Jon Kiper joins the race for NH governor
'NH deserves a working-class governor' decrees restauranteur vying for Democratic gubernatorial nomination
From NH Business Review:
“I want to represent the people really struggling in this state,” said Jon Kiper, the Newmarket restauranteur vying for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, who proclaims “New Hampshire deserves a working-class governor.”
Kiper is the maverick and the long shot in a race paced by former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and sitting Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington. Unlike Craig and Warmington, who have both taken the pledge to veto a sales or income tax, Kiper has shunned it. “I’m not proposing a broad-based tax,” he said, “but I’m not taking the pledge because it’s stupid.”
And unlike his rivals, both of whom have raised more than $1 million, Kiper is running on a shoestring, reporting receipts of less than $37,000 and expenditures of less than $32,000 as of June.
Kiper, 42, grew up in Stratham, graduated from Exeter High School in 2001 and studied audio engineering in Australia before returning to New Hampshire where he pursued a career as a musician and writer, earning an award for his first children’s book in 2012. Two years later, he opened Jonny Boston’s International on Main Street, where he lives upstairs with his son, Ollie, and partner, Emily.
In Newmarket, Kiper has served on the Town Council, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Energy and Environment Committee and was co-founder of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention. He is raising funds to erect a monument to Wentworth Cheswell, a son of Newmarket believed to be the first African American elected to public office in the United States.
Housing
Calling housing “the cornerstone of civilization,” Kiper considers overcoming the housing shortage and balancing the housing market the most urgent priority. “People who grow up in New Hampshire should be able to stay in New Hampshire,” he said, “but they are being priced out of the market.”
Last week, the NH Union Leader reported that one of every four homes on the market are listed at $1 million or more. Rents have risen steadily over the past decade. NH Housing reports that, to afford the median cost of a typical two-bedroom apartment with utilities, a renter would need 137% of the statewide median renter income, or more than $70,600 a year.