Martha McLeod
for State Senate: NH's North Country Voice
Press Releases
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GOVERNOR LYNCH, BERLIN LEADERS ENDORSE MCLEOD
Berlin – Last Friday, Governor Lynch made a campaign stop in the North Country, endorsing Martha McLeod for state Senate.
"As a state representative, Martha McLeod has worked to bring jobs and economic opportunities to the North Country. She worked with me to pass the Coos County Tax Credit to encourage companies to create new jobs in the North Country; fought to improve access to quality health care in Northern New Hampshire; and to increase the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years. She was also instrumental in repealing an unfair law that allowed insurance companies to discriminate against small businesses in the North Country," Gov. Lynch said. "She would be an energetic and dedicated state Senator."
Also supporting Representative McLeod are local State Representatives Robert Theberge and Yvonne Thomas. Representative Theberge said of his support for McLeod, "She has provided a strong voice for the North Country and will give Berlin the leadership we need in the state Senate."
Steve Griffin, Senior Vice President of Isaacson Structural Steel, crossed party lines earlier in the year to endorse Representative McLeod's campaign.
Other endorsements received include: AFL-CIO, State Employees Association, National Education Association-NH, Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance and EMILY's list.
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Martha McLeod running hard for Senate seat
By Edith Tucker
Coos County Democrat
Berlin Reporter
October 15, 2008
BERLIN — Rep. Martha McLeod, a Democrat of Franconia, is running a vigorous “can win” campaign, challenging three-term incumbent state Senator John Gallus, a Republican of Berlin.
She was endorsed by Gov. John Lynch last week.
“Martha McLeod is an energetic, hard-working fighter for the people of the North Country,” the popular Democratic governor said in an e-mail statement. “She has been a strong partner with me in working to bring new jobs, more affordable health care, and improved education to the North Country. She will be a great state Senator.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), a independent national organization that works to win state legislative seats and chambers for Democrats, recently targeted Rep. McLeod’s challenge as one of the nation’s top state Senate races.
Rep. McLeod explained in a Wednesday evening interview at a shared Democratic campaign office on Main Street that she believes that she could play an important role in steering the North Country in a new direction. Job creation and improving the region’s economic health are among her top priorities. Constituent service, especially reaching out to those who are eligible for state and federal programs —
perhaps for the first time in their lives — is also particularly important in a time of great national
economic uncertainty, Rep. McLeod said.
“There’s no shame in asking to be in prescription medicine, fuel assistance, or food stamp programs,” she said, adding that she earned a B. S. degree in nutritional sciences from UNH, 12 years after graduating in 1974 from Littleton High School.
“We must focus on what people need here in the North Country,” she said. “We’ve lost 1,600 jobs; North Country families earn 30 percent less than those in other parts of the state; and fewer of us are covered by health insurance.”
Rep. McLeod believes that strategic, “planful” ways must be found to leverage the area’s available wood fiber while still protecting the region’s premiere natural environment, which draws tourists and seasonal and new residents to the area to hunt, fish, snowmobile, and hike and enjoy the outdoors with their kids.
She would not champion legislation designed to open up the area to casino gambling. “Only about a third of the region’s population supports that initiative,” Rep. McLeod said. “Without consensus, I think passing casino legislation would be very divisive.”
Nor does she support building a third prison in Berlin, pointing out that maintaining a diverse job base is key in today’s fast-changing world.
“The economic revitalization of Berlin could drive economic development in the rest of Coös County,” Rep. McLeod said.
Based on knowledge gained serving as executive director of the North Country Health Consortium, a non-profit rural health network headquartered in Whitefield, Rep. McLeod said she backs efforts to educate and provide the skills needed to fill health care jobs — the fastest growing sector of the state’s economy.
