The Francestown Democratic Committee will host a meet-and-greet for Executive Council District 5 Democratic candidates Shoshanna Kelly and Melanie Levesque Friday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bitterli family barn at 1 Main St.  

The barn, at Francestown’s Levi Woodbury estate, is also the future of home of Bitterli gourmet chocolate shop. Refreshments, beverages and gourmet chocolate will be served. 

District 5 includes Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Jaffrey, New Ipswich, Rindge, Temple and Wilton and is currently represented by Republican Dave Wheeler.

The only Democrat on the five-member council is Cinde Warmington in District 2, which includes  Dublin, Hancock, Peterborough and Sharon. Warmington is running for governor this year.

“Candidates Kelly and Levesque will be discussing their qualifications and articulating their visions for our state,” Sue Jonas of the Francestown Democratic Committee said. “Both candidates are strong advocates for reproductive freedom. Each has been an active participant in their communities, focusing on issues that affect families, and are the owners of successful small businesses.”

The Francestown Democratic Committee asks people to text 978-808-6121 if they would like to attend. 

Kelly, who presently serves as an alderman in Nashua, is the owner of an advertising agency and the mother of two children attending Nashua public schools. Kelly describes herself as “a fierce advocate for pro-business policies, affordable housing, green infrastructure and strong public schools.”

Kelly has said if elected to the Executive Council for District 5 she will work to appoint qualified commissioners, vet and appoint judges who will support reproductive freedom and restore funding to Planned Parenthood. 

Levesque, a resident of Brookline, is a former state senator.

“With a background in both business and state government, Melanie Levesque will bring a unique and insightful blend of executive experience and local perspective to the Executive Council,” Carol Shrock, Levesque’s campaign manager, said Thursday. 

Levesque has more than 20 years of town and city civic engagement, more than 12 years in the state Legislature as both a representative and senator, leadership experience on various corporate and nonprofit boards and is the founder/CEO of a telecommunications business.

The Executive Council duties include approving the majority of state contracts and spending. approves appointments such as judges and commissioners and decides who will sit on public boards, agencies and commissions. It also has veto power over major hires, such as government department heads.

Each of the five members represents one-fifth of the state’s population, or approximately 263,000 citizens as of 2023. Councilors are elected every two years, concurrently with the governor.

For information about Levesque, go to melanie4nh.com. For information about Kelly, go to voteforsho.com.