O P I N I O N
Those who know me know I’ve been a dedicated public servant for New Hampshire. I care deeply about ensuring that everyone can reach their full potential, just as I did.
I was raised by Betty Jane Perkins, a divorced single mother who earned a degree from Beth Israel School of Nursing as a dietitian. (She was told a Black person couldn’t become a nurse.)
My mother, my role model, always worked hard, continued her education, and found time to volunteer. She passed away at the age of 47 from colon cancer, which is now a treatable condition. My husband Scott, then my boyfriend, and I raised my younger siblings—Cindy, 11, and Mark, 12. We thrived thanks to living in a supportive neighborhood with excellent public schools. Scott and I married and moved to Brookline. After 7 years of infertility, we had our beautiful daughter Logan, thanks to IVF.
I have served as a state representative, state senator, school board member, and community leader. Now, I’m running for Executive Council to stand up for the people of our district and state.
NH has 5 Executive Councilors, voted on by districts, that approve or reject the Governor’s appointments of Judges, Commissioners, and any spending over $10,000
As your Councilor I will:
- Protect reproductive freedom: My opponent has defunded Planned Parenthood since 2015, claiming that “reproductive healthcare services promote promiscuity” (Union Leader 11/30/23).
- Support our 160,000 public school students, their teachers, and families: My opponent approved the appointment of Frank Edelblut as our Commissioner of Education, despite Edelblut’s lack of experience in education (other than homeschooling his children). There’s nothing wrong with homeschooling, but public dollars should be for public schools, and our commissioners should be qualified leaders who believe in their department’s mission.
- Promote modernizing our infrastructure, including broadband and rail. My opponent has blocked critical infrastructure projects, such as passenger rail, dismissing them by saying, “We have the bus.”
Republicans have run New Hampshire at every level of government for the past four years. Are you better off? My previous opponent for Senate, Kevin Avard, and my current opponent for Executive Council, David Wheeler, wrongly call my vote for Family Medical Leave (SB1-2019) as an “income tax” and spread lies about my record. Their strategy of fear and misinformation results in their bad policies for New Hampshire, such as school vouchers that divert public funds to private schools and homeschoolers, increasing taxes for everyone. Federal funds for Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, and COVID relief have been rejected because of ideology. Tax cuts for the ultra-rich are creating a hole in the state budget that will ultimately be passed on to taxpayers or result in cuts to vital services.
Amid all the misinformation, disinformation, and mal information, it can be hard to discern truth from lies. But you can learn a lot about someone’s character by who they associate with and what they stand for. Look at their voting records, social media, and google them. If you see negative posts or advertisements full of exaggeration and hyperbole, that’s a red flag. If they use mean and hurtful language, beware. The attacks designed to dissuade you from supporting others may lead to policies that work against you.
We are at a tipping point, standing between democracy and dictatorship, freedom and fascism. We should ask ourselves, “What do we want for our future, and what are we willing to do to achieve it?” Because now is the time for good men and women to come to the aid of their country by using the most powerful and precious nonviolent tool we have in a democracy: our vote.
I ask for your vote on November 5. Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Vote for character. Vote for community!
Hon. Melanie Levesque
Brookline NH
Executive Councilor Candidate D5