Rep. McLeod and her husband Rich, who headed up the state’s Division of Parks and Recreation, have been married for 31 years and raised two now-adult daughters, Kristyn and Carrie. The couple lives in her childhood home in Franconia. -
AFTER SENDING DECEPTIVE LYNCH MAILER TO TRY TO FOOL VOTERS, GALLUS MUST ADMIT WHO HE IS VOTING FOR IN NOVEMBER – LYNCH OR KENNEY
October 9, 2008
BERLIN, NH – After thousands of voters received a deceptive mailer from John Gallus this week featuring photos of him with Governor John Lynch – who is supporting Gallus’s opponent, Martha McLeod – local citizens called on Gallus today to admit whether he himself plans on voting for Lynch or state Senator Joe Kenney in November.
“John Gallus was a roadblock to John Lynch’s agenda, voting against him on raising the minimum wage; against him on extending unemployment benefits for part time workers; against him on tourism and related economic development, and against him on many other important bills that would help us here in the North Country,” said Representative Robert Theberge of Berlin. “Now he is trying to fool us into thinking that he works with Lynch just because he has a photo of them together. But since John Gallus raised the issue, I think he owes it to tell us whether or not he will even be voting for John Lynch in November.”
The next state Senator from the North Country will have to work closely with our next Governor to face the challenges in the North Country. Unlike Gallus’s record of voting against key Lynch initiatives, Representative Martha McLeod worked closely with Governor Lynch, including the successful effort to help write and pass the legislation he signed to stop health insurance companies from charging higher costs to small businesses just because they are located in the North Country.
Martha McLeod is proud to have voted for John Lynch in the past, and is excited to do so again this November. She has worked closely with Gov. Lynch to increase job opportunities in the North Country, decrease small business health care costs, expand fuel and weatherization assistance and conserve our natural resources. As a State Senator, Martha would continue working with Gov. Lynch, supporting the working families of the North Country.
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McLeod Tops Gallus in Latest Fundraising Period
Concord – Democratic state Senate candidate Rep. Martha McLeod has started off her campaign on a very strong note, raising more than $30,000 over 261 donations, a large portion of which came from North Country voters. Her opponent, Republican John Gallus raised a little over $23,000 this filing period through 139 donations, with less than 28% of donations coming from in district.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me, who believe that we must stop pointing fingers and start taking actions to create more jobs, increase access to affordable health care, provide a quality education, and take immediate steps to keep all North Country families warm this winter,” said McLeod.
Of the 261 donations received as of August 18, 155 were from residents in the first Senate District. Steve Griffin, Senior Vice President of Isaacson Structural Steel and co-chair of the campaign, said “Rep. McLeod has made it clear from the start of her campaign that she wants to represent the people of northern New Hampshire and not be beholden to special interests. She’s proven this by garnering support directly from the people she will represent,”
“The citizens of the North Country want an energetic and effective leader. Rep. McLeod has clearly demonstrated those characteristics as a State Representative and the voters are responding,” said Ned Densmore, former State Representative from Franconia and other co-chair of Rep. McLeod’s campaign. “This kind of financial support from North Country voters is unprecedented and I do believe it is a sign of changes to come.” -
McLeod tops Gallus in latest fundraising period
Concord – Democratic state Senate candidate Rep. Martha McLeod has started off her campaign on a very strong note, raising more than $30,000 over 261 donations, a large portion of which came from North Country voters. Her opponent, Republican John Gallus raised a little over $23,000 this filing period though 139 donations, with less than 28% of donations coming from in district.
"I want to thank everyone who has supported me, who believe that we must stop pointing fingers and start taking actions to create more jobs, increase access to affordable health care, provide a quality education, and take immediate steps to keep all North Country families warm this winter," said McLeod.
Of the 261 donations received as of August 18, 155 were from residents in the first Senate District. Steve Griffin, Senior Vice President of Isaacson Structural Steel and co-chair of the campaign, said "Rep. McLeod has made it clear from the start of her campaign that she wants to represent the people of northern New Hampshire and not be beholden to special interests. She's proven this by garnering support directly from the people she will represent,"
"The citizens of the North Country want an energetic and effective leader. Rep. McLeod has clearly demonstrated those characteristics as a State Representative and the voters are responding," said Ned Densmore, former State Representative from Franconia and other co-chair of Rep. McLeod's campaign. "This kind of financial support from North Country voters is unprecedented and I do believe it is a sign of changes to come." -
McLeod appoints Griffin, Densmore as co-chairs of campaign
August 4, 2008
McLeod announces Griffin, Densmore as co-chairs of campaign
Franconia- State Representative and Democratic state Senate candidate Martha McLeod announces Berlin businessman Steve Griffin and former State Representative Ned Densmore as co-chairs of her campaign.
