Voters guide to the Hampton area 2024 election: When, where, and who is on the ballot
Hampton area voters will choose Select Board members, School Board members as well as other contested races from Planning Board to Zoning Board at the March 12 election.
They will also decide on town budgets, employee contracts, capital projects, and other questions on their Town Meeting ballots.
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 Hampton area?
Hampton: Winnacunnet High School, 1 Alumni Drive, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Hampton Falls: Lincoln Akerman School, 8 Exeter Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
North Hampton: North Hampton School, 201 Atlantic Ave., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Can I still register to vote in the Hampton 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 Hampton 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.
Hampton election
There are several contested races on the ballot, including a three-way race for two seats on the Hampton Board of Selectmen.
Carleigh Beriont, a Harvard University lecturer and mother of two, is running for office for the first time. She challenges incumbents Rich Sawyer, a former Hampton police chief, and Jim Waddell, who is seeking his fifth term on the board.
Seacoastonline and the Hampton Union sent questionnaires to all three candidates, asking questions about their top priorities if elected.
Carleigh Beriont:
Hampton Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Rich Sawyer:
Hampton Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Jim Waddell:
Hampton Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Other contested races on the ballot include a four-way race for two seats on the Budget Committee. The candidates are William Dibiasio, who is seeking another term, former member Steven Handerson and newcomers Alan Barclay and Scott Blair. Current chair Katherine Harake has decided not to run for reelection.
Three candidates — John Tirrell, Jeff Grip and incumbent Brendan McNamara — are vying for two seats on the Planning Board.
The Zoning Board race features incumbents Bill O'Brien and Erica de Vries being challenged by John Janakos. Also contested is one library trustee seat between incumbent Kimberly Olson and alternate Andrew Morse.
Election 2024: Newcomers challenge incumbents in Hampton area Select Board races
Hampton Town Meeting ballot
This year, voters are being asked to support a $34.8 million town budget, an increase of $1,711,457 or 5.16% over the 2023 budget. The proposed budget covers new positions approved last year, new equipment, increased utility costs and additional funds for the Police Department to staff outside agencies to help fill the ranks during the summer tourism season.
Also, on the 40-question ballot is a $2.5 million bond request to replace the sewer on Ross Avenue, Kentville Terrace, and Charles Street and new contracts for town employees, public works, firefighters and Fire Department supervisors.
There are also several petition warrant articles on the ballot filed by resident Joe Torelli to add "transparency and clarity" to town spending. One article calls for the cost of each money warrant article to be shown based on a $400,000 home valuation and another for the town to adopt a zero-based budgeting approach, a method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new budget year.
There are also questions on the ballot to increase the elderly tax exemption for qualified residents over the age of 65 and for residents with disabilities.
Hampton voters will also decide whether they want to create a telecommunications committee to revise the town's Telecommunication Facility Ordinance in the aftermath of a now-rejected cell tower project on Barbour Road.
A sample ballot of the town of Hampton ballot is here.
Hampton School District election
Wendy Rega and Molly McCoy St. Jeanne are running unopposed for two seats on the Hampton School Board.
Hampton School District ballot
The Hampton School District is asking voters to support a $28.8 million operating budget.
Also on the ballot is a citizens' petition request to pay $52,521 for student benefit services to Sacred Heart School in Hampton.
A sample ballot of the Hampton School District ballot is here.
Hampton’s dilemma: Should public money go to a private religious school?
Winnacunnet Cooperative School District election
There are two contested School Board races on the Winnacunnet Cooperative School District ballot. Incumbent Nicole Cico is being challenged by Frank Bajowski for the Hampton seat on the board, while incumbent Leslie LaFond faces a challenge by Charles Shannon for the at-large seat.
Seacoastonline and the Hampton Union sent questionnaires to all four candidates, asking questions about their top priorities.
Hampton seat
Nicole Cico:
Winnacunnet School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Frank Bajowski:
Winnacunnet School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
At-large seat
Charles Shannon:
Winnacunnet School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Leslie LaFond:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
Winnacunnet Cooperative School District ballot
Voters will be asked to support Winnacunnet High School's proposed $33.1 million budget, an increase of $2,133,288 or 6.88%. Driving the increase is special education and transportation costs as well as health insurance.
“If those three costs were removed,” said Matthew Ferreira, associate superintendent for finance and operations at SAU 21, “the overall budget increase would be 1.44 percent.”
All the school districts in SAU 21 – Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook and Winnacunnet – will vote on a new four-year contract with the Seacoast Educational Support Personnel Association.
Ferreira said many support personnel earn less than the starting wage at fast-food establishments. That’s because paraprofessionals in SAU 21 start at only $15 an hour, he said, rising to $19 an hour, only after 11 years. The new contract would increase hourly wages by $2 in the first two years and just $1 in years three and four, and it improves the health care benefits offered, Ferreira said.
A sample ballot of the Winnacunnet Cooperative School District ballot is here.
Hampton Falls election
There are no contested races on the ballot. Running unopposed are Ed Beattie for selectman, JP Pontbriand for moderator, Linda Coe for library trustee, Lyn Stan for supervisor of the checklist, Jonathan Bohm for cemetery trustee and David Mayes for Trustee of the Trust Funds. Eric Cimon and Abigail Tonry are running unopposed for two seats on the town's Planning Board.
