On Nov. 3, incumbent state Sen. Kevin Avard, a Republican from Nashua, will face off against Democratic challenger Carryl Roy of Hollis, who, if elected, would be making her first foray into state politics.

Avard has five nonconsecutive terms in the Senate under his belt, starting in 2014. Prior to that, Avard served in the state House of Representatives from 2010-2012. He owns a contract cleaning business.

Roy has served on the Hollis School Board since 2019 and as chair since 2023. She works as a customer success manager and also runs a small business as an event DJ.

District 12 includes Greenville, Mason, New Ipswich and Rindge.

Education funding

Like many Democratic candidates, Roy tied affordability issues to school funding. She said she’d support increasing state aid to local school districts up to $7,356 per student, the amount set in the ConVal ruling.

“As chair of the Hollis School Board, I see every year how much of our budget the property tax has to cover because the state does not,” Roy said.

Avard disagreed, noting that adequacy aid is decided by the Legislature, not the judicial system. Avard said he’s supported increased funding for education in New Hampshire, though not to the level of the recent ConVal ruling.

“When is it enough?” Avard asked of education funding.

To produce more state aid for education, Roy said she’d advocate for restoring business tax rates to pre-2015 levels, reestablishing the interest and dividends tax, and limiting the Education Freedom Account program to families in need by placing income and enrollment caps back onto the program.

Avard, meanwhile, said traditional public school isn’t always the best pathway for every student, and that there were students with a lot of potential being lost in the cracks.

Housing

Avard said there needs to be a balance between increasing the housing stock and the extra burden that inventory places on municipal services such as schools, the energy grid, landfills and fire, police and emergency services. He said incentives for first-time home buyers could help lift up younger buyers.

He said it’s also a matter of making sure towns still have a say in how their community grows. As the Legislature has passed sweeping zoning reforms in recent years aimed at clearing the way for more housing, some people argue that those erode the authority of local land use boards.

“I believe that local control is very important, because once you lose it, it’s gone forever,” said Avard. “It’s a fine thing to thread the needle on.”

Roy, on the other hand, said she’d want to reinstate funding for the Housing Champions program, which gave grants to towns with housing-friendly zoning policies and practices. That program was initially established with federal pandemic relief funds, which have since run out.

“Homes cost too much, and too few people can buy their first one. The answer is more homes, built where communities want them,” said Roy. Programs like Housing Champions, combined with reduced regulations, can produce more housing “while keeping the health, safety and environmental standards we need.”

Energy

If he’s re-elected, Avard said energy is one of his primary issues going into his next term. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Avard has spoken frequently on the state’s power grid and vulnerabilities.

Avard supports extending New Hampshire’s renewable portfolio standard, but said that the energy issue is one that needs an “all of the above” approach. The state also needs infrastructure upgrades, he said.

“I believe solar and wind can help, but we need more than that,” said Avard.

Energy costs are going up, rising $6 to $18 per month since August, according to NHPR. Roy said some of the reasons for that are beyond the state’s control.

“What the state does control is how utilities buy power and who pays for big new demand,” Roy said. “My approach is to use less and make more here. Efficiency programs [and] local solar and storage lower bills for everyone.”

Roy suggested restoring money moved out of the Renewable Energy Fund and reassessing Public Utilities Commission rules about buying power on the daily spot market.

Other issues

The candidates also differ on other issues, from gun laws to abortion to marijuana.

Avard said he won’t vote for any restrictions on the use of firearms further than the current law. He also advocates for allowing local school districts to arm teachers, saying that making schools into gun-free zones effectively makes them an “open target.” Roy said she supports the rights of responsible gun owners, but wants stronger laws to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands.

On the issue of marijuana legalization, Roy said more research is needed but that the taxes on the sale of those products could be a new source of state revenue. Avard said he supports medical uses of marijuana but doesn’t believe in legalizing it for recreational use.