‘Show up, listen and deliver’: Liz Charlwood aims to expand representation for Belmont

BELMONT — The only Democrat on the ballot running for Statehouse in Belmont, Liz Charlwood is campaigning on a platform of housing affordability, solving the property tax conundrum and making improvements to local public education.

Voters will decide between Charlwood and Republicans Dana Silcock and Kevin Nugent on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Meet Liz Charlwood

Liz Charlwood has spent her career working in higher education, community development and real estate.

Beginning as an administrative assistant for the University of New Hampshire, she worked her way up to associate director. From there, she pivoted to working for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, a statewide community development institution which “operates on a ‘neighbors-investing-in-neighbors’ model, turning investments and donations into economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.”

Inspired, she launched her own business, MicroCredit-NH, a statewide microloan initiative, and rallied all 10 counties around an effort for equitable community development.

She also dabbled in IT work during a 10-year stint in Virginia, before relocating to Belmont, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Her accolades include the Small Business Administration Small Business Advocate of the Year award in 2001, and she was the inaugural recipient of the Mary Dumais Memorial Fund Award for her dedication to empowering women entrepreneurs.

In her spare time, Charlwood enjoys spending time on Lakes Region water bodies, hanging out with her five kids and grandchildren, and hitting the links.

At the end of the day, Charlwood just wants to make a difference.

“I have that thread in me of community work, you know, I do lots of volunteer work all over the place. Sometimes around my kids, sometimes around the community,” she said. “That's my heart, the world of bringing people together.”

Housing affordability & property taxes

Moving to Belmont in 2019, into a 1958 home built by a Harvard architecture professor, Charlwood understands the value and importance of owning a place to live.

“Affordable housing and the property taxes, they're so all interwoven,” she said. “It’s a ball of yarn, and you don't know which end to pull.

“I think our community, from talking to people, really wants to have practical solutions to the problems and issues we deal with every day,” she said. “The taxpayers are tired of opening their wallets. I mean, with the school crisis and all the funding, it's just so compounded right now.”

As a Realtor with Keeler Family Realtors, she sees the bigger picture: elected leaders working together will help keep the momentum going.

“We need reasonable and responsible representation. That's what I want to be, is someone who will go and bring reasonable input and be strong for our community, come up with some solutions that are creative, and just keep working in that direction,” Charlwood said. We need to “join other people around the table.”

She wants to be a listening ear for residents, understanding even renters are feeling the pain of the affordable housing crisis.

“Everybody is really paying, because anyone who's not a property owner is a property renter, and property owners have to charge according to their costs,” Charlwood said. “So, we're all paying for this interesting shift of expenses to the towns, without the revenues and the state sort of cutting the revenue streams.”

Voter representation

Charlwood’s platform stands on being an engaged representative in the Statehouse, as well as in the Belmont community. As she stumps, she’s participated in many conversations, listening to residents and their concerns.

“Last time we went to vote in Belmont, there was a single candidate on the ballot, and there was no choice. And I thought, ‘This is crazy. We need to have a choice for our community,’” she said. “So, I decided to throw my hat in the ring. I really feel like we need to be represented solidly, show up all the time and don't skip votes.”

She knows follow-through is important.

“My feeling is when you go to Concord, you're there to also build relationships and build trust, and that's how we're going to be able to get things done, instead of this, you know, very divisive blaming,” Charlwood said. “Let's try to show up, listen, and deliver. That's really how I feel, and the show up part is a big part of it. Of course, the listening part is really important, too. And then to be at the table, and really be focused on getting some solutions in place. That's the deliver part, you know?”

She also knows two regional assets need to be protected and strengthened for residents’ quality of life: Gunstock Mountain Resort and the Belknap County Nursing Home. Charlwood recalls a conversation with a resident who was worried about the nursing home’s longevity as her mother aged.

“She said, ‘I'm worried about the nursing home, because that's my mom's long-term plan.’ She said, 'What if it goes away?’" Charlwood said. “So, we need to protect our assets in Belknap County.”

The Winnipesaukee River Basin Program

Residents, leaders, and legislators will need to rally around what is best for the Town of Belmont when it comes to the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program and the future of its aging infrastructure, Charlwood said.

“They've got a commission working on a report right now. I'm really curious about how that's going to shake out. That's going to come out right before the election. Probably won't have enough time to have an impact, but at the same time, you know, I think we all want what's best for Belmont,” she said. “And so I think the question is, what is best for Belmont? I don't have the answer to that. It's not an easy answer. How will we get our eye on the prize of affordability? Does it make sense for the residents of Belmont to transfer ownership or not? I think we need more information before we can make that decision.”

Currently, Belmont is a member in the WRBP, a state-owned wastewater collection and treatment system.

At a recent Belmont selectboard meeting, the board voted 4-0, with Sharon Ciampi abstaining, to transition to a new, regional wastewater authority. The move would remove New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services staff as sole controllers of the program, and give member communities a direct voice.

The WRBP serves Belmont, Center Harbor, Franklin, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, Northfield, Sanbornton and Tilton. All member communities support the transition.

In July, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed SB 592, which created a commission to study transiting ownership to an “alternative authority.” The study commission is currently hearing presentations before moving on to the next steps in the decision-making process.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.