Public defense investigator runs for Statehouse to confront housing affordability crisis

LACONIA — Denise Riley, a public defense investigator, is running a campaign prioritizing lowering housing costs and property taxes, bringing skillful communication into the Statehouse, and fighting for justice.

This is Riley’s first time running for public office, but she is no stranger to political engagement.

Riley is running alongside Democrats Lois Kessin and Marcia Hayward, who will all go through the primary Tuesday, Sept. 8. They’ll face Republicans Timothy Minor, Cody Pfaff, Paul Rossi, and incumbent Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), also the city’s mayor, in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Incumbent Rep. Charlie St. Clair (D-Laconia) died Saturday.

Four of those candidates will earn seats in the Statehouse for a two-year term, representing Laconia wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Who is Denise Riley?

Riley was born and raised in Manchester. She attended public schools there, and received her degree in criminal justice from Saint Anselm College. She's served as a public defense investigator in Connecticut, and New Hampshire, for over 30 years.

Riley has been a resident of the city for five years, and feels, passionately, she can support, listen to, and represent her constituents well in Concord. Through her career as a public defender, Riley is constantly dealing with people under stress, and used to talking with people who have different views from her.

“I really want to stress that I literally have been using the skills that a state rep. uses,” Riley said. “I've been listening to people, taking statements from witnesses, eyewitnesses, or family members telling me background information on our client and their IEP in school, and they have mental health diagnoses, and things like that.”

Affordability crisis

Riley describes New Hampshire’s current housing and affordability crisis as “complete madness.” Being a landlord in Concord for 14 years, 2001-15, Riley witnessed this first hand. Renting out a 440-square-foot apartment near a law school, she had many students come through her doors, shocked at the deal she was offering.

“I could have listed my unit for $1,000, but I was like, it's 440 square feet. I did not feel right doing that. And that's just who I am. And I know not everyone thinks the same,” Riley said. “When I say fairness and justice are important to me, they are. I have lived that through my career.”

“While I understand that high prices affect everyone, it would be helpful to our current housing crisis if landlords who are already living comfortably would not overcharge for their rental property, simply because they can. People are desperate to find affordable housing.”

Riley said she is feeling impacts, as well. She currently lives in a home in Laconia with a backyard. As she gets older, she planned to downsize her home.

“For the first time in my life, I am no longer free to downsize my living space. Given the skyrocketing price of condos and where I'm living, rising property taxes could play a role in delaying my retirement.”

Riley also acknowledged younger residents feel the impacts. For previous generations, you could expect to buy a house in your late 20s or early 30s, but for the younger generation today, Riley said this is not as realistic, due to soaring prices.

“What is the median home price in the state now? It's over $500,000. Who has the down payment for that saved up? How do you save up for that when you're paying rent?” Riley asked. “You know, when you're paying $1,600 for a studio apartment, how do you save for a $500,000 house? This is what I mean by it’s not fair to the people coming up behind us.”

Riley noted there have been many forums in Laconia over the years regarding homelessness, and residents who feel they have been negatively impacted by encampments in the city or people coming onto their property.

“Our population of homeless is going to continue to rise, unless we make some changes so that people can afford a roof over their head.”

If elected to the Statehouse, Riley would work to fix this “affordability crisis.”

“We need to look for ways to incentivize landlords, builders, developers to make housing affordable, possibly through tax breaks or grants to cities and towns, to get creative and come up with more innovative solutions and build affordable housing for people.”

Riley does not support income or sales tax, but thinks property taxes in New Hampshire are eliminating any advantage that might come from not having income and sales tax.

Riley said she believes it is “unfair and unjust” when Republicans give tax breaks to uber-wealthy residents, while they just repealed the Interest and Dividends Tax, beginning in 2025. Riley said because of this, residents get stuck with the bill, through property taxes.

“Our property taxes are paying for what the state is not contributing to fund public education. Schools have baseline costs to educate our kids, and when the state stops funding them, we still need to fund our schools and that comes out of our property taxes instead of state dollars,” she said. “That is not right, and that is not fair.”

Public education

Riley grew up attending public schools, and said it doesn’t make sense to her why anyone would not want to fully fund public education, since most people attend public schools.

Riley is critical of Republicans in the Statehouse and how they have voted on education funding. “It's like they climbed the ladder of attending public schools, I'm assuming a lot of them attended public schools, and then they're just kicking the ladder out from behind them, and preventing others from having what they had.”

Riley said one of Laconia’s previous representatives voted in favor of House Bill 1336, which aims to make upfront rental costs higher for tenants.

“Instead of focusing on bringing relief to our citizens through this affordability crisis, the Republicans and Free Staters have shown more interest in culture war issues that further divide us, and do nothing to solve the day-to-day problems of rising costs.”

Riley said education freedom accounts — grants from the state given to families to spend on their children’s education — are a privileged tool.

Riley has spent many years, in Connecticut, and New Hampshire, as a public defender, working with vulnerable populations.

“A lot of the people that I deal with on a day-to-day basis don't have the means to take their child to Manchester, from Laconia, because they have a better music program, or they have something that's lacking in Laconia. They just don't have the means. So, it becomes a privilege, and it caters to privileged people.”

Next steps

Riley said our political discourse, both locally and statewide, have “sunk to lows from which we can only rise.”

“I'm talking about the local social media. People are vicious, minds are closed, if they see a D after your name, you're done,” Riley said. “And I don't see how we're going to ever move beyond where we're at right now, with people just shutting down completely when they find out somebody's party affiliation.”

Riley said she has a variety of views and is running as a Democrat, but that doesn't mean she agrees with every single thing the Democratic Party does.

Through her work, Riley talks with people from all sides of the aisle, and plans to continue to do so if elected.

“My skill set includes analyzing, collaborating, interviewing, writing, and most importantly for a state rep., listening. Listening to understand, not simply to hear,” Riley said. “I can talk with anybody, and most anybody can talk with me. I am well prepared to step into the role of state representative, and work with all members of the house.”

If elected, Riley would prioritize making herself available to constituents, regardless of their views, and “listen carefully to their concerns and give them the attention they deserve.”

Riley would also plan to connect with the Housing Committee, to support them in finding solutions to the housing affordability crisis.

“I want to continue working for fairness and justice as a state rep. serving the people of Laconia,” Riley said. “I will work to bring the help that people need in this affordability crisis, and fight against scapegoating our citizens for political gain.”