Densmore has previously served five terms in the NH House of Representatives as a Democrat and formally owned the Littleton Village Book Store. In 1990 he was named Small Business Owner of the year.
“I'm glad to be a part of this campaign, a campaign dedicated to working with a wide range of constituencies, and providing active leadership for the North Country. Rep. McLeod has already proven her ability to fight for the neediest citizens and small businesses of our state and she will continue to do so as a state Senator,” said Densmore.
Griffin, a Republican, is currently the Executive Vice President of Isaacson Steel and also serves on a number of community and statewide boards including the Business Finance Authority and St. Kieran’s Art Center, and serves as a Police Commissioner for the City of Berlin.
Griffin said of his recent appointment, “I am excited to play an integral role in Rep. McLeod’s Senate campaign. She has the leadership and knowledge to bring strong representation to Concord. She listens to the people, is willing to make hard decisions, and stands up for what is best for the North Country.”
“It’s great to have both Ned and Steve’s support. They have been leaders in they’re own communities and I look forward to working with them throughout the campaign season,” said McLeod. “They serve as an example that this race is about the people of the North Country, not political parties or special interests.” -
Senate hopeful McLeod gets key endorsement on campaign swing through Berlin
Barbara Tetreault
July 15, 2008
BERLIN— Rep. Martha McLeod first ran for the legislature because she believed the North Country needed a stronger voice in the legislature. That same belief has lead her to set her sights on the District I Senate seat.
Running unopposed in the Democratic primary, McLeod will face Republican John Gallus who is running for a third term. The race for the Senate seat will be a battle between two North Country natives. McLeod lives in the house she grew up in Franconia at the foot of Cannon Mountain.
McLeod was in Berlin yesterday where she picked up a key endorsement from Berlin businessman Steve Griffin. Griffin, a Republican, was campaigning along Main Street with McLeod.
“I believe the North Country needs true representation in Concord. I truly believe Martha McLeod can provide that,” Griffin said.
Four years ago, McLeod ran for representative because she wanted to provide a rural perspective to the elected body. “I realized rural issues were really not being talked about in the legislature,” she said.
During her two terms, McLeod said she has worked hard to help struggling families and businesses. But she said the region needs someone to champion those issues in the Senate. “I think we need a stronger voice in the Senate to do that,” she said.
McLeod rattled off the statistics -over the last three years the region has lost 1,600 jobs. North Country families have 30 percent less income than the state average. She said 15 percent of North Country residents have no health insurance and she fears that number is about to rise rapidly as displaced mill workers move into lower paying jobs with reduced benefits.
She pointed out the region has already lost basic health services, citing the closing of the inpatient mental health unit at Androscoggin Valley Hospital and the birthing center at Weeks Memorial Hospital.
McLeod said the environment and a quality way of life are also important to the region. She said selling state parks to private developers and supporting the expansion of private landfills are not what people want to see. She said most people she has talked to oppose allowing casinos and gambling in the North Country.
McLeod said she has a solid record of accomplishment in the House. In her first term, she worked to repeal Senate Bill 110 which dramatically raised health insurance rates for small businesses in the North Country. A coalition successfully passed legislation repealing the measure enacted under Gov. Benson.
In the most recent session, she sponsored bills capping interest rates on so-called payday loans, allowing dependents up to age 26 to be carried on their parents’ health insurance policies, requiring the business finance authority to develop a mechanism for funding community health centers, and establishing an office of rural health in the state Department of Health and Human Services to increase the number of health professionals serving rural areas. She cosponsored Senate 540, which is designed to lower health premiums for small businesses. All the bills passed the legislature and are expected to be signed by Gov. Lynch.
