The Gist
State Senator, 6th District

Cecil Abels

Candidate for State Senator, 6th District

Democratic

Background

Occupation
Restaurant owner
Lives in
Rochester
Campaign website
cecilfornh.com

Owner of MrSippy BBQ in Barrington since 2014, and a former hotel and restaurant general manager in Portsmouth. He holds a BA in English teaching from the University of New Hampshire.

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Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should NH add an income tax on earned income?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “No. We've handed away several revenue streams the last few years...”
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Education

  • Opposes funding schools mostly through local property taxes.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “No. Here's what bothers me: New Hampshire covers a smaller share of its own school costs than any state in the country, right around 29”
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Housing

  • Supports state push to ease local zoning for housing.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “We've got a huge housing crisis,here in NH and across the country, and folks are getting priced out of the towns they grew up in.”
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Health & human services

  • Supports guaranteeing a right to abortion before 24 weeks.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “This one's simple to me: decisions about a pregnancy belong to the pregnant person and their doctor.”
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  • Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “An independent office whose whole job is looking out for kids and catching abuse before it becomes a tragedy is exactly what state government should”
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Government & transparency

  • Opposes requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire require new voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering to vote?"

    Citizens Count: Cecil Abels profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “Let's start with the facts: voter fraud is vanishingly rare in New Hampshire… it's just not the problem some folks make it out to be.”
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Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Cecil Abels on them.

  • Public safetyNo documented position found.
  • Economy & jobsNo documented position found.
  • Courts & justiceNo documented position found.

All sources (4)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.

Cecil Abels for State Senator, 6th District, New Hampshire · The Gist