Ayotte names legislative priorities at NH GOP annual meeting

MEREDITH — On the heels of an election which went about as well as New Hampshire Republicans could have hoped, state party members are enthusiastic about their position in state politics, and want to gain more power at the federal level — all four federal seats are held by Democrats.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte spoke during the New Hampshire Republican State Committee's annual meeting Saturday at Inter-Lakes High School. Representatives from across the state — including 26 from Belknap County — elected new officers for the biennium.

Ayotte won a decisive victory over former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, a Democrat, in the November General Election to secure the corner office and highest elected position in the Granite State. She replaces four-term Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.

Mingling in a basketball gym next to a large auditorium, where the official meeting would proceed, 383 committee members, representing about 78% of the total statewide, buzzed with enthusiasm. Later that day, they’d go on to elect Kimberly Allen assistant secretary of the state party, Alan Glassman of Belknap County as treasurer, once-candidate for Congress Hollie Noveletsky as vice chair and Jim MacEachern as the party’s new chair.

“Thank you everyone,” MacEachern said after winning the election. “I was very humbled by this.”

But first, committee members heard from the power-brokers of the party: Ayotte, Senate President Sharon Carson and House Speaker Sherman Packard. Their message was clear: keep the ball rolling, win federal seats, secure electoral votes in 2028 and send legislation to Ayotte’s desk immediately.

Ayotte said she ran because, in her view, New Hampshire was “one election away from becoming Massachusetts,” and a low tax structure and emphasis on personal and economic freedoms were “on the ballot”.

“Our work has to continue to make sure that we don’t ‘Mass up New Hampshire,’” she said Saturday, reiterating a slogan from the campaign trail.

“We are a beacon for freedom.”

Noting Packard and Carson were working through the legislative process to pass bills for her signature, Ayotte outlined her legislative priorities.

“Here’s some things I want you to send me as governor,” she said, listing legislation to ban sanctuary policies regarding immigration, tougher sentencing for drug dealers, a "parental bill of rights" and legislation to expand choice in education.

Referring to efforts by her opposition to introduce tax legislation, Ayotte was steadfast in her disagreement.

“No way, no how, hell no,” she said. “We will protect our New Hampshire Advantage.”

She referred to fiscal conservatism several times during her address, giving a nod to the newly-minted Commission on Government Efficiency and emphasizing the importance of reducing wasteful spending.

“God forbid we look at doing anything differently or better,” she said. “We’re bringing an outside perspective to government.”

The COGE includes businesspeople and state leaders, and is co-chaired by former Gov. Craig Benson and Bedford automotive business leader Andy Crews. Packard is also a member of the COGE, which is intended to reduce government spending and find ways to streamline state operations.

She left members with a mandate to collaborate, earn the support of voters in New Hampshire and to “deliver on the promises” made to them during the election.

“We have a lot more work to do for the people of New Hampshire,” she said.

Carson addressed the crowd, imploring the party to prevent the reintroduction of the interest and dividends tax, opining that “out of control local spending” contributes to high property taxes and asserting local spending must be curtailed to keep budgets “under control”.

And Packard said he’s already working on delivering on Ayotte’s legislative priorities, noting for the first time in almost eight years, Republicans hold a working majority in the Statehouse.

“When we vote, we win,” Packard said. “By God, we voted and we won.”