If elected, McLeod said she will work to improve the economy of the North Country. One of her priorities will be to expand broadband access to the region, which she calls critical. She said there is a need to identify funding sources for incentives to push last mile deployment to rural and underserved areas.
McLeod noted health care is the fastest growing job sector in Coos County and she would work with educators to make sure there is training available for those interested in pursuing careers in the field.
Tourism is another area she thinks the state could do more to promote the North Country. “We have some of the most beautiful places in the country up here,” she noted.
Given the lack of capacity in the existing transmission lines to handle additional generation, McLeod said the region should look at using that renewable energy locally. She noted Groveton is currently studying a district heating project. She said locally produced generation could help attract new businesses by providing energy at a competitive price.
McLeod works for the North Country Health Consortium working to recruit and retain health care professionals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional science and a master’s in Adult and Vocational Education.
Senate District I includes all of Coos County and parts of Grafton and Carroll Counties. -
Martha McLeod Discusses Plans for Senate race
By Sally Manikian
July 16, 2008BERLIN — The fall election season is not far away, and current State Representative Martha McLeod will be running for State Senator.
“It is all about comprehensive rural policy,” Rep. McLeod said, stating that her prior work with the House will continue as a Senator.
“My reason for running for the Senate is about making the North Country a better place for families that are here,” Rep. McLeod said. “That voice is missing, and I will be their voice.”
Rep. McLeod served two terms in the house, during which her strengths lay in health care reform, rural economic development, and resource protection. Her experience running the North Country Health Consortium inspired her to run for the legislature in the first place.
While a representative, Rep. McLeod served on the Commerce Committee for two years, focusing on health insurance reform and working with the Health and Human Services budget. She sponsored a bill that extended the age of coverage for youth to 26 under their parents insurance, and also allowed divorced spouses to remain on their spouse’s insurance.
“The goal is to not increase the number of the uninsured,” Rep. McLeod said. Currently she is working on a bill that will save small businesses 15 per cent on insurance and also enable them to offer prevention and wellness programs.
A particular problem in the North Country with health care, Rep. McLeod said, is the recruitment and retention of professionals. The establishment of the state office of Rural Health, that Rep. McLeod worked towards, will not only aid in the problem of providing health services to the rural population of the North Country, but also aid in economic development through connecting new professionals with jobs.
Protection of natural resources is vital to quality of life, said Rep. McLeod. During her time as a Representative, she worked to protect Cannon Mountain from privatization as well as placing the Ammonoosuc River under a management program of the Department of Environmental Services.
Economic development in the North Country is comprehensive and incorporates a variety of issues, Rep. McLeod said. The efforts of the state legislature, such as the Coös County Tax, need to work in conjunction with resources such as the Coös County Economic Action Plan and the Northern Forest Alliances Sustainable Economy Initiatives. Economic development is “about the agenda of the people,” she said, “and these represent the consensus of the region.”
One development that Rep. McLeod would like to see is a four-year residential college in the North Country. Such a facility would draw on the vast resources already in place, and the college would become a destination for those interested in forestry, tourism, services, and those who are attracted to the area for recreation. While such an operation would require infrastructure upgrades such as transportation, Rep. McLeod is optimistic that such improvements are not impossible.
As a Senator, Rep. McLeod will continue to fight for the needs of the families of the North Country, she said, especially in the fields of health care, education, and the economy. She sees the need for new energy policies to deal with high fuel costs, the need for sustainable health care and to fight cuts in Medicaid, and the challenge of providing an adequate education in rural communities.
“What sets me apart is that I am more concerned with families, individuals, and small businesses,” Rep. McLeod said. “The current status quo is not good enough.” -
McLeod hires North Country native to run campaign
July 10, 2008
McLeod hires North Country native to run campaign
State Senate candidate Rep. Martha McLeod has hired Scott Merrick of Lancaster as her campaign manager. Merrick, a recent graduate of Tufts University, has served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 2004. His most recent campaign experience includes work for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential primary campaign in the North Country.
