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Ellen Read
American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ellen Read is a New Hampshire politician. She is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[1]
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Career
On November 8, 2016, Read was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives where she represents the Rockingham 17 district. Read is a Democrat.[2] Read serves on the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee.[3] Read endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[4] She is the founder of the New Hampshire Progressive Caucus.[1] She has served on the Special Committee on Housing since its formation in 2022.[1]
In 2021, Read left the Democratic party to sit as an independent. She cited issues with Democratic Party leadership, specifically with alleged corruption by Representative Cathryn Harvey.[5] She caucused with fellow independent Tony Labranche for the remainder of the term.[6] In 2022, Read re-joined the Democratic Party and won another term as State Representative.[1] She was re-elected again in 2024.
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Personal life
Read grew up the eldest of five in south Memphis, Tennessee.[1] Read holds a master’s degree in liberal studies – environmental and socioeconomic ethics and policy from the UNH (2011), as well as a BS in molecular and cellular biology from Vanderbilt University (2003), with a double minor in religious studies and Japanese.[1] She has worked as a high school teacher in Japan (2003-2006) as well as an adjunct professor of American government at Great Bay Community College.[1] Read has resided in Newmarket, New Hampshire, since 2009.[1][7]
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Political positions
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Perspective
Read is considered a progressive representative.[5]
Constitutional reform
In 2018 and 2020, Read sponsored a constitutional amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution to allow for recall elections.[8][9]
In 2022, Read co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to allow for citizen-led initiatives.[10]
In 2024, Read introduced a constitutional amendment to make the default oath of office be the non-religious oath.[11]
Criminal justice reform
In 2022, Read co-sponsored a House Resolution urging Congress to remove the exception from the 13th Amendment: "except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."[12]
In 2024, Read co-sponsored a bill to establish an affirmative defense to the crime of resisting arrest that the arrest was unlawful or constitutional.[13]
Electoral reform
Read has been vocal about overturning Citizens United v. FEC and has proposed multiple bills that have to do with corporate and private funding of elections.[14] in 2024, she introduced House Resolution calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to distinguish between corporate and individual rights.[15]
In 2017, Read sponsored a bill to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.[16]
In 2019, Read co-sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.[17]
Read is a leading advocate for ranked choice voting. Read has repeatedly introduced bills to implement ranked choice voting in New Hampshire.[18][19][20][21][22]
Read has repeatedly introduced bills to create an Election Day Holiday.[23]
Environment
In 2024, Read co-sponsored a bill to prohibit "single-use disposable plastic foodware accessories.".[24] Read also co-sponsored a bill to limit the use of unmarked police cruisers in traffic enforcement.[25] Read also co-sponsored a bill to require all municipal police department owned vehicles bear a municipal police license plate and prohibiting officers from using a vehicle that does not bear such plate.[26]
Housing policy
In 2022, Read co-sponsored a bill to abolish single-family zoning and allow up to four units by-right.[27]
In 2023, Read proposed a bill to limit rental application fees.[28] Read also sponsored a bill to limit municipal zoning ordinances to only those dealing with the health and safety of residents.[29] Read also introduced a bill to create a right to legal counsel for tenants in eviction proceedings.[30] In 2024, Read proposed a bill to allow two Accessory Dwelling Units by-right.[31] Read proposed a bill to allow municipalities to adopt rent control measures.[32] Read co-sponsored a bill to prohibit zoning ordinances from restricting the number of occupants in a residential rental property to less than 2 occupants per bedroom.[33]
Reproductive rights
In 2024, Read proposed a bill to create a right to sterilization.[34]
Workers' rights
In 2022, Read introduced a bill to require certain large employers to post work schedules seven days in advance and additionally provided for rest periods for employees.[35] Read also co-sponsored a constitutional amendment that would provide "that all workers have a right to a minimum wage that provides them with well-being and a dignified existence.".[36]
2024 Read introduced legislation to create a 4-day work week.[37]
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References
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