With experience in Rockingham, Wallace seeks return to Statehouse, representing Meredith

MEREDITH — Republican Scott Wallace served in the Statehouse for eight years before being voted out two years ago. Now, the former state representative is making a run at a seat in Belknap District 2.

Who is Scott Wallace?

Wallace grew up in Hampstead, and lived in Danville, for 37 years. While Wallace served as a representative in the Rockingham 33rd, 12th and 8th districts, he is now running in Belknap County, as he currently lives full-time in Meredith, where he spent decades vacationing.

“I’ve been in Meredith, on the lake, my entire life,” Wallace said. “I’ve been on Pitchwood Island for 32 years, with five generations on the island.”

Wallace and his wife had intended to retire to Meredith for some time, and bought a lot on the mainland, in 2013, in Meredith Colony Club. They finished building the log-cabin-style home in 2021. He said with taxes exploding, the “cheap seats on the island are not so cheap” anymore, so they rent the mainland home to cover costs which have increased tenfold.

Wallace has been a mechanic his whole life, and worked for high-end European car manufacturers, like Mercedes Benz and Porsche. He said he topped out in the 1990s, and wasn’t going any higher up unless he bought a dealership, so he decided to go out on his own. He bought a franchise automobile repair shop, which did well, and he bought another within five years.

Wallace sold the businesses and retired in 2021. He still owns real estate to keep him busy, and keep up with the finances.

“Just enough to keep things flowing in retirement.”

Why he's running

Wallace’s involvement in politics goes back to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline controversy about a decade ago, and project lead Kinder Morgan. He found out early engineers selected Meineke Car Care Center in Merrimack, which he owned, under which to bore, as it was in the right-of-way of high-tension lines.

“Kinder Morgan wanted to locate a pumping and metering station on my property, and that was scary for us,” Wallace said.

Wallace had that business for 30 years, but said they didn’t care, and wanted to retain residential pricing, not considering income and long-term effects.

Wallace caught wind the project wouldn’t be supplying gas to New Hampshire, and was instead going to the coast to fill supertankers.

Wallace said the eminent domain claimed on his property was unacceptable, as it should be for the public good. He testified in committee meetings, and ultimately, changes were made in the Legislature, killing the project.

He said eminent domain statutes were tightened for property owners in New Hampshire, and it was a bit exciting and at times intimidating, that citizens were able to thwart a multinational petroleum company.

Wallace’s ambition caught the eye of the Republican Party.

“After some prodding, I was urged to run.”

Wallace served 2016-24, and he was invited into the House Republican Alliance his first term. He said this requires good attendance and an understanding of how things work, and voting in accordance with the constitution. He said this is evident by his 98.7 rating.

“Others in this race can’t claim that,” Wallace said.

Following Matthew Lunney’s resignation from the Meredith seat last fall, the Republican Party asked Wallace to run. He opted against it, as it would be a waste of taxpayer money to set up a special election to have someone serve such a short time.

“I said 'no,' and decided to run for the open slot now,” Wallace said.

Strong borders

“Without strong borders and immigration policies, we don’t have any sovereignty,” Wallace said. “That is important.”

Wallace traveled to the border of Mexico to meet with Sheriff Leon Wilmot, of Yuma County, Arizona. He was “disturbed” about the number of people crossing the border, and how they were distributed throughout the country once here.

Wallace has property near the Canadian border, in Stewartstown, and helped put together the Northern Border Alliance in 2023. He helped come up with funding for various agencies, and now, that operation is part of the state budget. Wallace has also worked on briefings about border security with Attorney General John Formella, and has written talking points for the party.

Due to the “excellent law enforcement” in New Hampshire, he said it is no secret the Granite State is the safest in the country.

“I am certainly well-respected and committed to border security and making sure the police, fire, sheriffs and ICE are properly funded, and dispatch, to keep civil society in New Hampshire,” Wallace said.

New Hampshire Advantage

Wallace will fight to keep New Hampshire free of an income tax or sales tax, as it has made the state attractive for families to live, and businesses to set up shop.

Wallace has never voted for a tax increase, saying he has an A+ rating from Granite State Taxpayers for keeping taxes at bay.

