2026 General Election Questionnaire

1. Give three examples of waste you would cut in our NH state or county government.

Eliminate Tax discounts. Vouchers and tax relief (gift certificates from the politicians)

The Voucher program. Why would any taxpayer agree to pay for their kids to get educated at the public school and then give another student a taxpayer "gift certificate" (voucher) to take the money elsewhere? I don't have kids, but I still pay for kids to go to public school and I don't want them taking my money outside of this town;Tilton.   

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After struggling with the legislative process to get things approved in this 2 party system, we need to lock all tax decisions in place. The representatives presently in charge at the state house in this unbelievable affordability crisis, have given a taxpayer "gift certificate" to the Banks and to the Businesses in the form of a rate discount on the Profits and Business Enterprise tax, and the Dividends and Interest tax.  Don't give away discounts when you need the money to balance the state and local and school budgets.       

 

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.

As a first time runner for office I was told that one of the golden rules was never to admit that I will ever support another form of taxation other than the Property Tax. That there is even a pledge I should take.   After going door to door during this campaign and having people complain door after door after door about how big their taxes are getting, I was sure I had gotten the word of advice wrong.   I am, as a first time runner for office, saying that I want to have a sales tax for "education only" and that this new sales tax be collected and managed at the state level with all students receiving equal amounts whether they live in Clairemont or Wolfeboro or Heneker and that the local property tax should be lowered by half in compensation from the new sales tax.   How's that for splitting the apple?  No, I'm not a Communist.      

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3. Do you support having an AI data center located in Belknap County?  Explain.     

 No to Data Centers.  Are you kidding me? Talk about the medicine is worse than the affliction.  AI is an industry that has gone too far already and investing our brick and mortar in any such foolishness makes me want to go to sleep.  Wake me when it's over.    (no AI was used in compiling this survey, I sware)

 

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?

 Answer: Yes    If ever there was a need for Religious Institutions or a County or City or Town for that matter, it is in the helping of the poor and ill housed, I support them in these types of endeavors.   As for the County Responsibility that should be left to the PROPERTY TAXPAYERS...... in the form of a vote. 

 

5. Should Belknap County towns heavily impacted by out-of-state visitors receive a  higher share of Rooms & Meal tax revenue?

Answer: No   No reason to single out Belknap County for this tax increase.  There are lots of hot spots throughout the state. 

 

6. By 2030, what would be your vision for education, and its method of funding?

 Answer:  Smart Kids. 

As I have said in question 2 New thinking is needed on the Education Issue as the Supreme Court has Mandated the State to enforce. All states in the Union have sales taxes. All our sales tax paying neighbors come here and take advantage of our free national parks and local lakes with no charge. We give them "gift certificate" discounted groceries and liquor and hardware and everything else including no tax on million dollar homes. BUT we rank as one of the lowest spenders when educating our kids and yes it is because the Property Tax is already a tax cap on our kids.  We need another tax to get the out of staters to pay.  As a college student my freshman year at Syracuse people made fun of me when they found out where I was from and they said; Oh the "Live Free or Die" state Ha Ha Ha.  Well some things are a little basic here in New Hampshire but I think that we need to face up to the facts that we need to change with the times and get the neighbors to pay their fair share and stop giving them "gift certificates" for our kids sake.  After all, when we leave this state we have to pay their state taxes.....  

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A chicken in every pot....I promise.  Have a nice day.  Vote for the 2 Don's in Belmont, Tilton and Sanbornton.   

 

2026 Primary Questionnaire

Don Giguere

Contact info:

Web site: giguere4nh.com
Email: duckydonny6@gmail.com
Address: Don Giguere for State Rep. Box 131, Tilton, NH 03276

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?
Having been born in Laconia Hospital, I lived in Belmont until after 1 st grade. We
moved to Laconia and attended the Sacred Heart school for 4 years and the Laconia
school system until graduation in 1978. My parents moved back to Belmont for the
rest of their lives, 45years. I lived with my parents in Belmont summers, during
college at Syracuse University School of Fine Arts.

After College I moved out west, first to the Grand Canyon and then Las Vegas for
a total of 21 years. Since 2002 I have resided in Tilton in my present home for 24
years. My reason for returning to New Hampshire was to be supportive to my mother
at the time of my fathers’ illness and passing. Additionally, the life altering event of
the World Trade Center attack brought me back to focus on the importance of family,
my parents, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. After living in the dry Southwest, I
had forgotten how beautiful the green trees are and the fresh and clear the water is.
So, to answer the question I have lived in Belknap County off and on for over 40
years.

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2. Why are you running, and what is the most important legislative issue you hope to tackle
the next legislative term? 
There was an open Democratic seat available in District 8, floterial Belmont, Sanbornton,
Tilton. BUT; the main reason that prompted me to run was, my total disgust with the
state of disrepair that the Republican Party, in conspiracy with the sociopathic president
Donald J Trump have brought to this country, that threatens our existence as a
Democracy.   A conspiracy which extends itself to our New Hampshire state Republican
Party in fanatic attempts to shirk responsibility and push problems down to the local
taxpayers to handle. To answer part two of the question, my main goals will be to
support Democratic corrections to fairness for the local individuals struggling to pay the
bills and push back the taxes to the rich and businesses who haven’t been paying their
fair share due to Republican favoritism. The local property taxpayers will not be able to
retire in their own homes if the trend in unfairness continues.

