Laura Dunham
District 7 - Alton, Barnstead
Ms. Dunham is a candidate for State Representative.
RECOMMENDED
Ms. Dunham's positions on county issues seem reasonable and responsible, and with her enthusiasm and commitment to actually showing up, Citizens for Belknap recommends and fully supports her.
Ms. Dunham is running for one of three Alton/Barnstead District 7 seats for the NH House. This is her first run for office. She's completed both the Primary and General Election questionnaires for Citizens for Belknap (below), and the Citizens Count survey for state issues.
According to her campaign website, shared with fellow candidate Nancy Mitchell, Ms. Dunham is a retired public school teacher of 32 years. She has been endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, and the NH AFL-CIO.
Since her retirement, she says in her campaign website that her property taxes have almost doubled, and both she and husband Frank returned to work part time. She blames the cutting of state revenue sources and subsequent downshifting of state costs to the towns as responsible for much of that increase. Her website states:
"The consequences are real: seniors who have lived in their homes for decades are being priced out, and young families are finding that homeownership in New Hampshire is simply out of reach. We can do better."
A Barnstead resident, Dunham serves as secretary of the Suncook Lakes Association, and cites environmental protection as one of her issues. She and her husband Frank are working with the state to develop a long term Stormwater Management Plan to protect the Upper and Lower Suncook lakes.
Other volunteer work in the community includes serving as an alternate library trustee, a member of the Barnstead 300th Anniversary Committee, and a notetaker at the Selectboard meetings.
District 7 has three incumbent representatives, one of whom, Peter Varney, has an attendance rate of 33%, and voted on only 19% of roll call votes, one of the worst records in the New Hampshire House. In her Citizens for Belknap survey she writes:
"This is one of the reasons I am running. One of the Barnstead/Alton representatives has an abysmal 33% attendance rate in Concord. It is my understanding that the same representative has not attended ANY Delegation meetings for years. I promise I will attend at least 80% of committee meetings and at least 90% of Session vote days. After 32 years as a public school teacher, I retired with 248 unused sick days. I show up for work. "
We recommend reading through both questionnaires.
RECOMMENDED
We commend Ms. Dunham for being an excellent communicator in her district -- a skill the District's incumbents could take a lesson from. She's been active in her community, and would bring decades of education experience to the legislature. Ms. Dunham's positions on county issues seem reasonable and responsible, and with her enthusiasm and commitment to actually showing up, Citizens for Belknap recommends and fully supports her.
In Her Own Words . . .
Ms. Dunham returned her 2026 Citizens for Belknap Questionnaire with these responses:
2026 General Election Questionnaire
1. Give three examples of waste you would cut in our NH state or county government.
Expanding the school voucher program has taken critical funds from public schools. We need to end this program which has no income cap for applicants and very little oversight for the program. The current legislature also cut the Interests and Dividends Tax, which was a source of state revenue. The state also needs to invest in renewable energy sources for all state buildings to help lower costs and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
2. Do you believe New Hampshire needs to explore additional sources of state revenue, or do you believe the state’s current approach to taxation and revenue is working? Please explain.
It doesn’t matter whether you are balancing a budget for your own home or for the state, if you don’t have enough revenue coming in, the bills cannot get paid. New Hampshire has a revenue problem - partly because of the revenue cuts for the ultra-wealthy, like the Interests and Dividends Tax, but also because we only have one source of taxation - property taxes. This is a unique system and has worked well for our state. But it’s becoming a huge burden for property owners. The increases are unsustainable. We need to explore alternative revenues other than income and state taxes.
3. Do you support having an AI data center located in Belknap County? Explain.
We need way more information about the effects of AI data centers on the environment and on electricity use before we think about building one here in New Hampshire. We do need business development in Belknap County and should bring back the Belknap County Economic Development Council.
4. Because Laconia hosts more city and county services for the homeless, it also shoulders more of the impact and financial burden. Would you support a county-wide plan to offset those problems and costs? Why or why not?
I would support a county-wide plan. Maybe the agencies that provide the services could apply for competitive grants to help with the services they provide. This way the agencies that are good at providing the services can get the grants and optimize the funds.
5. Should Belknap County towns heavily impacted by out-of-state visitors receive a higher share of Rooms & Meal tax revenue?
I would support towns which are heavily impacted by out-of-state visitors receiving a higher share of the Rooms & Meals tax.
6. By 2030, what would be your vision for education, and its method of funding?
Public schools are not being fairly funded. We are an extraordinarily wealthy nation, yet we fail to adequately fund our public schools, placing much of the burden on local property taxpayers. The federal government needs to do more to support schools with students who have high-cost special education needs. A large school district may be able to absorb these expenses, but they can devastate the budget of a small district, especially in New Hampshire. Every student is entitled to a free and fair public education. We cannot pick and choose which students we educate. Yet charter schools and religious schools receiving public funds through programs like Education Freedom Accounts are not required to serve all students or meet the same obligations as public schools. New Hampshire provides among the lowest levels of state funding for public education, leaving local communities to shoulder an unfair share of the cost through property taxes.