McLeod said, “It’s great to have Scott on board to move my campaign to a new level. His work ethic speaks for itself as he has served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives while also completing his bachelors degree at Tufts University. That energy coupled with his experience on the presidential primary campaign of Gov. Richardson’s will serve this campaign well. I look forward to working with Scott as we reach out to the voters of the North Country.”
McLeod, a two-term State Representative from Franconia, also serves as the Executive director of the North Country Health Consortium, a collaborative health network with a mission to improve the health of North Country residents.
“Voters in northern New Hampshire are calling for more effective leadership and representation to grow a healthier economy, provide affordable health coverage, and ensure quality education. I am ready to work hard and represent North Country values in Concord,” said McLeod.
Merrick said of his recent hiring, “I am very excited to be working with Rep. McLeod. After serving along side her in the State House, I’m convinced her leadership and ability to work across the aisle will serve the North Country well. It’s time for a new way forward and Rep. McLeod is the person to help lead us into a new era of economic prosperity.”
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Martha McLeod to Speak at Dem Office Opening in Berlin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Paul Robitaille, 603/466-2655, paulr@ncia.net
Senate Candidate Martha McLeod and NH Dem Party Executive Director David Scannell to Open Democratic Campaign Office for Coos County
BERLIN, NH - On Saturday, June 21st at 11am, Senate candidate and NH Rep. Martha McLeod will join with NH Democratic Party Executive Director David Scannell and Democrats from across Coos County to open the local Democratic campaign office.
The office, located at 225 Main St in Berlin, will be the locus for campaign related activities throughout the 2008 campaign season.
In announcing the opening, Paul Robitaille, Coos County Democratic Committee Chair said, "We have never before opened an office in Berlin this early. Voters across the county and country are hungry for change and are willing to work for it. The office being ready in June is one more sign that the Democratic Party is in good shape heading into the campaign.
If you have any questions or wish to RSVP, please contact Paul Robitaille at (603) 466-2655.
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McLeod to Run for State Senate: Pledges Strong Voice for North Country
FRANCONIA – Martha Stroup McLeod, a North Country native from Franconia, announced today that she is running for the District 1 Senate seat, promising to be a strong and energetic voice for the North Country on issues like jobs, affordable health care, and support for small businesses and the environment.
District 1 stretches from Lisbon to Jackson and from Pittsburg to Waterville Valley.
“The past few years have been challenging ones in the North Country,” said McLeod. “As our communities steer through this transition in the North Country’s economy, I believe we need an energetic and effective voice representing us. I am running for the State Senate to give a strong voice to the North Country – particularly on issues that are so important to us here, like affordable health care, jobs, and support for small businesses and the environment. ”
McLeod is a resident of Franconia and is the executive director of the North Country Health Consortium, a rural health network located in Whitefield. As executive director of the organization, McLeod has focused on finding and developing healthcare resources for the region, including the Molar Express mobile dental clinic.
Since 2004, McLeod has served as a State Representative for Franconia and Bethlehem. She worked across party lines to successfully repeal the law that doubled and tripled health insurance premiums for small businesses in the North Country and she sponsored successful legislation that expanded health coverage to young adults and children.
“The people of the North Country expect their leaders to set aside their differences and work together for the best interests of the people. As your State Senator, I will work hard every day with Democrats and Republicans to get things done to improve the lives of people in the North Country. I want the North Country to be a place of opportunity, where all of our citizens have the chance to succeed and have a better future.”
McLeod has also worked on expanding broadband access to the area as a member of the Technology Advisory Board at the state’s Department of Resources and Economic Development, and worked with Governor John Lynch to provide a Coos County tax credit to create good paying jobs in the North Country. This year she sponsored legislation to give the people of Bethlehem a voice in the landfill permitting process; co-sponsored consumer protection legislation to cap interest rates on payday loans; and worked successfully to protect our public recreation resources from privatization.
McLeod is a graduate of Littleton High School and the University of New Hampshire where she received a B.S. in Nutrition and a Masters Degree in Adult Education.
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