Charlwood, Nugent face off for Statehouse seat in Belmont

BELMONT — In the Primary Election, Belmont voters supported Republican Kevin Nugent Jr. and Democrat Liz Charlwood in the District 4 race for state representative. The two now face off in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 General Election in hopes of becoming the town's liaison to Concord.

Charlwood, with a background in economic and small business development, as well as real estate and information technology, has experienced firsthand how difficult the process of finding housing can be, especially for low- or middle-income families. Her work with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund inspired her to begin her own microloan initiative, MicroCredit-NH, for equitable community development across the state.

Since the primary, she has been door-knocking, greeting neighbors and listening to their concerns and stories. She’s confident she can lend a helping hand at the Statehouse.

“I want to be Belmont's trusted and reliable representative in Concord — a representative who listens, shows up, and works to deliver results for our community,” Charlwood said. “I want to help build a Belmont where families can afford to live, our schools can thrive, and residents feel their voices are heard. That's the kind of representation I believe our town deserves.”

Nugent, a dispatcher for Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid in Laconia, has a storied career as a first responder. He has volunteered multiple terms on the Shaker Regional School District Advisory Budget Committee, and was a previous member of the Belmont Master Plan Committee. He’s also a proud parent, having coached his son’s T-ball and hockey teams.

While he hasn’t been able to make every candidate forum in the Lakes Region, he has made a point to be present whenever possible to meet voters. Nugent plans to ramp up his social media presence to help educate voters on his platform.

“Belmont is a town that I have called home for nearly 30 years; I have served the town in different capacities over the years, and would consider it a great honor if chosen by the voters to represent them in Concord,” he said. “I will be an active member of the House, and always keep the town’s best interests in mind when casting my votes. I will try to make myself readily available to the residents of Belmont to hear their questions, concerns, complaints or whatever they may need.”

Education

Both candidates agree residents are feeling a tightening of their wallets while trying to fund public education — especially with ever-growing property taxes. At the end of the day, no single district wants to compromise their ability to provide a well-rounded public education.

Charlwood has heard a lot on the topic.

“Residents want property tax relief, but not at the expense of a strong public education system,” she said. “I've been surprised that the frustration I've heard is often directed more at the circumstances surrounding school funding than at the schools themselves. People recognize that good public schools are essential to our community.”

Nugent was concerned Education Freedom Accounts, commonly known as school vouchers, would cause students to leave the already-shrinking Shaker school district. He wants to make sure all residents are well-informed about the financial impact.

“If kids are, you know, leaving our school district, what's going to be the effect?” he asked. “You need to have these answers, so the people whose kids are staying in Belmont know if they leave it's not going to be, ‘Oh my god, our tax rate for every kid that leaves is going to go up by $200,000.’ Education for the voters is very, very important, so they can form good opinions.”

Housing

Stories of penny pinching and living in fear of losing a home were a significant chunk of feedback Charlwood received on the campaign trail.

“Property taxes have become unbearable for many, and continue to increase, particularly alongside rising living costs,” she said. “I'm hearing concerns from young families trying to afford a home, and from seniors on fixed incomes who worry about being able to remain in their homes. Property tax relief and overall affordability are major concerns.”

She wants to hold those in Concord accountable.

“Residents shouldn't have to choose between being able to afford their homes and having good public schools,” Charlwood said. “We need the state to live up to its commitments on school and municipal funding, while also finding practical ways to expand affordable housing options.”

Nugent heard similar sentiments.

“What I have learned is that the most pressing issue in District 4, as well as many other places around the state, is affordability and taxes,” he said. “Right now, with the cost of living so high, especially fuel costs going into the winter months, people are concerned about how they will make ends meet and keep their homes warm throughout the winter. People are looking for some sort of relief.”

He believes adequate representation at the Statehouse will make a difference.

“The people in Belmont are looking for some relief from the high property taxes and the high costs of living; they are also looking for someone who will be active in representing them in Concord.”

Other issues

Charlwood understands the importance of tourism to the Lakes Region, as well as protection of the area’s natural resources. She believes Gunstock Mountain Resort and the Belknap County Nursing Home are worth strengthening for residents, and should be better supported by local politicians.

In a previous interview, she recalled a conversation with a resident 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.”

Nugent, given his role in public safety, thinks more needs to be done for youth mental health programming. It’s one of the biggest healthcare issues he’s noticed.

“As a first responder, I've seen the pluses and the minuses. As a person, I've seen it. Where I'm worried about it is some of the stories I'm hearing about from parents about their kids,” Nugent said in a previous interview. “Not just social media, but kids who need help, that are having a mental health crisis, and the doors keep getting slammed in their parents' faces.”

And both candidates agreed on the future of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program, a state-owned wastewater collection and treatment system including 10 member communities in the Lakes Region. In July, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed SB 592, which created a commission to study transitioning ownership to an “alternative authority.” The commission is currently hearing presentations before moving into the decision-making process.

State representatives will be critical in moving this along in Concord.

Both candidates believe the decision must benefit Belmont.

“I think the question is, 'What is best for Belmont?' I don't have the answer to that. It's not an easy answer,” Charlwood said in a previous interview. “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.”

Nugent agreed.

“What is the benefit to Belmont by us doing this? You have the numbers and everything and you show [taxpayers], but also point out that this is why this is important, because 50 years from now, 20 years from now, 10 years from now, this is the benefit we're still going to be seeing from this investment now.”

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