He signed a pledge to never vote for a tax or fee increase, and vows to prevent it under his watch.

In Meredith, Wallace said he will work on reducing the property tax burden by pushing the state government to fund obligations, instead of putting costs on taxpayers.

Property rights

“Everything comes from property rights,” Wallace said. “As long as you protect those, everything will be OK. But the Democrats are trying to erode those rights.”

Wallace said during the COVID-19 pandemic, many developers and builders started projects, but by statute, needed to be underway or complete within five years, or approvals would expire. He ran into this issue putting in a septic system.

Having clerked on the Special Committee on Housing for two years, he has heard from all kinds of stakeholders, from rental property owners to large-scale developers and lenders. The biggest impediments, he heard, are local regulations, but there are things state government can do.

“One was stretching out the time of completion of projects,” he said. “Another is the reduction in regulatory requirements for building materials and construction methods.”

Second Amendment

“I will protect the Second Amendment and all civil rights,” Wallace said.

Wallace is proud of his role in constitutional carry legislation signed into law in 2017, bringing back the right to carry a firearm and defend yourself, and family.

Wallace vows to oppose any legislation that would add restrictions on carrying rights or firearm ownership, and will vote against “red flag proposals” which come before him.

Human rights

Wallace is pro-life, and he said Cornerstone and other pro-life groups who score legislators have approved how he has handled “family and life issues.” He was labeled as a “Hero of the Family” by Cornerstone Action.

“You cherish life at all stages,” Wallace said.

Wallace feels strongly about LGBTQ+ rights, saying he is acting as a father concerned for his daughters’ safety and wellbeing.

“Only biological females should be in women’s rooms,” Wallace said. “If you carry yourself differently, go to the men’s room. Men shouldn’t be in those private spaces, and that is that. Call me prudish, but I have two daughters, and women need to be protected.”

Wallace said he has seen firsthand how this issue turned things “chaotic” in Statehouse bathrooms. He said there have been “gauntlets of protestors.” He doesn’t think this is a Meredith problem.

“Not one person has mentioned that on the campaign trail.”

Speaking with constituents

While Wallace took a step back from campaigning in the 2024 election, this time around, he's been canvassing for weeks. This has included door knocking, talking to people he sees out and about, and attending events.

“It’s been very interesting.”

The hot topic, he said, has been property taxes. He said a lot of people are doing just what he and his wife have been doing: renting homes to offset property taxes, or finding creative solutions to help ease the burden.

Water quality is another big issue, especially in Meredith, being on Lake Winnipesaukee and surrounding waterbodies. While in the Statehouse, Wallace voted to establish the Cyanobacteria Task Force, which is now a state-funded mitigation plan.

Wallace also voted on a bill to require wake and for boats to operate greater distances from shore, saying they create turbidity that could result in a multitude of environmental issues. He noted the speed limit was created 20 years ago on Lake Winnipesaukee to reduce shoreland erosion and protect the water quality, and he said efforts there need to continue.

The county jail has been a big issue for many years, with the delegation weighing repairs and a price tag of an estimated $50 million for a rebuild. Wallace said this is an area where he has experience, working for 10 years in Rockingham County government when a $65 million complex was completed.

Leadership

“I am looking to represent Meredith,” Wallace said. “You represent everyone, not just the Republicans.”

Wallace said he has no problem working across the aisle to sponsor bills, and has done so in the past with an “eclectic group.” He said everyone is human, an important fact to remember, and when he was in the House he always told the speaker they could put him in with far left leaders, to try to bridge a gap.

Wallace thinks legislators on the other side of the aisle would agree with that notion, and the debate is on ideas, not individuals. Wallace said the nonpartisan group Braver Angels is looking to eliminate inter-party bickering, so tending to issues can be more productive.

“We get a group of legislators from both sides, get together, have a discussion, and get to know each other on a personal basis,” Wallace said. “This is crucially important.”

Wallace said the people of Meredith should vote for him, because he has the “experience, the temperament, and the commitment” to continue setting good public policy for all of New Hampshire, including the town’s residents.

“I am a retired mechanic, not a polished attorney or a litigator,” Wallace said. “Nothing against those, but my thing is small-scale interactions. I do my best work in committee, and in the halls.”