Cinde Warmington won the democratic primary election Tuesday in the race for Governor. She joined residents and students last week for NEC’s Town Hall Meeting series.
Before Warmington opened the floor for Q&A she spoke about her opponent, Governor Kelly Ayotte. She said Ayotte was absent on important issues like housing and childcare.
“As far as I’m concerned, the days that Kelly Ayotte is absent are her best days,” Warmington said.
“I wish, I wish Kelly had been absent the day she decided to life that cap on the education voucher scheme,” she said.
“I wish she had stayed home the day she decided to make it harder for students to vote, to take away the right to use your student ID to vote. I wish she had stayed home the day she decided to make it harder for women to vote in our state.”
During the Q&A, Warmington agreed with a local immigration activist who called for change within the immigration system.
“We need to be working together with our immigrant communities, our diversity makes us stronger, and we need to be working to make sure that our people here are protected from this lawlessness that is going on around our country,” Warmington said.
Warmington said an additional revenue source for the state could be legalizing cannabis.
“There is no reason why the citizens of New Hampshire should be driving across state borders to pay taxes to Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine, to purchase a product that they want. Obviously, they have stated that they want to have access to, in our state. We need to get that done.”
Joan O’Conner, an alumni of NEC and Henniker resident took the mic during Q&A to speak directly to the students.
“The college has been a tough point for some of the townspeople. They really, “don’t want those students voting, they don’t know how to vote.” And I keep saying, “Excuse me!” So, my request is please, round up your friends and go to the polls,” O’Conner said.
After a round of applause, Warmington responded to O’Conner’s comment.
“Think about it! Why are they trying to make it harder for you to vote? Ask yourself the question. Why? Because students largely vote democratic. They are afraid of your vote; they are trying to keep you away from the ballot box. But every single right that you have, is grounded in the right to vote.
“People have lived and died fighting for that right. We have an obligation as citizens to exercise it,” Warmington said.
Warmington thanked the crowd at the end of the event and took a few moments to shake hands and take photos with students and residents.
The New Hampshire midterm election will take place on November 3. Cinde Warmington will be running as a democrat against Republican Nominee and current Governor Kelly Ayotte.
Voting for Henniker residents and NEC students is located at the Henniker Community School, 51 Western Ave.
A reminder for students that student IDs no longer qualify as a form of identification required to register as a voter in N.H. Instead, students can bring a federal issued ID. Such as a government photo ID, a state issued driver’s license, or a US passport. Out-of-state students that live on campus have the right to vote and can register online or at the polls. IDs issued in other states are acceptable forms of ID required to register.
For any questions regarding voting please reach out to Dr. Nathan R. Shrader at NShrader@nec.edu.
