Joanne Head

Head was born on September 28, 1930, in Buffalo, New York, and she grew up in the state. She graduated from Connecticut College and later received a Master's degree from Antioch College. In 1968, Head was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Award for her contributions to hospitals on Long Island. At some point after this, Head moved to the town of Amherst, New Hampshire.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Joanne C. Head 1930-2021 |url=https://hollisbrooklinenewsonline.com/joanne-c-head-p1376-221.htm |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=Hollis Brookline News Online |language=en}}

In 1976, Head, a member of the Republican Party, ran for the New Hampshire House of Representatives in Hillsborough County's 10th district.{{efn|name=three|This was a multi-member constituency which elected three representatives.}} Head was elected alongside fellow Republicans Josephine C. Martin and M. Arnold Wight. Head placed first with 32% of the vote, while Martin and Wight received 31% and 25% of the vote. A fourth candidate, Democrat John B. Mendolusky, lost with 13% of the vote.{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Bill |url=https://nh.electionstats.com/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/72670/Election/ |title=State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court |publisher=New Hampshire Department of State |year=1977 |location=Concord |pages=716 |access-date=August 31, 2022}} Head and Wight ran for re-election in 1978. Head again placed first with 29% of the vote, with Wight receiving 28%. Republican David T. Ramsey was also elected, receiving 24% of the vote, while two Democrats received 12% and 8%.{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Bill |url=https://nh.electionstats.com/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/72509/Election/ |title=State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court |publisher=New Hampshire Department of State |year=1979 |location=Concord |pages=320 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}

In 1980, Head and Wight again ran for re-election. The pair were elected unopposed alongside a third Republican, B. P. Smith. Head placed first with 36% of the vote, while Wight and Smith received 34% and 29%.{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Bill |url=https://nh.electionstats.com/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/72348/Election/ |title=State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court |publisher=New Hampshire Department of State |year=1981 |location=Concord |pages=334 |access-date=August 31, 2022}} Later in 1980, following the death of incumbent state senator D. Alan Rock, Head announced her candidacy for the 1981 special election to fill Rock's seat in the New Hampshire Senate. The Republican nominee was to be chosen by delegates of the Hillsborough County Republican Party rather than in a primary. Head faced businessman John Stabile and state representatives Betty Hall, Philip Labombarde, and Emma Wheeler.{{Cite news |date=1980-11-28 |title=Senate Race Draws A Crowd |pages=3 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105017255/senate-race-draws-a-crowd/ |access-date=2022-09-01}}{{Cite news |date=1981-01-15 |title=Republicans To Choose Nominee |pages=4 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108672702/republicans-to-choose-nominee/ |access-date=2022-09-01}} Stabile ultimately won the primary and defeated state representative Selma Pastor, the Democratic nominee, in the special election.{{Cite news |date=1981-03-07 |title=Stabile Fills Seat Of D. Alan Rock |pages=20 |work=Valley News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105106525/stabile-fills-seat-of-d-alan-rock/ |access-date=2022-09-01}}

In 1982, Head, Wight, and Smith ran for re-election in Hillsborough County's 9th district.{{efn|name=four|This was a multi-member constituency which elected four representatives.}} The trio were elected unopposed alongside a fourth Republican, Peter F. Wells; Head placed first with 28% of the vote, with Wight receiving 26%, and Wells and Smith both receiving 23%.{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Bill |url=https://nh.electionstats.com/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/72197/Election/ |title=State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court |publisher=New Hampshire Department of State |year=1983 |location=Concord |pages=265 |access-date=August 31, 2022}} In 1984, Head ran for the 9th District of the state senate. She faced Republican National Committeewoman Sheila Roberge, former state representative Guy R. Granger, and two other opponents in the Republican primary. Roberge narrowly defeated Head by just 27 votes. A recount expanded Roberge's lead to 30; the final vote total was 1,353 votes for Roberge compared to 1,323 votes for Head.{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Bill |url=https://nh.electionstats.com/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/61102/Election/ |title=State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court |publisher=New Hampshire Department of State |year=1985 |location=Concord |pages=255 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Wysocki |first=David |date=1984-09-17 |title=Democrats Like Odds In Senate Races |pages=3 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108672971/democrats-like-odds-in-senate-races/ |access-date=2022-09-01}}

During her tenure in the state house, Head served on the Labor, Human Resources and Rehabilitation, Appropriations, and Health and Welfare committees, also serving as chairman of the latter.{{Cite news |date=1984-05-07 |title=New Hampshire Nurses Association |pages=32 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108673040/new-hampshire-nurses-association/ |access-date=2022-09-01}} Head sponsored several bills, including a bill which would prohibit large oil companies from operating gas stations in the state, and another which allocated $250,000 in order to create drug and alcohol abuse prevention education programs in schools.{{Cite news |date=1979-03-28 |title=Gasoline Stations |pages=20 |work=Valley News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108672623/gasoline-stations/ |access-date=2022-09-01}}{{Cite news |last=Magruder |first=Joe |date=1983-04-01 |title=Education Aid Plan Heading To Committee |pages=2 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108672674/education-aid-plan-heading-to-committee/ |access-date=2022-09-01}} In 1977, Head lead the opposition to a bill sponsored by Democrat Joseph Cote which would increase New Hampshire's minimum wage from $2.30 to $2.60; the bill was ultimately defeated by Head's efforts. Head stated that she believed increasing the minimum wage would put New Hampshire at a disadvantage when compared to its neighboring states, and that New Hampshire's traditional industries were already suffering under a poor economy.{{Cite news |date=1977-02-16 |title=N.H. House Defeats Wage Bill |pages=6 |work=Concord Monitor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108673117/nh-house-defeats-wage-bill/ |access-date=2022-09-01}} From 1986 until 1989, Head served as the chair of the Hillsborough County Republican Party.

Head died at her home in Peterborough, New Hampshire, on January 1, 2021, at the age of 90. She had been married to Thomas F. Head III for 70 years until his death in 2019.

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Head, Joanne}}

Category:1930 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:Politicians from Buffalo, New York

Category:People from Amherst, New Hampshire

Category:People from Peterborough, New Hampshire

Category:Connecticut College alumni

Category:Antioch College alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives

Category:Candidates in the 1981 United States elections

Category:Candidates in the 1984 United States elections

Category:20th-century American women politicians

Category:20th-century members of the New Hampshire General Court