In His Own Words . . .

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Cody Pfaff

Candidate for State Representative

Belknap County District 5

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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?

I have lived in Laconia for the past nine years. I chose to make Belknap County my home because I saw it as a safe and peaceful place to live and raise a family.  In the spring of 2019 I opened a business on Main Street and I have developed many meaningful connections through my trade. I enjoy serving my customers and community. Getting involved with politics is the next step to further serving the community.

 

2.  Why are you running, and what is the most important legislative issue you hope to tackle the next legislative term?

Over the past 7 years I have been able to listen to the concerns of our citizens and I've learned that most folks have the same needs.  Safety and Prosperity. I'm ready to listen and work to achieve these goals. I'm running because I believe Belknap County deserves a representative who listens, is accessible, and focuses on practical solutions rather than partisan politics. While New Hampshire faces many important challenges, one of my top priorities is improving public safety by addressing homelessness, addiction, and crime through policies that promote accountability, recovery, and responsible use of taxpayer resources.

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As a legislator, I will reexamine how emergency shelters are regulated by recognizing different operational models and holding publicly funded programs accountable for measurable outcomes. Different shelter models can have different impacts on both the individuals they serve and the surrounding community. I believe our laws should recognize those differences and encourage approaches that demonstrate positive results while minimizing negative impacts on our neighborhoods.

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As a small business owner in Laconia, I've had the opportunity to listen to the concerns of people from every walk of life. Despite our differences, I consistently hear the same priorities: safe neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and a government that uses taxpayer dollars responsibly. I'm ready to continue listening, earn the trust of my constituents, and work every day to help Belknap County remain a safe and prosperous place to live, work, and raise a family.

 

3.  What do you see are the biggest needs or issues in Belknap County, and what would you do to fill that need?

I want to encourage responsible housing development by investing in trade and vocational education, simplifying permitting and building processes, reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers, supporting small businesses, and strengthening our workforce. Expanding the skilled trades will help increase our housing supply while creating meaningful career opportunities for New Hampshire's young people.

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Social programs represent a significant portion of state spending, and I believe taxpayers deserve to know their money is being used effectively. We should regularly evaluate publicly funded programs to ensure they produce measurable results, help people move toward independence, and provide real value to both those receiving assistance and the taxpayers who fund these programs.

 

4. What distinguishes you from the other candidates running in your district?

As a barber and small business owner, I spend every day talking with people from every background. Those conversations keep me connected to the concerns of everyday residents. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I believe in listening first, studying the issues carefully, and making decisions based on facts, accountability, and the long-term interests of our community. 

 

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?

Public safety is one of government's core responsibilities. I would support whichever option provides the safest facility while delivering the best long-term value for taxpayers. That decision should be based on objective engineering, operational, and financial analysis rather than politics.

 

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?

Strong public schools are an important part of every successful community and play a role in attracting families and employers. Every child deserves access to a quality education. I also believe the Legislature has the responsibility to develop a fair, sustainable funding system that respects taxpayers, supports local control, and provides students with the resources they need to succeed. 

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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?

I believe county residents should have access to quality care close to home. I would work with the County Commission to better understand the causes of the staffing and capacity challenges, identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and remove unnecessary barriers so more Belknap County residents can receive the care they need.

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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?

These are valuable county assets that should be managed responsibly. I would evaluate any proposal based on whether it improves services, protects taxpayers, and preserves long-term value for county residents. I would not support selling or leasing county assets without strong evidence that doing so would clearly benefit the people of Belknap County.

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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. 

 The opioid crisis requires both compassion and accountability. I support strong enforcement against drug trafficking, penalties for repeat offenders, and continued support for recovery programs that demonstrate measurable success.

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We should invest in workforce development and programs that help individuals achieve long-term independence rather than long-term dependency.  I believe some recovery models can unintentionally prolong dependency by placing too little emphasis on personal responsibility and mutual commitment to recovery. Throughout my conversations with residents across Belknap County, I've consistently heard that people want to help those in need—but they also want accountability. We should offer a hand up, not a handout. Residents and businesses are expected to live within their means, obey the law, and contribute to their communities. I believe the programs we fund should encourage those same expectations by helping people build the skills, stability, and responsibility needed to achieve lasting independence.

 

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. If elected, I intend to exceed those attendance expectations. The people of Belknap County deserve a representative who is present, prepared, and engaged in the work they were elected to do. I'm ready to work hard for Belknap. 

 

11.  The Belknap County Sheriff’s Department has entered into an agreement with U.S Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)  287(g) program agreement . Do you support this, and why? 

Yes. I support cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities when it enhances public safety and helps remove individuals who are unlawfully present and have committed crimes. I believe our Sheriff's department operates with the utmost integrity and I have complete trust in their ability to serve the community with integrity. 

 

gnore - Duplicated Question

12.  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?

 

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 to increase the housing supply by encouraging responsible development, simplifying the permitting and building process, and creating an environment where builders can meet demand while preserving the character of our communities. Increasing supply is one of the most effective long-term ways to improve affordability.

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It's no surprise that the skilled trades are among the most in-demand careers today. They provide rewarding, well-paying jobs without requiring many young people to take on significant student loan debt. I strongly believe in expanding trade and vocational education so the next generation has the skills to build successful careers while helping meet our state's workforce needs.

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By supporting the trades, we can increase the housing supply, reduce construction costs over time, and strengthen our local economy. While housing assistance may provide short-term relief for some families, I believe our long-term focus should be on increasing the housing supply rather than relying primarily on subsidies. The most lasting solution is to make it easier to build, easier to work, and easier for people to achieve homeownership through opportunity.

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This is not a problem that can be solved overnight, but with thoughtful, long-term policy, we can make housing more affordable while creating meaningful career opportunities for New Hampshire's young people.

 

 

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?

Belknap County's lakes and rivers are among our greatest assets. I support responsible investments that protect water quality while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, transparently, and on programs that demonstrate measurable results.

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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?

Property taxes have increased for many reasons, including inflation, rising local costs, higher living standards and state policy. Rather than focusing on one factor alone, I believe we should examine spending at every level of government, eliminate waste where possible, and pursue policies that reduce the long-term burden on local property taxpayers while maintaining essential services.

 

 

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?

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