Cheshire County Democratic Committee Monthly Meeting
11/04/2025, Tuesday 6:30 – 8:00 pm Meeting Minutes
18 in-person; 7 on Zoom
1. Mohammad called the meeting to order at 6:35
2. Introductions
3. Guest Speaker: Jared Sullivan, candidate for US Senate
-currently a House rep from Bethlehem, North Country, Masters in Economic; on the Rules Committee at NHDP
-supports Ranked Choice Voting, getting money out of politics (need to overturn Citizen’s United), laws against gerrymandering
-frustrated that our NH delegation was silent during the El Salvador; concerned about their silence as a huge failure on their parts; they’re not pushing back
-Jared is choosing to speak out in this moment; looking to effect change
-As a Senator, he would have a larger voice to speak out, wants to be on Senate to confirm judges (or not),
-Need to focus on housing (increase the supply), need more people in the trades,
support engineering research on the housing crisis – to cut construction costs,
4. Q&A with Jared:
-As an economist what do you think of neo-liberalism (selling off public land, privatizing everything)? Answer: Against it, it creates more divisiveness, loss of community
-How would you reform SCOTUS? Interested in rolling term limits; 18 years, every 2 years someone peels off, the current president would always have 2 to replace;
-What are the first 3 things you would do? Something to overturn Citizen’s United, housing as described above, Education – focus on services for the disabled since the dept of Education is demolished
-What would you do right now regarding the shutdown? He would also be holding the line
-Do you think gerrymandering right now is necessary by the blue governor states? Unsure – it goes against principles, but what options are there? It erodes trust in the system
-Do you really think you have a chance in the primary? He’s not delusional, Chris Pappas has the money, name recognition, and wide support, but he’s hopeful; Chris has risks: LGBTQ community – not providing health care for trans in the bill; also, the Palestinian community is angry at him
-What about against Sununu? More concerned about the primary than the general; Pappas more challenging than Sununu
5. Reports from Town Chairs –
-Chesterfield – Karen – Nov 14 th , 6-7:30, Lucas Meyer coming to speak
-Harrisville – Andrea – recently heard from Karishma Manzur
-Jaffrey – Eleanor – busy October, group: Working Together for Jaffrey-Rindge, good turnout for No Kings (250-300), school funding fairness group presented – interrupted by the anti-school people, last Thursday, League of Women Voters came regarding the gap in school funding; Lucas Meyer will be presenting on Nov 18 th at their next meeting; having trouble finding candidates
-Marlborough –
-Richmond – Kate – Richmond United, working in the community to bring people together, working with the Historical Society and Parks & Rec looking for interesting info on how the government works – teaching how things work via interesting engagements
-Swanzey – Allen – Lucy Weber coming to talk
-Westmoreland – Frank – 11/20. 7 pm meeting at the Maple Hill nursing home
6. Reports from those serving in Elected Office
-Donovan Fenton – State Senator – not much in the legislature right now. Gearing up for the upcoming session; Working on bill signings; variety of bills, 12 of them, have at least 1 Republican co-sponsor on all of them
-Lucius Parshall – take a look at the 10-year plan; Monadnock region is not getting our share of the funding; building on class 6 highways – new law says we can build on it, overriding the towns – police and fire are having issues with this; sponsoring several environmental bills
-Cathy Harvey – 3 bills – disclosure necessary on knotweed when a property is sold, ban on rodenticides, stopping pig scrambles – all of these bills have Republican co-sponsors
-Terry O’Rorke – one bill – to protect the elderly who have lost their social security – can’t be evicted while working on getting their ss reinstated
7. Kathy O’Donnell coordinated tonight’s food gathering; put Cheshire Co. Democrats in the line when giving to charities
8. Ed Sheldon, Treasurer: gearing up for 2026; financially, $26,522; reserved right now and ready to be used for campaigning
9. Dan Eaton, 47 years as a moderator, longest running in NH! Watched the Republicans run for years and has studied how they do it and why it’s working for them; Keeps ballot clerks split 50:50. Asking the town chairs to find people to run for every local office! Especially for election officials.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55.
Next meeting: December 2. Proposal for an international potluck at 6:00