2026 Primary Election Questionnaire
1. How long have you lived in Belknap County? If you moved to the county, why did you choose to do so? If you have always lived in Belknap County, why have you stayed? If you’ve been a resident for one year or less, what prompted you to run so soon?
My husband and I have owned a home since 2013 and moved to Barnstead full-time in 2024. From 2013 - 2024, I spent three to four months a year in Barnstead.
2. Why are you running, and what is the most important legislative issue you hope to tackle the next legislative term?
New Hampshire is changing and not for the better. New Hampshire has shifted from having great public schools to significantly defunding public schools and downshifting those costs to local towns, which is causing huge tax increases (our taxes increased by almost 40% over the past three years).
As a recent retiree, these tax increases are a significant burden for us. Both my husband and I have gone back to work to help with these increases. School funding and property taxes are related. When the state gives less money to the schools, the property taxes must increase to cover the difference.
As a retired public school teacher, I believe schools are the great equalizer in society and should be funded fairly and equitably. For many students, public schools are the springboard into a better career path, whether that is college, a trade, or a small business venture. Under federal law, all children are entitled to a free and fair public education. If schools are funded fairly, then every student has the opportunity to succeed. To provide for all students, we need more vocational opportunities at our schools. Schools are the cornerstones of our communities.
3. What do you see are the biggest needs or issues in Belknap County, and what would you do to fill that need?
We need to support Gunstock, the Belknap Nursing Home, and the Belknap County Jail. The Delegation plays a pivotal role in how these places are funded. In addition, Belknap County needs significant business development, e.g. retail establishments that the local towns need and building upon the small manufacturing businesses which already exists. This can be done by coordinating with local governments and business organizations to find out what is most needed.
4. What distinguishes you from the other candidates running in your district?
First of all, I will show up for work. Some of our current representatives do not have a great attendance record at the State House. Second, I will listen to fellow Delegates and work across the aisle to develop solutions that we sorely need.
5. A recent independent report found deficiencies in the current Belknap County jail. Would you support construction of a building that meets modern standards? Or should the existing jail be renovated?
A new building would be a significant capital project which would require some difficult decisions on how to pay for it. I would need to look at both proposals- a new build and a renovation - to ascertain which project would be most feasible for the county at this time.
Additionally, I would be interested in hearing the views of the County Commissioners.
6. Do you agree that traditional public schools are essential to attracting business and retaining employees in Belknap county? Should our students’ education be funded at ‘adequate education’ levels as defined by the NH Supreme Court’s in the ConVal decision? Why or why not?
Schools should ALWAYS be funded at ‘adequate education’ levels. Surely our children are our most precious resource and should have the opportunity to attend a fully funded public school.
The state’s base adequacy rate was found to be unconstitutionally low and yet they are still fighting to pay that unconstitutionally low amount. There is a savage inequality in the funding of local schools because local property taxes pay 70% of the school budget. Therefore, communities with higher property values will have better funded schools, which exacerbates the gap for wealthy vs. poor schools.
The passage of EFA vouchers for students who attend religious or charter schools or who are homeschooled has taken money directly from local school budgets. The program has no legislative oversight or academic accountability. Kelly Ayotte recently signed a law that leaves homeschooled students with very little oversight.
Excellent public schools will attract business and families to New Hampshire. People move to towns for the schools. We also need to pay our teachers fairly. At the very least, our teachers should be able to afford to live in the towns where they teach our children. Young families will be attracted to good local schools and affordable housing.
7. The Belknap County Nursing Home continues to operate under capacity, yet it has a waiting list of Belknap clients. What will you do as a member of the Delegation, to assist the County Commission to maximize our nursing care facility?
When we don't invest in our nursing home, we lose the opportunity to fill more beds and bring in revenue that helps cover expenses. The Belknap County Nursing Home makes up about 40% of the county budget. But most of its operating costs are covered by the money it brings in through Medicaid and private-pay residents. Only a small portion of the cost is paid by county property taxes. In 2022, the Delegation went against the County Commissioners’ budget recommendations. One recommendation was to increase wages for staff in order to hire and retain employees. As a delegate, I would meet with and listen to the County Commissioners in order to understand how we can best help the nursing home operate at its best level of care.
8. The county nursing home and the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, including Gunstock Mountain Resort, are revenue streams owned by Belknap County. As a County Delegation member, do you support leasing out the property to a private company, or selling those operations?
Full disclaimer: I have worked part-time at Gunstock for the past two years.
Gunstock has required no local funding or financial support from taxpayers for many years. It pays the county 1.75% of its profits which was $365,909.35 in 2025. These profits have only increased over the past years. Gunstock is one of the few publicly owned ski areas in the country with a mission to benefit the residents of Belknap, visitors, and the local economy - not outside investors. Gunstock works with the local schools through an outreach program to make skiing affordable. This program would most likely disappear if Gunstock was sold to private investors. Gunstock is a wonderful place to work and is run by incredibly caring and dedicated people. It operates year-round, hires many local Belknap residents, and is a great place to hike for free. Gunstock is a treasure for the county, and it should never be sold to a private company.
