This past week was President Ulysses S. Grant’s 200th birthday! Right outside of the Majority Office we have a signed document which contains President Grant’s signature, which was gifted to New Hampshire in celebration of America’s Centennial anniversary.
Although President Grant served before the First in the Nation Primary was a New Hampshire tradition, he visited New Hampshire in October of 1871 and was the fourth president to visit the state in the 19th century. President Grant was on his way to a railroad opening ceremony in Maine and cut through New Hampshire on his way.
I felt the need to respond to a letter dated April 27 by Kathleen Eames of Charlestown regarding redistricting because it contained so many errors. As background, you should know that we have very tight constraints on what we are allowed to do when redistricting. It was generally agreed that Sullivan County was the most challenging. We are required to be within 10% total deviation of “perfect population” for the state plan. This means that when you divide the total state population by 400 (the number of Representatives), you need to be within roughly 5% over or under in each county. We can not cross county lines because the Representatives from a county also comprise the County Delegation. Districts must also be contiguous. Sullivan County had two large changes in this census that made keeping the old districts impossible. Claremont lost significant population in one ward, and Grantham gained significant population. These two large items put the current districts out of compliance with the federal one man one vote standard. Adjusting for this affected very other district in the county. Ms. Eames stated that the data used was not made publicly available. Census data is publicly available. If she is talking about some other data, you should know that House Democrats submitted the plan for Sullivan County. We simply accepted it. Questions as to its creation should go to members of that party. Having said that, census data and information regarding our redistricting process is, and has been, available at the House Special Committee on Redistricting Website or http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committee_websites/Redistricting_2021/default.aspx Article 11 of the NH Constitution does not require that “each town with the minimum population to have its own representative”. Part 2 Article 11 states “When the population of any town or ward, according to the last federal census, is within a reasonable deviation from the ideal population for one or more representative seats, the town or ward shall have its own district of one or more representative seats. The apportionment shall not deny any other town or ward membership in one non-floterial representative district.” We are, however, not permitted to violate federal law to accomplish this. The plan that I submitted would have kept Claremont as it is today, and Charlestown would have still had its own Representative. Unfortunately, deviating that far from the right population number put the state plan over 10%. It was decided to not proceed with a plan likely to be challenged in state and/or federal court. The NH Supreme Court addressed this issue in 2012 making it clear that properly proportioned districts took priority over the 2006 amendment Ms. Eames referenced. It also stated that being under 10% deviation was critical. You can read it yourself at https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/documents/2021-08/2012061redistricting.pdf In closing, realize that House Democrats submitted the plans for Sullivan County Representatives and Sullivan County Commissioners. Republicans accepted those plans over the Republican plans. It is a bit disingenuous for a political party official to try to cry partisan foul now. Sulivan County’s plan was truly bipartisan.
Rep. Steven Smith, Charlestown, Deputy Speaker of the NH House Vice Chair, House Special Committee on Redistricting
Charlestown Route 12 Repair Update – April 19, 2022
Dear Elected Officials for Charlestown, Walpole, and Claremont:
Last Wednesday evening NHDOT Assistant Commissioner Bill Cass and Project Manager Jason Ayotte attended the Charlestown Selectboard meeting. Jason Ayotte presented an overview on the Charlestown Rt. 12 repairs: what caused the road closure, the prior plan, why the prior plan was not workable, and the plan going forward. Assistant Commissioner Cass and Project Manager Ayotte answered a variety of questions, including the location of drainage, availability of materials, and the construction schedule.
We do not believe it would be safe for public use of the road during construction and it would hinder the work. However, at the request of the Police Chief, the Department and contractor will provide emergency access for emergency vehicles during off-hours of construction.
The immediate repair is underway. The contractor, Casella, has remobilized and ordered the necessary materials, with some materials being delivered to the site last week. Casella was back on site and working yesterday, April 18, 2022. It is anticipated the work will take 6 weeks. With no weather delays, the road should be reopened by the end of May 2022.
As previously stated, the immediate repair is an interim, subject to the same conditions and issues that cause the road to be closed. Additional drainage work is planned, which will improve conditions to some degree. DOT will continue to monitor the roadway while the alternatives analysis is being done to determine a long-term solution. This long-term solution will be the future Ten Year Plan project.
In the meantime, I will continue to send updates. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
NH State Representative Steven Smith 
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