Your Chapter Political Committee made a dramatic decision before the September 10, 2024, primary.
The Political Committee decided to endorse State Representative Rebecca McWilliams for the open Senate seat in the 15th District, Hopkinton, Bow and Concord.
The Chapter does not often endorse candidates in the primary but Representative McWilliams is an exceptional legislator. She has served 3 terms on the House of Representatives Science, Technology and Energy Committee (STE). This powerful Committee takes the first and most important look at proposed energy legislation. STE is the Committee where legislation regarding energy rates, the cost of energy transmission, the cost of energy distribution and wholesale rates is introduced.
We learned that Rebecca McWilliams was knowledgeable about energy issues. We also learned that she was smart, tough and unafraid to tackle the issues in a politicized place. STE membership is populated by Koch supported politicians such as Representatives Vose and Notter and others tasked to protect the fossil fuel industry.
Rebecca McWilliams did not fail our ask of her. Although she lost in the Primary by a small margin, Rebecca McWilliams will make an outstanding candidate in the future. The winning candidate has since been caught up in a Legislative Ethics Committee dispute because her husband’s legislative lobbying business represents a serious conflict of interest to her as a voting member of the state senate.
We make the point about Rebecca McWilliams because she exemplifies the qualities that the Chapter seeks in our endorsed candidates.
The key issues for the Chapter are just and reasonable retail energy rates, and improved access to the electrical grid for renewable energy projects. The Sununu administration has blocked transparent review of electric transmission planning and costs and failed to allow access to the electrical grid by new renewable projects.
The contamination of New Hampshire’s precious ponds, lakes, streams and rivers by cyanobacteria has become a major problem that threatens our recreation economy. The contamination is caused by the lack of sewer infrastructure and the failure of septic systems. Untreated human waste has closed access to our wonderful waters for recreation including many beaches.
The solution to cyanobacteria contamination will take political will. And it will be expensive. The Legislature must enact septic enforcement legislation and appropriate the funds to address the issue. The Sununu government must open the books and publicly account for the several billions of federal dollars of covid, jobs and infrastructure money. The money should be there for sewer infrastructure for towns and communities and for septic system enforcement.
The Chapter Political Committee in each election cycle goes through an arduous process to decide if other State candidates deserve the coveted Chapter endorsement. The Chapter carefully looks at critical issues that impact New Hampshire: environmental and health challenges, threats to clean air and water, just and reasonable energy rates, state parks and the quiet enjoyment of our homes, among others.
Each candidate from Governor, Executive Council, Senate and House of Representatives is presented a Questionnaire that asks the candidates positions on the issues. The candidates who returned a Questionnaire are considered for endorsement. Each Questionnaire is carefully reviewed by the Political Committee. Endorsements are decided based upon the candidates’ understanding of the issues and willingness to work towards a solution.
Written by Arthur B. Cunningham, NHSC Executive Committee and Political Committee Member
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