Ellen Read
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ellen Read
| image =
| state_house = New Hampshire
| district = Rockingham 17
| term_start = December 2016
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| residence = Newmarket, New Hampshire, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| children =
| profession =
| website = https://www.ellen4nh.com/
| party = Democratic (2016-2021) (2022-Present)
| alma_mater = University of New Hampshire (MA) Vanderbilt University (BS)
| otherparty = Independent (2021-2022)
}}
Ellen Read is a New Hampshire politician. She is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
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.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ellen_Read|title=Ellen Read|publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=February 29, 2020}} Read serves on the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee.{{Cite web |title=Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee Webpage |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?id=28 |access-date=February 17, 2024}} Read endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.{{cite web |title=Bernie 2020 rolls out New Hampshire endorsements |url=https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/15/bernie-2020-rolls-new-hampshire-endorsements/ |website=vtdigger.org |publisher=VTDigger |access-date=February 29, 2020 |date=May 15, 2019 |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516005408/https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/15/bernie-2020-rolls-new-hampshire-endorsements/ |url-status=dead }} She is the founder of the New Hampshire Progressive Caucus. She has served on the Special Committee on Housing since its formation in 2022.
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.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=2022-01-04 |title=NH Rep Dogged by Ethics Questions Steals Magazines Over Anti-Dem Articles |url=https://nhjournal.com/nh-rep-dogged-by-ethics-questions-steals-magazines-over-anti-dem-articles/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=NH Journal |language=en-US}} She caucused with fellow independent Tony Labranche for the remainder of the term.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=2022-01-19 |title=BREAKING: Two More NH House Dems To Defect From Caucus |url=https://nhjournal.com/breaking-two-more-nh-house-dems-to-defect-from-caucus/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=NH Journal |language=en-US}} In 2022, Read re-joined the Democratic Party and won another term as State Representative. She was re-elected again in 2024.
Personal life
Read grew up the eldest of five in south Memphis, Tennessee. 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. 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. Read has resided in Newmarket, New Hampshire, since 2009.{{cite web |title=Representative Ellen Read (D) |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/member.aspx?pid=9168 |access-date=February 16, 2022 |publisher=New Hampshire General Court}}{{cite web |url=https://www.citizenscount.org/candidate/ellen-read|title=Ellen Read|publisher=Citizens Count |access-date=February 28, 2020}}
Political positions
= Constitutional reform =
In 2018 and 2020, Read sponsored a constitutional amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution to allow for recall elections.{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2018&id=23152018&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 16 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2020&id=22422020&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
In 2022, Read co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to allow for citizen-led initiatives.{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=21282022&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
In 2024, Read introduced a constitutional amendment to make the default oath of office be the non-religious oath.{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 21 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1617&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
= 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."{{Cite web |title=HOUSE RESOLUTION 18 |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=26922022&txtFormat=html |website=General Court of NH}}
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.{{Cite web |title=HB 1026 relative to resisting arrest. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1388&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=HB 1147 relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1222&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} in 2024, she introduced House Resolution calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to distinguish between corporate and individual rights.{{Cite web |title=HR 26 urging Congress to adopt a constitutional amendment to distinguish between corporate and individual rights. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1725&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
In 2017, Read sponsored a bill to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 622-FN-LOCAL |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2017&id=3862017&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
In 2019, Read co-sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment to allow for no-excuse absentee voting.{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 6 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2019&id=4402019&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
Read is a leading advocate for ranked choice voting. Read has repeatedly introduced bills to implement ranked choice voting in New Hampshire.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=HB 1264 – As Introduced |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=1291&txtFormat=html}}{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=HB 1482-FN – As Introduced |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=1288&txtFormat=html}}{{Cite web |date=2019-01-31 |title=N.H. considers ranked-choice voting for primary |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/30/new-hampshire-considers-ranked-choice-voting-for-primary/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Press Herald}}{{Cite web |date=2019-01-30 |title=New Hampshire Considers Ranked Choice Voting for Primary |url=https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2019-01-30/new-hampshire-considers-ranked-choice-voting-for-primary |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=New Hampshire Public Radio |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Advocates make their case for ranked choice voting {{!}} Manchester Ink Link |url=https://manchesterinklink.com/advocates-make-their-case-for-ranked-choice-voting/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |language=en-US}}
Read has repeatedly introduced bills to create an Election Day Holiday.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 1213-FN |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=21932022&txtFormat=html |website=General Court of NH}}
= Environment =
In 2024, Read co-sponsored a bill to prohibit "single-use disposable plastic foodware accessories.".{{Cite web |title=HB 1207 relative to single-use disposable plastic foodware accessories. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1357&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} Read also co-sponsored a bill to limit the use of unmarked police cruisers in traffic enforcement.{{Cite web |title=HB 1237 relative to the use of unmarked or stealth police vehicles for traffic enforcement. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1277&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} 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.{{Cite web |title=HB 1238 requiring all municipal police department vehicles to bear municipal police license plates. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1279&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
= Housing policy =
In 2022, Read co-sponsored a bill to abolish single-family zoning and allow up to four units by-right.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 1177 |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=20122022&txtFormat=html |website=General Court of NH}}
In 2023, Read proposed a bill to limit rental application fees.{{Cite web |title=HB 283 relative to rental application fees charged to prospective tenants. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=290&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} Read also sponsored a bill to limit municipal zoning ordinances to only those dealing with the health and safety of residents.{{Cite web |title=HB 1297 relative to the authority of municipalities to enforce ordinances related to health and safety. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1300&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} Read also introduced a bill to create a right to legal counsel for tenants in eviction proceedings.{{Cite web |title=HB 379 requiring notice be provided to tenants during residential eviction proceedings regarding legal counsel. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=293&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} In 2024, Read proposed a bill to allow two Accessory Dwelling Units by-right.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 1291 |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1221&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} Read proposed a bill to allow municipalities to adopt rent control measures.{{Cite web |title=HB 1362 relative to authorizing municipalities to stabilize rent increases in rental housing. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1305&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} 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.{{Cite web |title=HB 1281 relative to zoning restrictions on residential rental property. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1116&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
= Reproductive rights =
= 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.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 1094 |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=25442022&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}} 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.".{{Cite web |title=CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 28 |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=1758&txtFormat=html |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
2024 Read introduced legislation to create a 4-day work week.{{Cite web |title=HB 1668 relative to establishing a 4-day work week. |url=https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=1741&sy= |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}
References
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{{New Hampshire House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Read, Ellen}}
Category:Women state legislators in New Hampshire
Category:People from Newmarket, New Hampshire
Category:Democratic Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the New Hampshire General Court
Category:University of New Hampshire alumni