Sue Prentiss, in an October 7 Valley News forum letter, says what we need to say beautifully, so we’re letting her take the lead today.

We also encourage you to take a look at the Shaheen/Messner “debate” if you are at all confused about who you will be voting for! hmm and to add to your watching pleasure, we’ve added a link to Veto Mania!, last week’s UVDems monthly program. Thank you to our representatives for participating. We certainly learned a lot.

Speaking of reasons to vote for Jeanne Shaheen and Dems up and down the ticket, the UVDems will address these issues at our October 26th Zoom program. Fortunately for us, we have Maggie Hassan to weigh in on working with Jeanne and Annie Kuster. Then Dan Feltes and Mike Cryans will be explaining how the governor’s office works with the executive council.

If you are sick and tired of this election, you are not alone AND it’s almost over. Hang in there. Join lit drops in Lebanon and Hanover; make calls; display a sign; make a donation. We are almost there and let’s just hope the election doesn’t drag on past November 3.

Take it away, Sue!

Here’s what’s at stake for women in this election 

The unfortunate passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was heartbreaking for so many women in New Hampshire and across the country — not only because we lost a steadfast champion for women’s rights, equality and justice, but because her passing puts the future of women’s health care at risk. For Granite Staters, this issue hits especially close to home. Just like President Donald Trump, Gov. Chris Sununu opposes abortion rights and has spent his career attempting to restrict women’s access to reproductive health services.

The Trump administration has attempted to defund Planned Parenthood, whose health clinics provide birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. True to form, when Sununu was on the Executive Council, he did exactly the same thing. When Planned Parenthood’s contract came up for debate, Sununu cast the deciding vote to defund these health care centers, which thousands of Granite State women rely on.

Second, just as Trump wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, Sununu is working to make access to abortion almost impossible — even when medically necessary. He recently vetoed legislation requiring health insurance companies to cover women’s reproductive health care, in effect restricting abortion access for many women and making it clear that he believes he should be the one making medical decisions for Granite State women.

Finally, just like Trump’s attempts to put a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court who opposes abortion rights, Sununu is attempting to do the same thing with New Hampshire’s Supreme Court. Last year, Sununu tried to appoint someone who had never been a judge to the state’s highest court. Thankfully the Executive Council rebuked this dangerous anti-woman move. But if reelected, Sununu has already vowed to try to reshape the court with an abortion-rights opponent. With Roe v. Wade potentially at risk nationally, it’s more important than ever that New Hampshire’s court upholds personal freedom and privacy — and Sununu can’t be trusted to do that.

SUE PRENTISS

Lebanon

The writer is the Democratic candidate for state Senate District 5.

Click here to see details of the items below:

• Top 3 voter mistakes on absentee ballots in NH
• Jeanne Shaheen Debates Corky Messner
• Sununu’s ‘Veto Mania’ on YOUTUBE
• Where Sununu stands on the ACA
• October 15, From the Outskirts to Downtown: Taxes, Land Use & Value in 15 New Hampshire Communities (Hanover and Lebanon among the communities)
• Monday, October 26, Report from the Front Lines

ONGOING

• OrganizeNH Updates
• Signs
• Clerk office hours for dropping off your absentee ballot!
• Black Lives Matter Vigils