NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE PRESIDENT ARTHUR KLEMM FACES A TOUGH RE-ELECTION BID.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK SAPARETO IS CHALLENGING KLEMM IN THE SEPTEMBER 10 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS TO CAMPAIGN ON HIS CHALLENGER’S HOME TURF.
NHPR CORRESPONDENT DARRELL HALEN REPORTS.
Senate President, AND TWO TERM INCUMBENT Arthur Klemm has his work cut out for him. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF LEGISLATIVE AGREEMENT OVER REDISTRICTING, THE New Hampshire Supreme Court RECENTLY REDREW HOUSE AND SENATE LINES. AS A RESULT, ARTHUR KLEMM FOUND HIMSELF WITH A new district. IT INCLUDES KLEMM’S TOWN OF Windham, BUT ALSO Hampstead and Derry. DERRY IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK SAPARETO’S HOMETOWN. IT’S THE largest community in the districtAND IT’S a place where Klemm has never APPEARED ON THE BALLOT.
In their campaigns FOR THE Republican nomination, the two candidates have criticized each other’s records. Klemm faults Sapareto for supporting AN EDUCATION INCOME TAX.
Klemm (4:22): As far as the income tax is concerned, I’m opposed to it. Frank has voted at least twice for an income tax and I don’t think we need one in the State of New Hampshire.
Sapareto CALLS Klemm A MEMBER of the CONCORD “old boys club” that has repeatedly fought EFFORTS TO fix the property tax system. But Klemm responds that some of Sapareto’s legislation has been defeated because his own House colleagues gave it failing grades.
Klemm (20:37): Two of those bills were killed in committee, inexpedient to legislate, 21 to 1 and 21 to nothing. So I don’t think it’s leadership that’s killing those bills. It’s the House that’s killing those bills, not me.
Sapareto criticizes Klemm for opposing a uniform rate property tax that provided circuit breakers for homeowners.
Sapareto (5:36): He voted against proposals that would have given breaks to Derry, Hampstead and Windham, people who couldn’t afford their property taxes and instead voted for tax breaks for Lakes Region, Seacoast areas whose tax rates were a fraction of ours. So if you were a poor guy in those towns who he didn’t represent you could get a break but if you’re here, one of our constituents, and your bill’s too high, you’re stuck. And I think that’s wrong.
Not all of Sapareto’s hometown House colleagues are supporting him. At a recent gathering of Derry area Republicans, State Representative Phyllis Katsakiores said she is backing Klemm.
Katsakiores (1:23): He’s one of the 10 most powerful people in the State of New Hampshire. He could be very helpful to Derry. He’s a telephone call away. He’s very accessible and I think he would do a great job.
But Klemm faces REPUBLICAN opposition in his OWN hometown. SOME WINDHAM residents OPPOSE HIS EFFORTS TO BUILD A MCDONALDS ON HIS PROPERTY IN TOWN. BUT THOSE OPPONENTS HAVE LOST IN THE COURTS. NOW THEY’RE WORKING TO GET KLEMM OUT OF OFFICE.
Ted Mar-veal-i-as is a member of The Committee to Preserve Windham. HE SAYS the restaurant would greatly increase traffic and does not fit the town’s rural character.
Marvelias (5:35): He could have picked something else. He could have done a lot of different alternatives to work within the context of the master plan of the town of Windham so it would not create a decrease in the quality of life for the majority of Windham residents. However, he choose not to do that. He has a right to build but he doesn’t have the right to create an unbelievable traffic jam, especially on weekends, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
The winner of the primary will face Democrat Christopher Reisdorf in the general election.
For NHPR news, I’m Darrell Halen in Derry
