2026 Candidate Statements
Below are statements from some of the candidates for this year’s elected positions. Please be aware statements are the expressed opinions of the individual candidate and not necessarily reflective of the Town’s beliefs. This page will be updated as submissions are received. The candidates below are not an exhaustive list of those running. For a full list, please refer to the Candidate’s Night post, here:
Robert Turner (Candidate for Supervisors of the Checklist)
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” – Mother St. Teresa of Calcutta
I do want to change the world, so I strive to love my wife and our five children. OK, what else? I propose the next order of business is to “go home and love your town.”
Major headlines almost always talk about national and global events, but per the principle of subsidiarity, it is the person closest to something who ought to be responsible for it. Since newsworthy problems are typically so remote from us, their ultimate effects are a preoccupation with problems we cannot solve and a distraction from those we can. As a Supervisor of the Checklist, it will be my priority to encourage greater focus on our Town and School District, since I believe we are each responsible for their flourishing, and are each capable of making it happen.
Jeffrey Carter (Candidate for Trustees of the Trust Funds)
Appointed last summer as a Trustee of the Trust Funds [TTF] to fill a vacancy. My objective in seeking a 3-yr term is to provide fiduciary oversight of a conservative investment strategy to 1) generate income and 2) grow principal to match/exceed the economic inflation rate, to partially offset escalating property taxes. My relevant experience includes:
- New Ipswich Resident since 2018
- Retired Chief System Design Architect
- MBA Degree with a focus in Investment Finance
- Former City Counselor with an understanding of local government operations
Matt LaCoe (Candidate for Board of Selectmen)
Being eighth generation military, my family legacy has been safeguarding the people of the United States. I put my name forward as Selectman to continue that service for our town. Elected officials have the responsibility to protect the interests and common good of those they represent. Living here since 2018, I don’t feel that decisions town officials have made always reflect that duty obligation, and that needs changing.
Unlike others, I have no familial ties or hidden agendas to endorse. Instead, I want to work to find solutions to our fiscal challenges while ensuring people’s rights and interests are protected. Ensuring decisions made on behalf of our town are done fairly, with sound mind and proper equity. Our current course is not sustainable and must change. As a single voice on the Selectman’s Board, I cannot promise results however, what I can promise is effort.
--Matt LaCoe
Lyla Buxton (Candidate for Planning Board)
Hello everyone!
My name is Lyla Buxton and I’m running for planning board this year!
From being 8 years old in selectmen meetings to now going to as many town meetings I can has inspired a love to not only be an active member of our community but to serve our community as well.
I’m interested in serving on the planning board due to the ability to think in a futuristic and historical way. In a town as special as new Ipswich, there is such a rich history that deserves to be preserved while also finding innovative ways to spread that history to new members of our community. Through the planning board I hope to take advantage of that intersection and find new and exciting ways to celebrate our community in this technical way.
Thank you for your consideration!
Deborah “Debster” DeSantis (Candidate for Supervisors of the Checklist)
Thank you for the opportunity to share a little about myself and why I’m running for Supervisor of the Checklist. My name is Deborah “Debster” DeSantis and I’m delighted and honored to be on the ballot for the March 10th election.
I have proudly called New Ipswich home for more than 30 years. I work full time in database engineering, and in my free time I’m an avid runner and cyclist who enjoys our beautiful country roads. Running through New Ipswich reminds me every day how fortunate we are to live in such a welcoming and supportive community.
After living here for so long, I feel a strong responsibility to give back to the community that has given me so much. I also believe deeply in the importance of fair, accurate, and transparent elections. I’m committed to doing my part to support that process in New Ipswich.
In previous elections, I served as a ballot clerk. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. I enjoyed meeting fellow residents, checking in registered voters, and helping make Election Day a smooth and positive experience for everyone who came to vote.
Following the recent Presidential election, I was approached about serving as a Supervisor of the Checklist. Over the past six months, I’ve worked hard to learn the responsibilities of the position, including completing state training, and gaining hands-on experience with New Hampshire’s centralized voter registration system.
I would be both thrilled and honored to earn your vote on March 10th. If elected, I promise to serve you, the residents of New Ipswich, with diligence, professionalism, and integrity.
Please see my post on Life in New Ipswich for a complete summary.
Thank you!