My name is James Newsom and I am running for Merrimack county commissioner, District 3 (Allenstown, Dunbarton, Epsom, Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Pembroke, and Pittsfield). My belief in public service has led me to serve as Hopkinton’s school meeting moderator for 8 years. I am the chair of the conservation commission, and a rotarian, having just finished my second term as club president. I was chair of the Hopkinton Library Foundation for 6 years, and have or am serving on educational boards of directors.
These public service roles, and especially as moderator in 2020, have given me insight to working with others to achieve the best result for the most people. These experiences have also led me to seek more opportunity to give back, serve, and protect the vulnerable. I have chosen to run for the open county commissioner seat because I see the role as non-partisan and would like to see the continuation of collaboration and mutual respect among our commissioners. We have all seen from Belknap County what can happen from a dysfunctional county commission with extreme and antagonistic views. The potential harm to our nursing home residents, to corrections, to child advocacy, juvenile, diversion and other programs is simply too great to risk in Merrimack County. Thank you for sharing my care for our community and for your support on November 8. And remember to please complete both sides of the ballot.
James Newsom
Contoocook