Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s press release about running ads in NYC inviting businesses to move to New Hampshire is posted at the end of this op-ed.

By Rep. DAVID PREECE, D-Manchester

Governor Kelly Ayotte wants the country to believe New Hampshire is thriving under her watch. But no billboard truck rolling through Manhattan—or Manchester, for that matter—can hide the simple truth: Ayotte has spent her term defunding the very foundations that make a state worth moving to in the first place.

Ayotte touts “economic opportunity,” yet she cut state support for public schools, forcing local property taxpayers to shoulder even more of the burden. New Hampshire homeowners—especially in cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Rochester—are already paying some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Under Ayotte’s budgets, that pressure only worsens. A state that refuses to adequately fund its own children’s education doesn’t become a magnet for innovation; it becomes a cautionary tale.

She boasts about “freedom” while presiding over some of the lowest investments in culture and the arts in the country—slashing grants that drive tourism, downtown revitalization, and the creative industries that power modern economies. Arts and culture are not luxuries; they are economic engines. Ayotte cut them anyway.

As for economic development, New Hampshire has fallen behind its neighbors because Ayotte dismantled programs that help small businesses expand, attract workforce talent, and modernize infrastructure. Instead, she pours her energy into political theater—billboard stunts that insult entire cities but do nothing to address New Hampshire’s real challenges: sky-high housing costs, a shrinking workforce, unaffordable child care, and gridlocked transportation systems.

Calling New York City “communist” from the comfort of a billboard is easy. Fixing New Hampshire’s housing crisis is hard.
Mocking another state’s mayor is easy. Building a 21st-century economy takes work.

Ayotte chooses the former every time.

While she rents flashy trucks in Manhattan, Granite Staters struggle with rising energy costs that are among the highest in the country. Families brace for another year of inadequate school funding—despite court rulings declaring our current system unconstitutional. Workers leave the state because child care is either unavailable or unaffordable. Businesses can’t expand because employees have nowhere to live.

If Ayotte actually cared about economic opportunity, she would stop strangling public services and start investing in them. She’d fund the arts instead of gutting them. She’d strengthen public education instead of undermining it. She’d support small businesses by backing real, structural economic development—not gimmicks designed to score Fox News airtime.

And if she really cared about Granite Staters, she would stand up to the reckless tariffs imposed by her ally Donald Trump—tariffs that are actively driving up costs for New Hampshire manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses.

But she won’t. Because Ayotte’s politics are performative, not productive.
She governs by spectacle, not substance.

New Hampshire doesn’t need a governor obsessed with billboards.
We need a leader willing to fund our schools, invest in our communities, and build long-term prosperity—not tear it down for national political points.

Kelly Ayotte may think New Hampshire is her prop.
But Granite Staters deserve more than a prop governor.

Rep. David Preece

Below is Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s press release

🗳️ Breaking: Democracy Functions as Intended. MAGA Nation Devastated.

Democracy Is Working — Please Remain Calm

Apparently democracy worked this week, and MAGA Nation is furious about it.

In New York City, a democratic-socialist was elected — which sent a shockwave through conservative media. Judging by the online meltdown, you’d think Karl Marx had just been sworn in at City Hall. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t. But I’m fairly certain most of the people screaming about “socialism” couldn’t define it if you spotted them the first five letters.

Then, in Virginia and New Jersey, Democratic women won major elections — and that really seemed to push some folks right over the edge. Suddenly, democracy was “rigged,” “stolen,” or “a sign of the apocalypse.” Funny how that works.

When their candidate wins, it’s all:

“Sit down and take it!”

“Stop being a snowflake!”

But when their candidate loses, it’s:

“THE END IS NIGH! RELEASE THE KRAKEN! PUT UP THE GALLOWS!”

Tell me again how much you love democracy? I guess it’s easy to love when the person looks like you, talks like you, and stands up when they pee.

The lack of basic civic education in this country is honestly terrifying. So much so that the Kentucky Secretary of State had to send out a PSA reminding citizens of two very important facts:

Kentucky wasn’t voting yesterday. (Their elections are next year.) No, you cannot vote for the mayor of New York City.

That’s right. Somewhere in Kentucky, people were trying to figure out how to cast a ballot for an NYC race they have absolutely nothing to do with.

So maybe, before storming the Capitol again, it’s time we all took a deep breath, cracked open a civics textbook, and remembered what democracy actually is: people voting, candidates winning and losing, and government continuing to function — whether you like the results or not.

Democracy worked this week.

Please remain calm.

🗳️ Public Service Announcement

This has been a message from the Department of Elections for People Who Need to Chill Out.

Please consult your nearest high-school civics teacher before posting, tweeting, or constructing homemade gallows.

— Tony Retrosi

Dover, NH — November 2025

Thank You, Dover

Election Day in Dover was cold, blustery, and classic New England — but that didn’t stop democracy from showing up in full force.

