Merrimack District 6 includes Sutton and Wilmot.
Two candidates will compete for one seat. Democratic incumbent Thomas Schamberg will face Republican challenger Paul Little in the general election.
Paul Little
Party affiliation: Republican
What town/city do you live in? Sutton
Political experience: Select Board member / Town of Sutton NH
Professional experience: 30+ years management in telecommunications
Community service experience: Sutton Volunteer Fire Dept / EMT/ Board of Governors – Shriners Hospital for Children – Canada
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? No
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? Lift state regulations on development.
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? NH should assist only when directly asked by the federal government.
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? It should keep the current law of restricting abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? I would repeal the school closure provisions of HB-1374. As a resident of Sutton, I am concerned about what this law would mean for small community schools like Sutton Central. I believe the residents of the town most directly affected should have a strong voice in whether their local school closes. Our elementary school is more than a building — it is an important part of our community, and decisions about its future should carefully consider our children, taxpayers and the long-term impact on Sutton.
NH consistently struggles with funding its government and services. What is one way you would raise state revenue, and what is one area you would cut expenses? Be specific. I would focus on increasing state revenue through economic growth rather than raising broad-based taxes. NH should attract and retain businesses, encourage investment, and expand the tax base by creating good-paying jobs.
On the spending side, I would look first at administrative overhead across state agencies. For example, I would review long-term vacant positions before continuing to fund them year after year and look for opportunities to consolidate duplicative administrative functions between agencies. At all times, before cutting in areas of education, public safety or other essential services, we should make sure that every tax payer dollar is being used efficiently.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? The state should play a much larger role in funding education in NH. Too much of the burden currently falls on the local property tax payers, which creates significant disparities between communities.
I would support increasing the state’s contribution toward the cost of an adequate education while maintaining local control over our schools. Additional state funding should provide meaningful property-tax relief and help ensure that a child’s educational opportunities are not determined by the property wealth of the community win which they live.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? I believe one of the biggest issues facing NH today is affordability, particularly the cost and availability of housing. Young people and working families should be able to afford to live, work and raise their families here. We need to attract businesses and create more good-paying jobs so residents can build their careers in New Hampshire rather than having to commute to neighboring states for employment. At the same time, we should encourage responsible housing development while respecting local control and preserving the character of our communities.
This candidate did not provide a link to a campaign website.
Thomas Schamberg
Party affiliation: Democrat
What town/city do you live in? Wilmot
Political experience: 10 years as state rep, 12 years on Wilmot Select Board, 7 years on Municipal Budget Committee for Wilmot, 14.5 years as Mayor of Orwell, Ohio.
Professional experience: 30 years – Teacher- K-12 Physical Ed & Health- Ohio
Community service experience: Wilmot Conservation Commission
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? Guard rail: Age requirement of 27 years or older to buy and use.
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? Provide funding to devlopers for new infrastructure and housing development.
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? NH should not assist at all.
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? It should not restrict abortion at all.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? Repeal of Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) — public tax money should not be used for private or church schools which shifts these costs to local property taxpayers. If a family desires to send their children to private or church schools borrowing money from a financial institution should be arranged.
NH consistently struggles with funding its government and services. What is one way you would raise state revenue, and what is one area you would cut expenses? Be specific. Restoring tax rates back to 2015 which then could be invested in workforce development, housing, childcare, increase adequacy aid for public education, healthcare, revenue sharing with municipalities. The result of reinstituting these rates would increase state revenue by an estimated $950+ million in a biennium budget.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? The state needs to invest more in student aid for public education which reduces the local school property tax burden by restoring tax cuts that have been going on since 2015 depriving the state of $950+ million in revenue for the general fund.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? Both parties need to come to the middle with solutions to serve the common good not a party platform. We need to invest in our communities and strengthen NH for the long-term making it a place where seniors are taken care of, families can thrive and our children have real opportunities to build a future.
This candidate did not provide a link to a campaign website.