The same goes for the Belknap Nursing Home. We all hope to grow old with dignity. The Belknap County Nursing Home helps make that possible, and it's something we should all be proud to support. I would not support leasing out the property to a private company or selling the nursing home. The nursing home pays for most of its operating costs through the revenue it generates. We need to listen to the recommendations of the commissioners so the nursing home has what it needs to be successful.
Gunstock Mountain and the Belknap Nursing Home are excellent examples of successful public/private ventures. I have been skiing and hiking at Gunstock for over 15 years and have seen the constant improvements made at the mountain to keep it running smoothly and to generate revenue for the County.
9. Opioids and other drugs continue to be a problem in our communities. What are your ideas to reduce the impact of these drugs in our community? What resources are you willing to commit?
The opioid crisis is not just a New Hampshire or Belknap County problem. It is a country-wide problem that requires a multi-faceted approach. We need to invest in mental health care and support for recovery and treatment so people can rebuild their lives. These require monetary investments from the County.
We also need to meet with law enforcement and medical practitioners in the County to identify the sources in order to diminish the availability of opioids. This approach has been successful in other parts of the country. It’s also important to stop drug abuse before it starts by having community centers and places for youth and adults to feel included and safe.
10. Belknap County’s delegation of state representatives has the poorest rate of attendance in the state at 78% for the 2024-25 legislative session. It’s so bad that the 2nd lowest, Strafford County, is 89%. Do you commit to attending at least 80% of committee meetings, and 90% or more of Session vote days?
This is one of the reasons I am running. One of the Barnstead/Alton representatives has an abysmal 32% attendance rate in Concord. It is my understanding that the same representative has not attended ANY Delegation meetings for years. I promise I will attend at least 80% of committee meetings and at least 90% of Session vote days. After 32 years as a public school teacher, I retired with 248 unused sick days. I show up for work.
11. The Belknap County Sheriff’s Department has entered into an agreement with U.S Immigration & Customs Enforcement 287(g) program agreement with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). Do you support this, and why?
ICE continues to violate constitutional rights like due process, arrests without legal justification, and unreasonable search and seizure. This past week, a 26-year-old man with legal status was shot and killed by ICE in Maine. We all want safe communities and the rule of law to be followed. Belknap County Sheriff’s Department should be working for and accountable to the people of Belknap, not working for a federal agency.
Immigrants are an important part of the fabric of our communities. I do not support the Sheriff’s Department entering into an agreement with ICE until ICE fully complies with federal and state regulations, like vehicle and body cameras.
13. Affordable housing continues to be a problem, causing challenges for our county economy, including limiting the worker pool, attracting business, and attracting younger families. If elected, what will you do to increase the stock of affordable housing?
We need more workforce housing. We can increase affordable housing by encouraging towns to allow a wider variety of homes like multi-family dwellings, smaller starter homes, and ADUs. We can keep the rural character of Belknap by using smart planning that fits our communities while giving our children the opportunity to live and work here.
14. Without clean lakes and rivers, the Belknap County tourism economy would be in jeopardy. Should the county financially support pollution control and water quality monitoring programs? Why or why not?
Everyone wants clean water - in our lakes, rivers, and wells. If the lakes are polluted or filled with cyanobacteria and/or milfoil, Belknap County’s tax revenue would drastically decrease. The county should work with the state to support water quality monitoring systems and pollution control. My husband and I have been working with DES to apply for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the Suncook Lakes. It has taken over 18 months for the application process, and we were chosen to receive $100,000 to hire an environmental firm to create a watershed plan for the lakes. This plan will open up other areas of funding to keep the lakes clean and healthy for generations to come. Our lakes are the heart of our communities. Keeping them clean, healthy, and protected is one of my top priorities.
15. Do you agree that the tax reduction for State revenue streams (Business Enterprise Tax, Rooms & Meals, Income & Dividends Tax, et. al), resulted in downshifted costs to Belknap county and local schools, and increased local property taxes? Why or why not?
This has absolutely resulted in increased local property taxes. Our taxes increased by almost 40% over the past three years. Many seniors are being priced out of their homes due to property tax increases. It also creates a massive barrier for young families to own a home in New Hampshire.
16. Would you favor reforming the Delegation’s meeting format? Should the Delegation conduct monthly meetings? Would you increase public input opportunities? Continue with Roberts’ Rules?
I would certainly be open to having monthly Delegation meetings, even outside the normal budget process. Perhaps a few of those meetings could be open forums to allow the public to come and express their concerns and offer feedback on their representatives. The public should always have the ability for input because we are working for the public good. These opinions are invaluable, especially before big county decisions are made. Additionally, Robert’s Rules are essential to maintain order at a public meeting.
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