NH’s Executive Council has a crucial role in our state, but not many know the power these five elected officials wield in regards to Granite Staters’ access to health care. The Executive Council is an elected group of five individuals, each representing approximately 20% of New Hampshire’s population. These five councilors vote on all federal and state contracts over $10,000, vote on the governor’s nominations of judges, and vote on the governor’s appointments of commissioners and department heads. Councilors are elected every two years, at the same time as the governor, meaning all five are up for re-election this year.
This year’s redistricting process changed Plainfield’s Executive Council district from District 1 (represented by Councilor Joe Kenney since 2021) to District 2 (represented by Councilor Cinde Warmington since 2021). Councilor Kenney repeatedly voted against funding reproductive health providers Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Equality Health Center, and Lovering Health Center. He’s voted four times in the past year to reject their contracts and jeopardize access to birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, and more for low-income and uninsured Granite Staters in the NH Family Planning Program. Councilor Cinde Warmington is a reproductive and sexual health access champion. She has been the sole vote in support of family planning funding for reproductive health centers four times and has used her voice to educate and advocate for reproductive rights. I’m urging you to vote to re-elect Councilor Warmington to represent us in District 2 this election cycle.
Fiona Greenough
Meriden