because they tell us where our voters are.

Governor (14 of 17 precincts; Acworth, Unity, Washington outstanding) Kelly Ayotte 2,463, Bob Wayne McClory 124, Shaun Fife 98. Ayotte took 91.7% in the county, in line with her statewide showing. Newport gave her 364, Sunapee 331, Charlestown 243 and the Claremont wards 645 combined.

U.S. Senate (15 of 17 precincts; Unity, Washington outstanding) John E. Sununu 2,096, Scott Brown 565. Brown’s county share was 21%, several points below his statewide share of roughly 28% of the two-way vote. His best Sullivan town was Grantham at 26%. Sununu faces Congressman Chris Pappas in November for Senator Shaheen’s open seat.

U.S. House, District 2 (15 of 17 precincts; Unity, Washington outstanding) Lily Tang Williams 1,632, Dan Nicholson 360, Victor Orlando 301, Michael Callis 233. Williams took 64.6% here, matching her statewide number almost exactly. She faces incumbent Democrat Maggie Goodlander for the second time.

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Uncontested Republican nominations

These candidates had no primary opponent and are now our nominees.

State Senate District 5: Conrad Schoeffter, Plainfield (vs. Suzanne Prentiss, D-Lebanon) District 8: Jim Creighton, Antrim (vs. David Trumble, D-Weare)

State Representative Sullivan 1: Joel Hutchins, Grantham (vs. Brian Sullivan, D) Sullivan 2: Michael Belanger, Cornish (vs. Jenny Ramsey, D) Sullivan 3 (three seats): Skip Rollins, Newport; Steven Smith, Charlestown; Walter Spilsbury, Charlestown (vs. Lisa DeBartolomao, Timothy Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey Kessler, D) Sullivan 4: Ron Rule Sullivan 5: George Grant, Sunapee (vs. Judith Thackaberry, D) Sullivan 6 (three seats): Dale Girard, Wayne Hemingway, Emily Sandblade, all Claremont (vs. John Cloutier, Chris Cogswell, Lisa Gosselin, D) Sullivan 7: Margaret Drye, Plainfield (vs. Lawrence Schissel, D)

County offices Sheriff: James Yazinski, Claremont County Commissioner, District 1: Joe Osgood (vs. Benjamin Nelson, D) County Commissioner, District 2: Bennie Nelson, Newport Treasurer: Michael Sanderson, Newport Register of Deeds: Renee Simino, Lempster Register of Probate: Rodd Ward, Newport

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What comes next

The general election is Tuesday, November 3. Fifty-five days.

Three things the committee needs from members now. First, the House District 8 and Executive Council races just went from intramural to head-to-head, and both nominees need volunteers, sign locations and hosts for meet-and-greets in every town. Second, the county numbers above show our strongest precincts (Newport, Sunapee, the Claremont wards) and our softest (Grantham, Cornish, Plainfield). Turnout work in the strong towns and persuasion work in the soft ones is the whole game. Third, the voter registration deadline for the general election and the absentee ballot rules will be covered at our next meeting; bring neighbors who have moved or turned 18 since the last cycle.

Congratulations to all of our nominees, and thank you to the town clerks, moderators, and election workers in all fifteen towns who ran a clean primary.