Becky Berk & Paul Twomey
Working for You, Not for a Party
Becky Berk and Paul Twomey are running for Merrimack District 13 (Pittsfield and Chichester) in the NH House. As Independents, we know that good ideas can come from all sides and that collaboration is key to finding true solutions. We are also running to provide the voters a choice between our approach and that of the incumbents, Clayton Wood and Cyril Aures, whom we believe are not representing the interests of Pittsfield and Chichester well.
Now retired, I worked for my entire career (click to see resume) in NH non-profits, virtually all of them focused on children, families and education. A resident of Pittsfield since 2019, I currently serve on the Pittsfield School Board and as a volunteer with Bear-Paw Regional Greenways and End 68 Hours of Hunger. I believe that one earns respect not through titles or positions, but by being respectful, competent, diligent, trustworthy, and approachable.
I believe people in public office should pursue the best interests of their communities, not their political party. New Hampshire has long been a local control state, but that has been eroded in recent years with attempts by the legislature to establish statewide control over policy while expecting local communities to pick up the pieces (and the bill).
Finally, I believe that many local problems are only being made worse by consistent downshifting of costs from federal to state, and from state to local. The rich get richer while the rest of us suffer.
Please click Becky's Platform in the menu at the top of the page to get a sense of my thinking and priorities on various issues.
Meet Becky Berk
We invite you to learn more about our shared commitment to transparency, civility,
civic engagement and non-partisan solutions. We are not obligated to vote in lock-step with
either the Democratic or the Republican party.
As Independents, we may not always agree with each other, either. It's called democracy.
I have lived in Chichester for almost 50 years. During that time, I served on the School Board, coached baseball, soccer, and basketball, and volunteered as a member of numerous town committees.
My daughters and granddaughters attended Chichester Central. I love this community and this part of the state and believe it to be a wonderful place to raise a family.
I have decided to run as an Independent for one of the two seats representing Chichester and Pittsfield because I believe the voters should always have a choice of candidates when they go to vote.
About me: I attended Yale University on a full
scholarship, the first person who had grown up on welfare to do so, graduating with a degree in political science. I
later received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin.
I was one of the founding members of the NH Public Defender Homicide Defense Project and later became Litigation and Training Director at the NH Public Defenders.
In 2003, I received the Champion of Justice Award from the NH Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
I served as legal counsel for the NH House of Representatives
from 2012-2014.
Meet Paul Twomey
The Bar is Higher for Independent Candidates
Unlike candidates who run as a Democrat or Republican, candidates who choose to run as Independents must gather 150 valid signatures from registered voters in either Chichester or Pittsfield by August 5 to qualify. Even if we do qualify, our names will not be on the ballot until the general election on November 3rd.
Qualifying for the Ballot
No Party Support
Running as an Independent means that a candidate does not automatically endorse the platform of either the Democratic or the Republican party. As a result, the parties do not provide financial support for Independent candidates.
The Freedom to Collaborate
We invite Republicans, Democrats, and the Undeclared to join the freedom of Independents. If you want independent thinkers who listen to your needs while representing you in Concord, we invite you into our tent.
Year-Round Research & Voter Resources
FastDemocracy
Track legislation in Concord in real-time. FastDemocracy provides tools to follow bill progress and quickly see how your representatives voted on the issues that matter to your family.
Sign up only for the free version - it's all you will need!
NH Fiscal Policy Institute
Get non-partisan analysis of the NH state budget and economy, including how revenues and expenses have shifted over time. NHFPI provides data-driven research on how state fiscal policy impacts Pittsfield and Chichester taxpayers.
NH School Funding Fairness Project
Research the complexities of public education funding. NHSFFP provides resources to understand how state level decisions affect local property taxes and school quality.
NH School Funding Fairness Project
See also: Reaching Higher NH
Your Voice Matters
Join our mission to pursue common sense solutions for Pittsfield and Chichester. Whether you're ready to engage in conversation, volunteer, support one or both candidates, or simply stay informed, your civic engagement is the foundation of a stronger community.
To reach Becky and/or Paul directly, please contact us.
Note: The vast majority of people are respectful. Emails that are offensive or rude will not be answered, and the sender of such emails will be blocked. Thank you for your understanding.
To donate to either or both of our campaigns: Contribute