I want to thank everyone who ran for office, from School Board to City Council. It takes courage, time, and a deep sense of service to put your name on a ballot. Our city is better for the people willing to step up, listen, and lead.

A special thank you to the voters of Ward 3 for your confidence and support. It’s an honor to continue representing you. I don’t take that trust lightly, and I’ll keep showing up — prepared, practical, and ready to work.

And to the volunteers from both parties who stood outside in the cold and wind, holding signs, greeting neighbors, and helping educate voters — you are the heart of our civic spirit. You remind us that local politics can still be respectful, neighborly, and grounded in community.

There’s no rest after Election Day. At City Hall, we’re right back to work — with a workshop tonight to review the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and a Housing Summit tomorrow as we continue tackling one of Dover’s biggest challenges.

Our best years are ahead of us — and I’m grateful to walk into them with all of you.

— Tony Retrosi

City Councilor, Ward 3

Let’s make sure NH stands for science, safety, and community

Sept. 8 − To the Editor:

Florida’s decision to end vaccine mandates is a terrible mistake − and it is one New Hampshire should never consider repeating.

For most of human history, the average life expectancy was only 30 to 35 years. People lived on organic food, breathed clean air, and consumed no artificial additives. And yet—they still died young. As Neil deGrasse Tyson has explained, lifespans only increased when science got involved. Vaccines, antibiotics, and public health measures changed everything.

By rejecting this progress, Florida risks a tragic return of diseases once thought eradicated and a rise in preventable deaths. That is not freedom—that is recklessness.

Here in New Hampshire, we pride ourselves on common sense and responsibility to our neighbors. Vaccines are not just a personal choice; they are a social compact that protects the most vulnerable among us—children, seniors, and those with health conditions.

There will also be a huge economic toll from plants and factories initially temporarily shutting down because of the spread of diseases (like during covid) to businesses moving to locations where this will not be an issue. In my work, I spend a great deal of time in Europe, and I already hear of families canceling vacations to Florida and even the U.S. because of health concerns. Do we want New Hampshire associated with that same reputation?

Public health should never be a partisan issue. It is about protecting lives. Let’s make sure New Hampshire stands for science, safety, and community—not politics that put us all at risk.

Tony Retrosi

Dover

I was recently interviewed on the Dr Bee Well Podcast. It was a great experience. Covering everything from Gymnastics, Fitness, Politics, Economy.

Something for everyone! Enjoy!

On Sunday, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The irony couldn’t be more obvious: they passed a Christian-themed bill on a Sunday, violating the Fourth Commandment—“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”

How many other commandments have these lawmakers broken?

• “Thou shalt not bear false witness” — Political dishonesty is basically its own department.
• “Thou shalt not commit adultery” — Trump won Texas by over 600,000 votes, despite being a serial adulterer. Should he be banned from visiting the state?
• “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” — In Texas, football is god. Are Sunday Cowboys games canceled out of reverence for the Sabbath? Not a chance.

This isn’t about morality or improving education. It’s about power. It’s about performative piety and Christian nationalism flexing its muscle in public institutions. And it’s intimidating—to non-Christians, nonbelievers, and anyone who still believes in the First Amendment.

Let’s be clear: I’ve never read a peer-reviewed study that says posting the Ten Commandments boosts learning, test scores, or student behavior.

But here’s what we do know works: universal free meals.

A 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open found that when schools provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, test scores rise, absenteeism drops, and behavioral outcomes improve—especially in low-income communities.
Citation: Gordon, A. R., et al. (2020). Association of Universal School Meals With Student Participation, Attendance, and Academic Performance. JAMA Network Open, 3(6):e205193.

But What About the Constitution?

The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that government-endorsed religious displays in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Some landmark cases:

• Engel v. Vitale (1962) – Ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to sponsor prayer, even if it’s non-denominational.
• Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) – Held that Bible readings and other religious activities in public schools are unconstitutional.
• Stone v. Graham (1980) – This one’s key: The Court explicitly struck down a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, stating it served no secular purpose and violated the Establishment Clause.
• Lee v. Weisman (1992) – Found that even school-sponsored prayer at graduation ceremonies is unconstitutional due to its coercive nature.
• Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000) – Ruled that student-led prayer at football games, even if initiated by students, is unconstitutional if facilitated by the school.

Texas lawmakers are ignoring decades of legal precedent. This isn’t about educating children—it’s about imposing religion on them. And that’s not just un-American—it’s unconstitutional.

What Actually Improves Education?

If lawmakers truly cared about improving schools, they’d:

• Fund universal school meals.
• Hire more mental health counselors.
• Invest in teacher salaries, modern textbooks, and school infrastructure.

Instead, they’re putting up stone tablets and calling it reform.

Let’s teach ethics through action, not indoctrination. Feed students. Support them. Empower them to think freely—including the freedom not to believe.

Because when religion is forced, it’s no longer faith—it’s control.