John Matthew Sellers is an American Republican party politician who represents the Grafton 18th district in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
John Sellers | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Grafton 18th district | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Matthew Sellers March 1956 (age 68) |
| Political party | Republican[1] |
| Spouse | Donna[2] |
| Children | 9[2] |
| Residence(s) | Bristol, New Hampshire, U.S.[3] |
He is strongly against public education and is an advocate of homeschooling and school choice. A former member of the Newfound Area School District budgeting committee from 2020 to 2023,[4] he has suggested that "parents get their children out of the public government schools",[5] claimed public schools are "following the path of Hitler",[6] and stated that the "only things kids learn in [public] schools involve porn and demons".[7] He has been considered to be a conspiracy theorist[8] and has quoted Hitler, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin.[6][9]
Life and career
editSellers grew up in Weymouth, Massachusetts, with five siblings and joined the United States Air Force after high school.[10] He served in the USAF[11] for six years, worked as a small business owner for many years, was a Senior Business Analyst at SAS Institute and retired in 2021. Sellers was on the Bristol Town Budget Committee and was a member of the Newfound Area School District budget committee. He is a board member of the School District Governance Association of New Hampshire.[10]
He was the plaintiff in the New Hampshire Superior Court case John M Sellers v. Town of Bristol. He sued the city, seeking to invalidate the results of the March 14, 2017, election held by the town, in which he was a candidate, and sought for the town to hold a new election.[12] Sellers ran for one of two open positions on the Board of Selectmen and came in third place in the election.[13]
In September 2022, Sellers defeated Andrew Ware in the Republican primary election for the Grafton 18th district of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[14] In November 2022, he defeated Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban in the general election by four votes.[15] He assumed office in December 2022.
In December 2022, Sellers and his wife Donna were granted a special exception by the Town of Bristol to operate a short-term rental Airbnb at their property subject to meeting the fire chiefs requirements.[16]
On December 5, 2023, Sellers was one of four Republican co-sponsors of HB 1248, a bill that would have banned abortion after 15 days of pregnancy.[17]
On February 5, 2024, Sellers sponsored[18] and introduced a bill that would ban social-emotional learning in schools and referred to it as "indoctrination".[19][20] In September 2024, Sellers joined 30 other New Hampshire House and Senate Republicans in signing an amicus brief calling for the overturn of the Claremont School District v. Governor of New Hampshire decisions decided in 1993 and 1997.[21]
He represents the towns of Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Grafton, Groton, Hebron, and Orange.[2]
He ran unopposed in the primary and will face Richard Lobban in the 2024 New Hampshire House of Representatives election for the Grafton 10th district.[22]
Open letters
editSellers has written many open letters published by The Laconia Daily Sun.
- Sellers, John (January 19, 2016). "Bristol's population hasn't grown but the town's budget sure has". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (February 24, 2016). "I need your vote to make a difference on Bristol Selectboard". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 19, 2016). "Where's the common sense in buying a 38Kw generator for Bristol?". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (December 14, 2016). "Is Bristol really getting a bang for it increasing tax bucks?". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (February 8, 2017). "As a Bristol selectman, I am going to work for the taxpayers". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (March 10, 2017). "Vote for me, John Sellers, for Bristol selectman". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (February 18, 2019). "Can't say we're 'restoring' the Bristol budget with straight face". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (February 27, 2019). "Some want Bristol to be Utopia, catering to your every want". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (March 22, 2019). "Rick Alpers had the votes and his ideas carried the day". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 12, 2019). "Question cost & effectiveness of new Bristol sewer line". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019.
- Sellers, John (February 1, 2020). "Vote for Sellers, and vote yes on warrant articles". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (March 24, 2020). "John Sellers: Keeping asking that neighbor of yours if you can help". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (October 29, 2020). "John Sellers: Once you lose your freedoms, they won't ever come back". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (September 2, 2020). "John Sellers: Cast your vote for people who have good moral compasses". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (December 16, 2020). "John Sellers: NH still land of live free or die". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021.
- Sellers, John (April 21, 2021). "John Sellers: Masks, vaccinations and personal freedoms". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (May 17, 2021). "John Sellers: Schools should focus on teaching core subjects instead of theories". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (June 22, 2021). "John Sellers: We all could be called terrorists one day". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (August 10, 2021). "John Sellers: Student mask use should not still be up for debate". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021.
- Sellers, John (September 21, 2021). "John Sellers: School board in need of new representation". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (January 14, 2022). "John Sellers: Bristol Selectboard should respect taxpayers about sewer project". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022.
- Sellers, John (January 26, 2022). "John Sellers: Time for good, moral people to stand up for what's right". The Laconia Daily Sun.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Sellers, John (February 16, 2022). "John Sellers: Aubrey Freedman, Danielle Reed are qualified candidates for Newfound School Board". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (March 18, 2022). "John Sellers: Teaching is out of control, HB 1255 is needed". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022.
- Sellers, John (March 30, 2022). "John Sellers: Stop infighting and unite against democratic destruction of state and country". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022.
- Sellers, John (April 8, 2022). "John Sellers: Freedom can be harmed by democracy". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022.
