8 Candidates On Immigration, Election Integrity And Foreign Policy Speak In Manchester

By ZACH LAIRD, InDepth NH

MANCHESTER, NH — Discussions about foreign policy, federal immigration efforts and election integrity dominated the final candidates’ forum on Sunday morning, hosted by the Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood.

The forum included Gubernatorial Candidates: Cinde Warmington (D) and Kelly Ayotte (R); U.S. Senate Candidates: Chris Pappas (D) and John E. Sununu (R); Congressional Candidates for House District 1: Stefany Shaheen (D) and Anthony DiLorenzo (R); Congressional Candidates for House District 2: Maggie Goodlander (D) and Lily Tang Williams (R). The questions were written by audience members and read by Moderator George Bruno, former U.S. Ambassador to Belize.

Bruno began by asking DiLorenzo what actions he would take to ensure that the federal government wouldn’t interfere in the election.

“First of all, I’ve spoken extensively with our Secretary of State David Scanlan — who oversees election integrity in our state — and I can tell you that I have more confidence in him in our elections here in New Hampshire; I do not have that same confidence as many people do not throughout the country,” DiLorenzo said.

He continued that he supports the efforts taken by Scanlan to protect the election’s integrity (and) he supports legislation requiring identification to vote.

When asked by Bruno if DiLorenzo makes a distinction between support for Israel and the Israeli government, he answered that he supports America’s relationship with Israel. He added that the same distinction exists between the American government and its people.

“I support Israel’s right to defend itself. I think our country is dependent on secure borders, peace through strength, and alliances (and) relationships with our allies…. Just because we have a relationship with another country does not mean we are always going to agree. So, that’s not a rubber stamp for any of our allies in our relationships; but we have the same interests at hand, we believe in the rights of the individual, we believe in freedom. We believe in capitalism and democracy (and) so I do support the relationship.”

When asked about his stance on the Russia/Ukraine war, DiLorenzo stated he does not support the war at all, and that America is currently too cozy with Russia. He also said he thinks the U.S. needs to be tougher in its stance on Russia “and any country that behaves in that manner.”

On the topic of federal immigration, Shaheen noted that the U.S. has increased its spending on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) five times under the Trump Administration, adding that the amount of spending needs to be stopped, though she also believes in secure borders and rooting out criminal activity.

Shaheen said it’s unsustainable and that ICE agents that have wreaked havoc in local communities aren’t adequately trained. Shaheen believes that the country needs to redirect the resources spent on ICE to communities elsewhere. She cited data from the Department of Homeland Security that said out of everyone who’s been detained by ICE, only 5% of those people are accused of violent crimes.

Regarding the Russia/Ukraine war, she said: “We have to continue to support the Ukrainian people, because it is unacceptable for Putin to take territory in Ukraine — to compromise the Ukrainian people’s sovereignty — because he won’t stop with Ukraine; that’s the first stop, and if he wins there, he’s going to continue. So, we have no choice but to continue to ensure that the Ukrainian people can protect their sovereignty.”

When asked about ensuring against election interference, she said New Hampshire has to do everything it can to make sure people know their vote counts (and) that the state’s elections have integrity.

Sununu, when asked if he makes a distinction between the government of Israel and its people, said Israel is America’s most important strategic ally in the region, but any international assistance should be reviewed to ensure it’s in America’s best interests. He recalled how there was a vote to cut aid to Israel during its conflict with Palestine, but “that is not when you start manipulating or cutting off aid to an ally.”

Regarding immigration, Sununu said the flow of both illegal immigrants and drugs like fentanyl have been dramatically curtailed, but that ICE has a responsibility to act as a professional law enforcement agency (and) that ICE agents being inadequately trained must be addressed, as well he doesn’t think any law enforcement official should be masked.

Goodlander said the country’s immigration system is outdated, over-burdened, and being tested in ways never seen before “because of an unprecedented influx of blank checks from the Congress that has not brought the kind of accountability, transparency, and the kind of professionalism to our immigration enforcement that every American deserves.”

She recalled while working for Sen. John McCain early in her career she worked on a bill that was a comprehensive border security and immigration reform. She said it remains a framework for the future of how our laws should be updated (and) it should go alongside the accountability everyone deserves from immigration enforcement.

