Thomas Oppel
Thomas Oppel | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Grafton 9th district | |
| In office December 4, 2024 – August 3, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Corinne Morse |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Patrick Oppel December 1953 (age 72) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Myra Humphries |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Seton Hall University Dartmouth College |
| Profession |
|
Thomas Patrick Oppel[1] (born December 1953) is an American politician, consultant, and former journalist. He is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Grafton 9th district and represented Canaan, Dorchester, and Orange. A resident of Canaan, New Hampshire, since 2000,[2] Oppel is the chair of the Canaan Economic Development Committee.[2][3] In 2021, Oppel became the secretary of the Canaan Planning Board[4] and his term as secretary was set to expire in 2027, although as of 2026 he is no longer the secretary or a member of the board.[5] He was previously a board member of the Canaan Planning Board from 2005 to 2007.[2]
Biography
[edit source]Oppel received a bachelor's degree in English literature from Seton Hall University with a minor in psychology and a teaching certificate in secondary education. He later attended Dartmouth College.[6] He taught as an English teacher in Hudson, New Hampshire.[7] Oppel began his career as a journalist as a part-time political correspondent for The Nashua Telegraph. He worked for United Press International and several newspapers in New England and the South.[6] He was the press secretary for Mike Espy's successful congressional campaign. Before founding his own communications firm in 2003, Oppel was a partner in a Washington-based media consulting firm. Oppel was the chief of staff to Ray Mabus, the United States Secretary of the Navy during President Barack Obama's administration.[6] Oppel defeated Kevin Howard in the 2024 New Hampshire House of Representatives election for the Grafton 9th district.[8] He resigned his seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on August 3, 2026.[9]
Political positions
[edit source]While a candidate, Oppel was opposed to the establishment of a state income tax and sales tax.[10] After his election, Oppel has supported the "3-3 Tax Savings Plan," which, if passed by the legislature, would create a 3% income tax for all New Hampshire residents and a $3 tax per $1,000 of equalized property value that would not apply to the first $250,000 of property value for New Hampshire homeowners.[11]
Electoral history
[edit source]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas Oppel | 1,305 | 51.4 | |
| Republican | Kevin Howard | 1,233 | 48.6 | |
| Total votes | 2,538 | 100 | ||
References
[edit source]- ↑ Galleon '76. Vol. 52. Seton Hall University. 1976. p. 246 – via the Internet Archive.
- 1 2 3 "Representative Thomas Oppel (D)". New Hampshire General Court. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Economic Development Committee". Canaan, New Hampshire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2025.
- ↑ "Election 2024: Previews of Grafton County legislative races for Upper Valley seats". Valley News. November 25, 2024.
- ↑ "Planning Board". Canaan, New Hampshire. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Thomas Oppel". Mabus Group. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ↑ "O2 Strategies". O2 Strategies. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- 1 2 "2024 New Hampshire State House Grafton District 9 election results". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ↑ "New Hampshire Update Office of the House Clerk Resignations, Deaths, Special Elections" (PDF). New Hampshire General Court. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Oppel, Thomas (December 6, 2024). "Forum for Dec. 6, 2024: New lawmaker". Valley News.
- ↑ DeWitt, Ethan (March 3, 2026). "Advocates propose statewide income tax to lessen property taxes, sparking firestorm". New Hampshire Bulletin.