- Sellers, John (May 19, 2022). "John Sellers: Price of heating oil will force changes in lifestyle, spending". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (May 26, 2022). "John Sellers: Bible and God have already been banned". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (June 2, 2022). "John Sellers: Using fear to sell an agenda instead of backing up with facts". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (June 28, 2022). "John Sellers: Leaders have lost sight of meaning of Declaration of Independence". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 13, 2022). "John Sellers: Price of everything higher than a year ago". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 26, 2022). "John Sellers: Gunstock team's resignation hurts more than Belknap County". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (August 15, 2022). "John Sellers: What is motivation behind voting out current representatives?". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (November 3, 2022). "John Sellers: Women's choice is important but only when right issues are at stake". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (November 22, 2022). "John Sellers: Compromise the key starting point to healing political divides". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023.
- Sellers, John (January 2, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: The only things kids learn in schools involve porn and demons". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (March 15, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: State rep who lashed out at plow driver is innocent until proven guilty". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023.
- Sellers, John (May 2, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: New Hampton residents need Wendelboe before it's too late". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023.
- Sellers, John (May 22, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Home schooling an easy educational alternative to public schools". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023.
- Sellers, John (May 29, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Parents obligated to override opinions of teachers, doctors". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023.
- Sellers, John (June 22, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Take kids out of schools, which are following path of Hitler". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 12, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Nuclear power is abundant, safe and could be cost-effective". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023.
- Sellers, John (August 17, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Democrats say one thing, then vote to do the opposite". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023.
- Sellers, John (September 26, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Stand up to the evil Democrats before state is forever lost". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (November 14, 2023). "United Nations, equality and libraries are trying to control you and your kids". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023.
- Sellers, John (December 4, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Schools take students' info, introduce evil wellness concepts". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023.
- Sellers, John (December 14, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: If Jesus had been aborted, we wouldn't have salvation or Christmas". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (December 19, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Take children out of school before they learn wellness instead of God". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- Sellers, John (June 14, 2024). "Rep. John Sellers: Why are the real Democrats putting up with what their party is doing?". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (July 17, 2024). "Rep. John Sellers: Shooting the competition happens in a banana republic". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (August 21, 2024). "Rep. John Sellers: Representative looks forward to seeing voters at Bristol Old Home Day". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (September 4, 2024). "Rep. John Sellers: Clarifying voting record of write-in candidate O'Hara". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- Sellers, John (October 18, 2024). "Rep. John Sellers: Vote Sellers to reduce taxes, housing regulations". The Laconia Daily Sun.
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Sellers | 4,229 | 50.0 | |
| Democratic | Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban | 4,225 | 50.0 | |
| Total votes | 8,454 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Sellers | 1,103 | 71.1 | |
| Republican | Andrew Ware | 448 | 28.9 | |
| Total votes | 1,551 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Rick Alpers | 238 | 29.3 | |
| Nonpartisan | Donald Milbrand | 224 | 27.5 | |
| Nonpartisan | John Sellers | 208 | 25.6 | |
| Nonpartisan | Frederick Eichman III | 143 | 17.6 | |
| Total votes | 813 | 100 | ||
References
edit- ^ Costa, Jamie (February 15, 2023). "NH House kills bill to collect race and ethnicity data during police stops". Concord Monitor. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Representative John Sellers (R)". New Hampshire General Court. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Grafton County Delegation". Grafton County. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Budget Committee Committee". Newfoundland Area School District.
- ^ Sellers, John (May 22, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Home schooling an easy educational alternative to public schools". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Sellers, John (June 22, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Take kids out of schools, which are following path of Hitler". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- ^ Sellers, John (January 2, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: The only things kids learn in schools involve porn and demons". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- ^ Metcalf, Richard (January 11, 2023). "Richard Metcalf: Rep. John Sellers misrepresents his own record". Archived from the original on September 24, 2024.
- ^ Sellers, John (August 17, 2023). "Rep. John Sellers: Democrats say one thing, then vote to do the opposite". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023.
- ^ a b "About". School District Governance Association of New Hampshire. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024.
- ^ Koes, Laura (September 6, 2022). "In District 18, candidate claims call to service". Valley News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "John M Sellers v. Town of Bristol" (PDF). New Hampshire Municipal Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Bristol is victorious in March town election challenge". The Laconia Daily Sun. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "2022 New Hampshire State House - Grafton District 18 Election Results". USA Today. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "2022 New Hampshire State House - Grafton District 18 Election Results". USA Today. November 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Zoning Board of Adjustments - December 6, 2022" (PDF). Bristol, NH. December 6, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2024.
- ^ Graham, Michael (December 7, 2023). "GOP's Perez Calls Support for 15-Day Abortion Bill a 'Mistake,' But Political Damage Is Done". NH Journal - An InsideSources publication.
- ^ Gopalakrishnan, Sruti (February 5, 2024). "Six-year-old from Concord testifies against bill that would prohibit SEL classes". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Social Emotional Learning ban brings out strong opposition". Reaching Higher NH. February 7, 2024. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024.
- ^ Sexton, Adam (February 5, 2024). "Students, educators testify against bill to ban social and emotional learning programs in New Hampshire". WMUR9. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024.
- ^ DeWitt, Ethan (September 18, 2024). "Citing fall of Roe, Republicans ask for Claremont school funding decisions to be overturned". New Hampshire Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ "2024 New Hampshire State House Primary Election Results". USA Today. September 25, 2024.