She said regarding the Russia/Ukraine war: “To solve this war, to end this war, we need serious people at the table who know how to rally our friends and allies around the world, to drive a solution that is going to keep the United States and our allies safe… we need serious people at the table who are going to deliver for the American people, both the relief and the long-term security solution that all of you deserve.”

Williams also shared her take on the conflict, saying her foreign policy is based on putting the American people’s interests first (and) she condemns Russia’s actions against Ukraine. She said she would like to help figure out ways to end the war and negotiate with other countries involved.

She also touched on the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, saying she would also approach it with putting the country’s interests first (and) work to find a solution through negotiations.

Williams was also asked to comment on children under the age of 18 having sex-changing operations performed. She responded that she’s a big defender of freedom for people 18 and older who want to make the decision, but railed against minors undergoing the surgery, saying they cannot legally consent. She said some who have the surgery go onto regret it later in life, and she’d like to help by offering more counseling and an emphasis on mental health.

When Pappas spoke, he was asked about voting “present” on aid to Israel over 20 years ago.

“I’ve been a supporter of the bipartisan relationship between the United States and Israel (and) I think it’s critically important that we recognize that what it contained in that legislation was funding for important humanitarian programs that benefit both Israelis and Palestinians. What I can’t abide is the policies of the Netanyahu government,” Pappas said.

Pappas said we need a foreign policy that’s rooted in the country’s shared values, democracy, and human rights “and that means standing for Israel’s security and standing for the dignity of the Palestinian people.”

When asked how he would balance the need for national security with the need for continuing effective immigration policies, he reiterated that the country must have a secure border, but what’s happening with immigration efforts is something he does not support

Pappas said we have to take every effort to ensure accountability of ICE agents, and if we allow the “golden door in the United States of America to be slammed shut because of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, we are short-changing our future, and we are moving away from who we are as a nation.”

Above, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte is pictured speaking Sunday. Seated next to her at right is moderator George Bruno. ZACH LAIRD photo

After Ayotte began her time before the audience, Bruno asked her what steps she would take to protect New Hampshire elections from federal interference.

“I’m proud of the way we do elections in New Hampshire. I’m proud of, certainly, our Secretary of State, I’m proud of our elected officials… I’ve never supported any federal running of the election, I don’t think that is the right way to go,” Ayotte said, adding the best way to protect elections is to have local people involved.

Ayotte was asked if she would be willing to sit down with New Hampshire faith leaders to listen to their concerns about the presence of ICE agents in New Hampshire (and) work to support fair and equitable treatment of immigrants. Ayotte responded that she’s always willing to talk to people about their concerns.

Ayotte said she’s a strong supporter of legal immigration, and that she wants the immigrant community in New Hampshire to feel welcome, though she also feels that laws should be enforced.

“I do think there has to be a legal process for coming to this country… We should make sure that we welcome immigrants here, we want everyone to feel safe. We want everyone to be engaged, (and) we want them to take part in the greatest country on Earth,” Ayotte said.

Former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington is pictured speaking at Sunday’s candidates’ forum with George Bruno seated to her right. ZACH LAIRD photo

Warmington highlighted the ongoing controversy at the state Supreme Court. Gordon MacDonald, 64, admitted wrongdoing in handling Administrator of the Office of the Courts director Dianne Martin’s $50,000 payout in earned sick and vacation time after being laid off for three days before being re-hired as general counsel to the Office of Bar Admissions. Justices Patrick Donovan, Melissa Countway, and Bryan Gould later released a statement supporting MacDonald.

“Right now, we had our Chief Justice (Gordon MacDonald) resign in disgrace for having violated the judicial code of conduct. I was the sole vote against Gordon MacDonald’s appointment to the supreme court, citing exactly the kind of things that ultimately resulted in his resignation… And unfortunately, we have three other justices on the court right now who participated in the same conduct that resulted in Chief Justice MacDonald’s resignation,” Warmington said.

Warmington said she would call for them to step aside while the investigation continues “because every litigant who is appearing before the court has a right to know that their case will be heard with fairness and impartiality.”

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.