Alissandra Rodriguez-MurrayPrimary Election 2022 WinnerGeneral Election 2022 Winner
Running forState Representative - Hillsborough 25 (Ward 5)
in 2022
Running as Democrat
A former librarian, Alissandra left their career to dedicate their time to organizing and political advocacy in New Hampshire. Alissandra helped form the Manchester Housing Alliance and establish a taskforce and commission in the city of Manchester to advance efforts for affordable housing. Alissandra also helped found the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire in 2019, which has distributed over $100k in funds to NH patients in need of abortion. As a first-generation Nicaraguan-American, Alissandra has struggled with housing insecurity, medical debt, and other experiences that fuel their passion for advocacy work, as they support efforts to improve the lives of everyday people in New Hampshire. A “non-traditional” working student, Alissandra is currently studying Communications in
New Media at Southern New Hampshire University. Alissandra has lived in Manchester for years and bought their first home with their fiance this past February in Ward 9. Alissandra is looking forward to serving their community in a new capacity as State Representative.
none, although I was appointed to Mayor Joyce Craig’s Taskforce on Affordable Housing in 2021
Current jobDeputy Director for the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire, New Hampshire’s only statewide abortion fund
Director at New Hampshire Youth Movement, regional organizer with Rights & Democracy NH, library assistant at Derry Public Library and Howe Library
Current residenceManchester Ward 9
Time lived in NH I’ve lived here since I was 5 years old, 23 years so far.
HometownMy family originally moved to Nashua, then Hudson, and I lived in Amherst for a few years in high school, but ever since I moved out on my own I’ve lived in Manchester.
I was homeschooled through high school and didn’t start college until I was 24, when I enrolled for an online program at Southern New Hampshire University. I’ve been working on my bachelor’s degree in Communications while working full time since.
Best way to contact candidateemail: alissandra4mht@gmail.com
If elected or re-elected, please describe legislation you expect to sponsor or co-sponsor.
My main focuses in office will be sponsoring or cosponsoring legislation to increase tenants rights, lower property taxes, lower electric rates, solidify reproductive rights in the NH constitution, and protect public education.
What are the most important concerns you’ve heard from Manchester residents and how can you address those concerns if elected or re-elected?
The most recent issue I’ve talked with constituents about is the doubling of electric rates and the negative impact it is having on all of our wallets. I believe current legislators are already working on a bill to prevent such a high increase again by limiting the percentage the PUC can increase rates by. I fully intend to sign on to and support such legislation. Another issue of great concern is reproductive rights and safe, legal access to abortion in New Hampshire. State Representative Amanda Toll from Keene has previously introduced bills to codify Roe in the NH state constitution, and if these bills are reintroduced next legislative session I would absolutely sign on to and support them.
New Hampshire legislators are citizen legislators and being a legislator is a significant time commitment. How much time per week can you spend on legislative duties while the Senate/House is in session?
I work a job where I mostly make my own hours and work from home. This will enable me to prioritize the legislature while in session and work as many hours as needed to fulfill my committee duties and vote in every session. I also intend to schedule regular listening sessions with constituents while in office to make sure they have an accessible way to make their concerns and opinions heard.
How do you feel the current divisive political climate in the United States will impact the New Hampshire General Court over the next two years and how would you navigate that divisiveness in your duties?
The media has done a lot to exacerbate tension between all sides of the political aisle, but I feel in my day to day life the people in my community still know how to respect and listen to one another. I was registered independent most of my adult life, raised in a conservative household, and now work mostly with Democrats in supporting the issues close to my heart. I’ve always been a free thinker who sees people as individuals and not just a D or an R. While I know political tensions are real and can be intense, I trust that my life long ability to really hear people out and communicate honestly and productively will guide me in making allies in all political parties.
What is the most significant issue facing Manchester residents at the municipal level and how can you, as a legislator aid the city government on that issue?
Our economy is suffering in a variety of ways, but the broadest negative impact is coming from our housing market. As a new homeowner, I struggled to find a house I could afford in the city I’ve lived in for years. It shouldn’t be so hard for young people to buy a home and start a family in their own community, and part of the issue is predatory, out-of-state real estate investors buying up property to rent out to other out-of-staters. As legislator, I would seek to identify means to incentivize more housing projects, of all types, but especially affordable, as well as prevent big companies from buying out homes that Manchester residents need and deserve. I would advocate for Manchester to get our fair share in budgetary processes, and that the state and city work in sync to better things for our city.
In your conversations with voters, what is the most significant issue to them right now? How would you address that if elected or re-elected?
In Manchester Ward 9, there are a lot of concerns around the houseless population and where they are taking up shelter. As the winter comes in, these issues will only increase. I strongly believe that the houseless deserve autonomy and dignity, and the way we have been going through a cycle of allowing these encampments to accumulate, then bulldozing them and displacing everyone who lives there is inhumane and unproductive. We need to focus on creating specific areas where houseless folks can encamp safely and be provided with resources while we work on the bigger problems creating this issue in the first place – our wildly expensive housing market.
In your opinion, what were the five most significant pieces of legislation introduced over the last two years? Please explain what made them significant.
HB 544 – this was the ban on “divisive concepts” that was passed by incorporating it into the state budget, because it didn’t have enough support to pass a vote on the floor. This bill has caused so many issues, namely it is an overreach of state government to interfere with individual classrooms across New Hampshire. It places unclear restrictions on teachers, making them afraid to present simple facts or historical scenarios in the classroom because of possible retaliation. It also prevents students from being able to access resources or ask questions about issues in their own lives. This bill is just exacerbating our issues with losing teachers and politizing education.
HB 625 – this bill was also passed through the state budget in 2021. HB 625 was the first ban on abortion in modern NH history, that came with no exceptions and enforced and ultrasound mandate, forcing any person seeking an abortion have an ultrasound before their procedures. It criminalizes doctors with felonies caring upto 7.5 years in prison. While amendments have been added to the bill since to remove the ultrasound mandate and add exceptions for fatal fetal abnormalities, there are still no exceptions for rape or incest, and the bill’s negative impacts resonate to this day.
HB 20 – yet another bill passed through the legislature by stuffing it into the state budget. HB 20 was written to create a school voucher program here in New Hampshire. When hearings were held for this bill over 3,800 people showed up in Concord to testify, only 600 in support. This bill is such clear evidence of political agendas overriding New Hampshire citizens’ needs and opinions, and is only further weakening our public school system in a way the state cannot afford.
HB 1661 – this was an omnibus bill passed in 2022, including provisions that encourage
affordable housing and require land use boards to improve transparency and speed up the local approval
process. These provisions came straight from the Governor’s taskforce recommendations, originally in SB
400.
CACR 32- this was a constitutional amendment and attempt to secede from the United States. This bill is significant because it is indicative of the efforts of mostly out-of-state legislators trying to push their own political agendas instead of focusing on the needs of New Hampshire citizens. Although only thirteen representatives voted in support, it is a grim reminder of the extremists that are currently controlling our state legislature.
