Emmett Soldati, Democrat

Executive Council District 1 - Albany, Alexandria, Alton, Atkinson & Gilmanton Academy Grant, Bartlett, Bean's Grant, Bean's Purchase, Belmont, Berlin, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Cambridge, Center Harbor, Chandler's Purchase, Chatham, Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Conway, Crawford's Purchase, Cutt's Grant, Dalton, Danbury, Dix's Grant, Dixville, Dover, Dummer, Durham, Eaton, Effingham, Errol, Erving's Location, Farmington, Franklin, Freedom, Gilford, Gilmanton, Gorham, Green's Grant, Hadley's Purchase, Hale's Location, Hart's Location, Hebron, Hill, Jackson, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Laconia, Lancaster, Livermore, Low & Burbank's Grant, Madbury, Madison, Martin's Location, Meredith, Middleton, Milan, Millsfield, Milton, Moultonborough, New Durham, New Hampton, Northfield, Northumberland, Odell, Ossipee, Pinkham's Grant, Pittsburg, Randolph, Rochester, Rollinsford, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Sargent's Purchase, Second College Grant, Shelburne, Somersworth, Stark, Stewartstown, Stratford, Success, Tamworth, Thompson & Meserve's Purchase, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, Waterville Valley, Wentworth's Location, Whitefield, Wolfeboro
Oct 30, 2024
Oct 30, 2024 Updated Oct 30, 2024
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Residence: Somersworth

Experience: Proprietor, Teatotaller (2011-present); program director, FarmersFirst:Africa (2016-present); chief product officer and vice president, Weather Analytics (2013 - 2018).

Position on issues

Broad-based sales tax: "The Executive Council does not create or influence policy and as councilor I will not introduce any new taxes. New Hampshire needs additional revenue to comply with court rulings on unconstitutional school funding, especially as the federal ARPA funds have expired. I hope the next legislature takes seriously the need to adjust current revenues to meet the needs of our state’s current and next generation."

Broad-based income tax: "The Executive Council does not create or influence policy and as councilor I will not introduce any new taxes. New Hampshire needs additional revenue to comply with court rulings on unconstitutional school funding, especially as the federal ARPA funds have expired. I hope the next legislature takes seriously the need to adjust current revenues to meet the needs of our state’s current and next generation."

Business tax decrease: "The Executive Council does not create or influence policy and as councilor I will not introduce any new taxes. New Hampshire needs additional revenue to comply with court rulings on unconstitutional school funding, especially as the federal ARPA funds have expired. I hope the next legislature takes seriously the need to adjust current revenues to meet the needs of our state’s current and next generation."

Capital gains tax: "The Executive Council does not create or influence policy. Rather than creating a new tax, we would be better served reinstating the interest and dividends tax. The elimination of the interest and dividends tax will contribute to a hole in our budget next year, and continue to drive increases in property taxes as the state contributes less to local budgets."

Minimum wage increase: "I support the minimum wage increase (at least to $12 but up to $15)."

Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: "There is not one quick solution to the housing crisis, but more permissible zoning laws would be one step to improve the situation."

Increase funding for child care providers: "Child care is a huge burden on new families, and we have the second lowest birth rates in the country, we should be helping new parents."

Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: "The current system is fundamentally broken. Property rich communities (those near popular natural resources, or those with lots of high valued second homes) have an advantage over property poor communities. This means the basic need to educate our students through property taxes creates inequities in education across our state and burdens taxpayers from property poor communities more than taxpayers from property rich communities."

"Education Freedom Account" program: "I do not support the 'Education Freedom Account,' otherwise known as the voucher program. This program was designed to fundamentally dismantle an already struggling public school system that is underfunded by the state. This program will likely drive up property taxes, and has surpassed all budget projections. One of the largest recipients of tax dollars through this program is Amazon.com."

Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: For

Marijuana legalization with private sales: For

Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: Against

Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: For

Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: For

Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: Against

Ban abortion during 1st trimester: Against

Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: For

Stricter gun laws: "The Executive Council does not create or influence policy. Gun safety regulations can reduce gun crime, but not all gun regulations are created equal. I support thoughtful gun violence prevention measures that would have a meaningful impact, including universal background checks."

Require local immigration enforcement: "In general, arbitrary immigration raids disrupt communities, violate privacy, and drain the bandwidth of local/state law enforcement that is better spent elsewhere. These efforts largely target members of our community who are working hard to build a better life here."

Climate change action: "Yes we need to do more to support clean energy, including net metering. We need to be safeguarding our natural environment, and as councilor I would support nominations of clean energy champions for the Public Utilities Commission and Department of Energy."

Expand net metering opportunities: "I would support expanding net metering. We have one of the highest electricity costs in the country. Net metering is a tool to help residents reduce those costs through clean energy."

Conditional, affidavit ballots for new voters: "Laws to limit access to the ballot box should be heavily scrutinized. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and the recent law to require citizens to provide a passport or birth certificate to register to vote is unconstitutional. I’m proud of NH’s long standing record of same-day voter registration and I would not support laws that restrict voting rights."