Atkinson Democrats 12-1-2025 General Meeting
6:30: Call to Order
Introducing the Candidates
Chris starts the meeting by introducing candidates Paige Beauchumin, Candidate for US
Congress 2nd District (House of Representatives), and Karishma Manzur, Candidate for US
Senate.
Karishma Speaking time Recap (Bullet List)
She has a background in clinical research and biology, she is a scientist.
She claims that there is so much legislation in Congress that can improve
everyone's lives, however no one is moving it forward because most of Congress are
answering to donors. She criticizes both Democrats and Republicans both of doing
this. She lately compounds this criticism by saying that most Republicans and
Democrats are aligned on socioeconomic issues and foreign policy. She Claims and
example of this in how she says both Republicans and Democrats alike (including
current Democratic Senators Hassan and Shaheen) Voted against raising the federal
minimum wage to $15.00 an hour.
She talks about how she is on the board of an organization called open democracy,
whose goal is to get big money out of politics.
She voices her support for Medicare for all.
She voices her support of implementing ranked choice voting as a policy to better
democratize elections,
She also voices her support for raising the federal minimum wage.
She voices her support for the ending of sending money and weapons to Israel, as
well as the sending of weapons in general, she says that our money should be spent
on Americans and our children first before anything.
She is a quote “peace activist, scientist, mother, and for human rights”
She restates her earlier point of how she wants big money out of politics, and out of
the democratic primaries. She voices her support for overturning Citizens United,
Dismantling Super Pacs, and a constitutional amendment to keep big money out of
politics. She also supports laws that would make it so no corporations should be
able to donate to politicians.
Paige Beauchemin Speaking Time Recap (Bullet List)
She is a current representative in the NH State house, and has worked as a nurse for
the past 15 years. She works at the public health department in Nashua, and helps
vaccinate uninsured people.
She also provides free civics classes where she teaches people how the government
and all its processes work.
She lives in Nashua NH, has three kids, and a geologist husband.
She is a first generation college student and her family used food assistance when
she was growing up.
She states that she is a social justice activist, and wants to “foster the ability for
working people to be involved in civics”.
She says that her campaign focus is on aƯordability and working people, and as
such supports public policies like Medicare for all and paid leave.
She says that her focuses are on health care, housing, and peace. She cites how she
and her campaign get involved in food drives and diaper drives and how she wants
to do more of that as time goes on. She also talks about how all her political events
have childcare so parents can get involved.
She says she is tired of talking about Trump, and wants to move forward into a better
future. That Democrats need a message that's more than just opposing Trump.
She says that Goodlander makes most of her money from out of state sources, And
criticizes her for her voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act. She says that she is not
plugged in to the political systems of New Hampshire as she has been out of state
for a while.
She criticizes the actions of Israel in Gaza, and states that their actions constitute
genocide, and should thus no longer be supported by the US.
She supports the legalization of marijuana.
Updates/Housekeeping
In the final 5 minutes of the meeting Chris TardiƯ went over a variety of housekeeping and
updates about events and issues relating to the local committee and town in general.
These include:
The Atkinson Democrats are now on Instagram @atkinson.democrats
Paul Wainwright is confirmed to be running for selectman, An independent who was
supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and who this committee supports
in his bid for selectman.
How there are two openings in the budget committee, As well as an opening for
library trustee.
Here reminds everyone about the greaT (Getting Residents Engaged at Timberlane)
holiday party on 12/6 at 2pm. He says that it will be at the Vic Geary center, and that
anyone who wants to support Atkinson families and the school district is welcome
to show up.
He discusses showing up to support wreaths across America, which will be on
12/13 at noon.
He reminds everyone that the town's deliberative session will be on January 31st,
and the Districts will be on February 5th. He encourages people to show up to both.
Meeting ends at 8:00 PM