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3. What do you see are the biggest needs or issues in Belknap County, and what would you do
to fill that need? 
The biggest problem that seems that Belknap County needs a lot more respect and
attention from the elected state operators in Concord. Belknap is the welcoming Host
County to the recreational visitors who flock here from out of state locations. Belknap
County has the Lakes, the Mountains, the Resorts, the Events, the Real Estate. Belknap
is one of the bright stars in this states’ economy.

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4. What distinguishes you from the other candidates running in your district?
I am just in this race to make a difference, I don’t brag that I know all the
numbers in my three towns, nor do I know all the people that make each of the town
function. I hope if elected to get to know everyone, in this way I am starting with a clean
slate. I feel in my gut that things could be running better on the state level, that things
could be fairer, that life shouldn’t be such a grind. I will be one of about four hundred if
elected. Hopefully I will have the wisdom to make some good votes and maybe even
write a bill that will fix problems that are in need of attention.

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? 
The problem to saying yes right now on the building of a jail, is in the details. I’m sure
that if there are deficiencies as the report says, the specific deficiencies would determine
what needs to be done. The problem is that buildings age but there are rainy day funds
for this purpose, have those survived the Republican melee? I would need more details.

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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? 
True: the greatest improvement I have seen in the local school system is the
improvement in the “recognition” of the importance of Vocational studies that has
occurred in the past 30 years. The Lakes Region Community College and the
Vocational training schools now located in Laconia, Winnisquam, and other schools will
show good results in keeping young people employed locally in the state and slow the
flight of the youth from New Hampshire.

The Con Val decision is based on a monetary evaluation and it is well known that New
Hampshire is now listed as one of the states that rates lowest in funding per capita
student Nationwide. The testing of students Nationwide also confirms the slip in the
level of education compared with other states. The limitations of the property tax for the
major revenue source compared to other states who have a more expansive spread of
tax collection. Our property tax is connected to the values of the real estate which
makes in much more sensitive to pressures on taxpaying voters because: only NH
people pay taxes rather than having the tourists pay the tax.

School vouchers are a drain on the effectiveness of each dollar when that voucher
money is used for home schooling or private schools. When I went to Sacred Heart my
parents had to pay the tuition.

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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?

Government cuts to fundamental disability structures may be putting a burden both on
funding for personnel and funding for people remaining at home with their disabilities
and receiving a check to help them stay home. Lots of the cuts that were made by DOGE
were done without thought, the cuts were literally mindless slashes by an arrogant
billionaire.

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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?
No, private industry has proven they won’t do anything unless there is a profit in it for the
owners only. The public benefit is rarely in their interest. Citizens United for Belknap
County rescued the Recreation Area from the Free State fanatics that were attempting to
take it over. Thank you for coming to the rescue.

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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?
This is a huge problem that needs a long-term effort to council and treat the addicted in a non-
judgmental way. This is an example of the private pharma companies putting profits first.
Decriminalizing needles was a first step in getting the addicts to seek treatment. Improving trust of the
police and social workers to guide people toward treatment resources is important.

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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?
Yes, I commit to attending all sessions and meetings when possible, barring any unforeseen
health issues.

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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?
No, I do not support this as long as untrained, masked men are manhandling anyone in this
country in the manner of the Russian K.G.B. We have human rights in this country and that
applies to any human being. The huge waste of taxpayer money that went into this department
would be an impeachable crime if it were not for the complicity of the republican party.

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Ignore - this is a duplicate of #8.

12.    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/operations to a private company, or selling the property/operations?

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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?
There are fewer and fewer working people who can afford to buy housing in New Hampshire
anymore. Start with a raise in the income of worker buy having a state minimum wage. Also, the
property tax is set up where the biggest richest housing is taxed at a lower percentage than the
middleclass property taxpayers. Again, the broadest group of taxpayers are handling the
problem which is the republican way of doing things, sock it to the little guy.

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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?
Yes, Water quality needs to have an overseer. Water is our most valuable resource. The value of
water is going to skyrocket in the next decades. Monitoring of boat motor pollution should be on
a progression to tightening standards over time such as was done with auto manufacturing
starting in the 1970s.

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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?
Yes, I agree, the republican leadership in the House and State House are fixated on a Free Stater
solutions. They give breaks to the rich, send problems down to the localities. Just like it was
forecast in Project 2025 remember? This is a basic tenet of their plan, obfuscate, distract and
push down problems to others.

 

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? 
Get people in office who are sensitive to the Citizens needs. When you are
defending a flawed decision people can get defensive. Sticking to Roberts Rules is one
tool to guide the crowd however applied with kid gloves not a gavel. Everyone should
have enough time to make their point, it is there right as a Citizen. But Citizens should
also be polite.