Hampton Falls Town Meeting ballot
Hampton Falls voters will deal with 27 warrant questions on the ballot, with 17 offered by the Planning Board in attempts to shape the type and look of businesses in town.
Included in the proposed zoning articles are those that would prohibit the sale and display of fireworks, ban vaping shops, and regulate short-term residential rentals (less than 30 days), as well as the types of signage allowed in town.
The town's proposed operating town budget is $3.59 million, or about a 7.5% ($252,529) increase over this year’s budget. The significant changes in the budget include an increase in the health insurance rates, IT support services, and the costs associated with three elections. Wages increased an average of 3%, and there is one employee that changed from part-time to full-time.
Also on the ballot is a question of whether to adopt the Hampton Falls Electric Aggregation Plan and whether to change the town's polling hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A sample ballot of the town of Hampton Falls ballot is here.
Hampton Falls School District election
Anthony Lang and Gisela Manna are running unopposed for two seats on the Hampton Falls School Board.
Hampton Falls School District ballot
Voters will be asked to approve a $7.45 million budget for Lincoln Akerman School, which is a 4.99% increase over the prior year's budget.
Driving cost increases are inflation and hikes in health insurance premium rates and special education costs, particularly the tuition costs for out-of-district placements to service students with specialized needs. The budget also includes a cost of living raise for non-union employees, the elimination of a part-time food service position, and the reduction of a bus route based on student enrollment.
Also on the ballot is a $50,000 request to provide a school resource officer for Lincoln Akerman School on a part-time basis. School officials said the goal of the position is to provide a safe, healthy and secure environment on campus, and assist the school in the development of a Safe School Plan and crisis preparedness guidelines.
A sample ballot of the Hampton Falls School District ballot is here.
North Hampton election
A three-way race for one seat on the Select Board at the March 12 election pits incumbent Jonathan Pinette against a former Winnacunnet School Board member and former meteorologist.
Pinette is seeking his second term on the Select Board. He is being challenged by Henry Marsh, who served 15 years on the Winnacunnet School Board, and Brendan Fennell, who previously worked as a meteorologist and is now “a stay-at-home dad.”
Seacoastonline and the Hampton Union sent questionnaires to all three candidates, asking questions about their top priorities.
Brendan Fennell:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
Jonathan Pinette:
North Hampton Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Henry Marsh:
North Hampton Select Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Other contest races on the ballot include a four-way race for two seats on the Budget Committee. The candidates are Jerry Gnazzo, Janet Larsen, Paul Martino and Sean Dionne. Also contested is a one-year term seat on the Budget Committee between Ann Marie Banfield, Robert Benevento and Andrew M. Raucci.
Four candidates — Jennifer Kotzen, Kirsten Larsen Schultz, Phil Wilson and Valerie Gamache — are running for two seats on the Planning Board. There is also a three-way race for one, one-year term on the board between Oriana Allen, Katherine Raucci and John Sillay.
North Hampton Town Meeting ballot
North Hampton has two articles on the ballot that officials say are needed to retain and attract town employees.
Select Board and Budget Committee member James Sununu said both articles are in response to the difficulty in hiring and retaining qualified municipal employees in a competitive labor market.
Article 6 is a new three-year contract with the town’s firefighter’s union. The contract includes raises to wages, fringe and other costs, such as longevity bonuses. Costs include $150,169 in 2025, $77,653 in 2026, and $62,899 in 2027. Also requested is $150,169 in 2025, according to the article, for related increases in 2025 paid to current staffing levels under the existing contract.
Article 7 revises the current police/DPW union employee contract to represent raises negotiated in 2024. These revisions represent the town’s hope to attract the candidates needed to fill an extensive list of vacancies at the department, as it rebuilds following a large exodus of officers last year. The costs include salary, benefits and other cost increases that would equal $168,637 for fiscal 2025, plus the same amount for current staff under the existing contract.
Also on the ballot is the town's proposed operating budget of $9.6 million, which is 7.4%, or $661,781, over the current budget.
Most of the increase relates to a whopping 25 percent increase in the town’s health insurance premiums.
“And it would’ve been higher, but 25 percent is the cap,” Sununu said. “Health insurance is by far the largest cost increase in the proposed budget.”
Other cost hikes include debt service on bonds issued to build the new public safety building and library and a hike in hydrant fees from Aquarion Water Company.
A sample ballot of the town of North Hampton ballot is here.
North Hampton School District election
Five candidates are running for two seats on the North Hampton School Board. The candidates are incumbent Lisa Gagalis, Noah Bourassa, Frank Ferraro, Ashley Hass and Katherine Raucci.
Noah Bourassa:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
Frank Ferraro:
North Hampton School Board candidate answers questions on the issues
Lisa Gagalis:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
Ashley Hass:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
Katherine Raucci:
Did not return candidate questionnaire.
North Hampton School District ballot
Voters are being asked to support a $10.1 budget, which is just less than one percent above the current budget.Despite rising transportation and insurance costs, Matthew Ferreira, associate superintendent for finance and operations at SAU 21, said they were able to save money due to declining enrollment. No teachers lost their jobs, he said, but the positions of two retiring staff members will not be filled.
A sample ballot of the North Hampton School District ballot is here.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Voters guide to the Hampton area 2024 election: What's on the ballot
