Jessica LaMontagne

Jessica LaMontagne earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master's degree in nutrition and international agricultural development from the University of California at Davis. LaMontagne's career experience includes working as a custom tile installer and overall designer/builder, a nutrition researcher and public health nutritionist, a restaurant cook,[1] a director of WIC services, and a farmer.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in Dover for twelve years, working in residential construction, mostly as a custom tile installer. I work alongside my husband Doug Dodd, a longtime builder in the Seacoast. Doug is mostly retired and I continue to work part time doing kitchen and bath remodels, and manage our rental property. My flexible schedule allows me to serve in the NH House and I am grateful for that opportunity.

Doug and I have been married for twelve years, a second marriage for both of us. Together, Doug and I have five adult children and three grandchildren between us.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will work to make NH more economically viable for all residents. Top issues are the lack of housing at working and middle class income levels and the lack of affordable child care.I will work on making NH more environmentally forward thinking. This would be prioritizing water quality, developing a long term plan to address climate change, developing more green energy infrastructure and decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels.I will support reproductive freedom and access to affordable health care. I believe in a universal health insurance program at the federal level. I will do what I can to support affordable health care at the state level.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Health of NH Lakes, universal health coverage, solar power, thoughtful community development, public education, green or natural burials.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Elizabeth Warren among many. As far as practical role models for my political career, I really admire my committee colleague Rosemarie Rung who does careful research and files bills that make important, attainable progress on protecting our water resources, and speaks well and effectively in committee.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, mindfulness, civility.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am organized, can speak effectively to the gist of important issues, and am trust-worthy. I have been fortunate to have had education and advanced degrees, and also work with my hands in what is really blue collar work. I can understand an issue from various perspectives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Show up for the job, put in the work to research the bills and issues, listen to your constituents and your colleagues.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That we moved NH into a green energy economy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Watergate and the eventual resignation of Richard Nixon. I turned 12 that summer.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I sold tickets for the Provincetown Boston Ferry for a summer job when I was 14 going on 15.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. You should read it and you'll know why.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Kinsey Millhone in Sue Grafton's excellent series.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

A lovely day by Bill Withers.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I used to be terribly shy and petrified of public speaking. Now I have spoken on the house floor in front of 400 people and didn't even blush.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor should collaborate on broad visions for new legislation, and hopefully provide feedback on what is hoped for or expected. It is so much work to get a bill to the governor's desk that it is very frustrating to see a bill vetoed. Perhaps more discussion that could lead to good amendments and compromises would help prevent that. On the other hand, if a really bad bill makes it through, I hope the governor has the good sense to veto it.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

We lag far behind all other NE states in transitioning away from fossil fuels. We provide almost no subsidies for upgrading inefficient heating systems, installing solar, or electric car charging stations. We have no plan to address inevitable sea level rise that will swamp our coastal towns and populated inland river flood plains. We need to increase the state contribution toward public education in a way that will lesson the disparities in education funding between poor and rich towns. The health of our lakes is in serious jeopardy by increased density of shore line development and the wake surfing industry. We need more young people to live in NH and we need more jobs in rural areas of the state.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not really.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, particularly across party lines. We have more in common than you would think from public discourse. We need to stop making assumptions about the other side and what they think, and find common ground to work together.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Renny Cushing.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The overturning of Roe vs Wade and the curtailment of Reproductive freedom in other states has many of my constituents concerned about what might happen in NH.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I am not sure about that. I see emergency powers at the level of the executive branch but perhaps the legislature can play a role in approving funding when needed.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I will file a bill to repeal the exclusion of Medicare supplemental plans from the law that says insurance companies cannot deny people based on pre-existing conditions. Many people who develop a serious health condition are not able to change their supplemental plan, particularly if they are in a Medicare Advantage Plan and need to get out of it. I am also going to refile our bill on Green Burials and Natural Organic Reduction.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Still working on that!

What committees interest you?

Resources, Recreation and Development; Health and Human Services; Transportation

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We need open financial transparency. The government should be responsible for sticking to a budget and to not be wasteful. That said, I believe a bigger problem is the push to continue to cut taxes at every level of government (such as the repeal of the NH income and dividends tax) puts excess pressure to cut services.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

Good.

Jessica LaMontagne did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.