Voters guide to the Exeter area 2024 election: When, where, and who is on the ballot
Exeter area voters will choose Select Board members, School Board members, as well as other contested races at the March 12 election.
Exeter voters will also be asked to support a $17.5 million project to construct a new police headquarters and fire substation while Newfields will decide whether to spend $2.5 million to preserve 101 acres of woodlands from future development.
Here is key information on voting, views of candidates in contested races, and a look at the top issues on the ballot.
When are polls open in the Exeter area?
Exeter: Seacoast School of Technology in the Talbot Gym, 40 Linden St., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Brentwood: Swasey Central School, 355 Middle Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Kensington: Kensington Elementary School, 122 Amesbury Road, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
East Kingston: East Kingston Elementary School, 5 Andrews Lane, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Newfields: Newfields Town Hall, 65 Main St., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stratham: Stratham Memorial School, 39 Gifford Farm Road, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Can I still register to vote in the Exeter area?
Residents who are not already registered to vote can register at the polls on Election Day. To register to vote, you need to fill out a Voter Registration Form with your local clerk or supervisor of the checklist and provide proof of your citizenship, age, primary residence address (domicile), and identity.
A full list of acceptable forms of ID can be found on www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote.
How to get an absentee ballot in the Exeter area?
Absentee ballots for the municipal elections are available at the town clerk’s office. New Hampshire law (RSA 657:1) requires that voters appear in person at the appropriate polling place, but voters may request an absentee ballot if they will be absent on Election Day. You will be asked to fill out an application to receive an absentee ballot, but most reasons for being absent are accepted under law.
For information on deadlines and procedures, contact your town clerk’s office.
Exeter town election
There are no contested races on the town ballot. Running unopposed are Molly Cowan for Select Board, Stacey Penna for supervisors of the checklist, Darius Thompson for Swasey Parkway trustee, Peter Lennon for Trustee of the Trust Funds, Mark Paige for Robinson Fund Trustee, and David Hathaway Moore and Lisa Wilson for library trustee.
Exeter Town Meeting ballot
Exeter is asking voters to support a $17.5 million project for a new Police Department headquarters and fire substation at 6 Continental Drive.
The bond article, which needs a three-fifths majority vote, is one of five on the ballot.
$17.5M project up for vote: Exeter residents push for net zero public safety complex
Select Board Chair Niko Papakonstantis said the police and fire departments have “outgrown” the current two-story, 18,000-square-foot complex at 20 Court Street.
“You can actually see the present facility and just how outdated it is, and how cramped it is,” said Papakonstantis. “It’s not ADA compliant, there’s just so many needs right now that the building that was built in 1978 cannot accommodate. The town has grown, and the needs of our citizens have grown.”
Last March, Exeter voters narrowly shot down a plan to build the same public safety complex – the only difference was that it was for $16.3 million instead of the current $17.5 million price tag.
Town Manager Russ Dean said the price increase is due to inflation.
Other bond questions include $6 million for water, sewer and drainage improvements in the School Street area, $213,300 to replace the Webster Avenue sewer pump station, and $500,000 to design and engineer a new surface water treatment plant.
Other articles on the ballot include the town's proposed $22.8 million budget, the water budget of $4.9 million, and the sewer budget of $7.4 million.
Also on the ballot is a citizens' petition to reverse course and keep Swasey Parkway open to through traffic. The petition filed by former selectman Don Clement seeks to keep “a one-way road northbound in its entirety for motorized vehicular traffic” at Swasey Parkway.
More on Swasey Parkway: Citizen petition to reopen park to cars is not valid, says Exeter attorney
A sample ballot of the town of Exeter ballot is here.
Exeter School District election
Heather Ikemire and Tim Reed are running unopposed for two seats on the Exeter School Board.
Exeter School District ballot
The Exeter Elementary School Board is asking voters to support a $24.5 million budget, which is a 3.33% increase over the 2024 budget.
Finance Director Mollie O'Keefe said at the board's Jan. 9 meeting, that the major changes in the budget are salaries (non-union salaries increased by 3%), and increases due to inflation, bus service and technology services.
A sample ballot of the Exeter School District ballot is here.
Exeter Region Cooperative School District election
There are two contested races for seats on the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board.
Peggy Massicotte is challenging incumbent Bill Gauthier for the Exeter seat on the board. The seat representing Newfields pits Amy Ransom against Jacki Tassinari.
More: Exeter Co-op School Board candidate fights against diversity, equity, inclusion teaching
Seacoastonline and the Exeter News-Letter sent questionnaires to all four candidates, asking questions about their top priorities if elected.
Peggy Massicotte:
Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Bill Gauthier:
Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Amy Ransom:
Did not respond to candidate questionnaire.
Jackie Tassinari:
Exeter Region Cooperative School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Exeter Region Cooperative School District ballot
Voters are being asked to support a $68.5 million budget, which is a 1% (or $693,473) decrease over the prior year. The cooperative serves the towns of Exeter, Brentwood, Kensington, East Kingston, Newfields and Stratham.
A sample of the Exeter Region Cooperative School District ballot is scheduled to post here.
Other contested School Board races in SAU 16
There are also contested races for school board in Brentwood, Stratham and Newfields. Seacoastonline and the Exeter News-Letter sent questionnaires to the candidates, asking questions about their top priorities if elected.
The race for two seats on the Brentwood School Board is a three-way race between Meghan Fitzgerald, Mark Hanik and Daniel Hebert.
Meghan Fitzgerald:
Brentwood School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Mark Hanik:
Did not respond to candidate questionnaire.
Daniel Hebert:
Brentwood School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
In Stratham, three people — Jennifer Scrafford, Jessica Kliskey and Paul Tusini — are running for two seats on the School Board.
Jennifer Scrafford:
Stratham School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Jessica Kliskey:
Did not respond to candidate questionnaire.
Paul Tusini:
Stratham School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
In Newfields, Jackie Tassinari and Jane Walsh are running for one seat on the School Board.
Jackie Tassinari:
Newfields School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Jane Walsh:
Newfields School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Newfields eyes purchase to save Fort Rock trails from development
A proposal to preserve 101 acres of woodlands from future development, which includes the Fort Rock trail system, will go before voters in Newfields.
Voters are being asked to approve a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan of up to $2.5 million at its Town Meeting via citizens' petition.
The Trust for Public Land and Southeast Land Trust is looking to work with Newfields and Exeter to purchase the 148-acre property from the Rugg family for nearly $5.2 million.
Exeter voters are being asked at its Town Meeting whether they have an interest in purchasing 47 acres in its town, which would cost them between $800,000 to $1.1 million.
“The Rugg family needs to sell the property,” said Duane Hyde, conservation director for the Southeast Land Trust. “They have graciously agreed to give us, the community, and the land conservation community, the opportunity and the time to try and put a project together to conserve this property. But if we fail, the only other option for the family is to sell the property and likely sell it for development.”
The Newfields Select Board is recommending voters reject the bond article, which requires a three-fifths approval at the ballot booth.
Select Board Chair Michael Sununu said he voted against the project because "it is too much money." Select Board member Hoby Harmon said he had an issue with the appraisal and would also like to know what Exeter plans to do before committing the town.
Another citizens' petition regarding the Rugg property is also on the ballot. It asks whether the town supports the future purchase of the property but allocates no money. Instead, the article directs the Select Board to review the project and evaluate funding options.
Also on the ballot is the town's proposed $2.09 million budget and a citizens' petition to reinstate biweekly curbside recycling.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Voters guide to the Exeter area 2024 election: What's on the ballot
