Benjamin Nelson
Lifelong Sullivan County resident. Small-business owner in downtown Claremont. Running to build a thriving county with a prosperous future — for every family in Sullivan County.
A Claremont neighbor, a Main Street businessman
A lifelong resident of Sullivan County, Benjamin knows the beauty — and the
struggles — of rural New Hampshire.
Benjamin’s family roots in Sullivan County run generations deep, through his maternal Villers and Simoneau lines. He graduated from Stevens High School in 2013 and Dartmouth College in 2017 with a degree in History specializing in Agriculture, then managed farms across the Upper Valley — orchards, dairy and cheese operations, and row-crop vegetables, in both conventional and organic practice.
In 2019, Benjamin and his wife Chiara purchased Claremont Spice & Dry Goods, where he brought his food-production background to the shelves — fresh vegetables, mushrooms, and fruit — as part of a mission to bring varied and increased food access to the Upper Valley.
Benjamin served on the Board of Directors of Vital Communities from 2020 to 2026, has served on the Board of Corporators of Claremont Savings Bank since 2021, and has worked first-hand with Sullivan County government through the Conservation District and the Sugar River regional business development programs.
He has watched too many classmates leave Sullivan County to make a life for themselves somewhere else — and watched record property-tax increases squeeze the residents who stayed. That’s why he’s running: to build systems that work at every level of government, and to grow a home where our children and grandchildren can live and thrive.
“We spend over a million of our tax dollars a year on food. I don’t think we can afford not to farm for the County any longer.”
Benjamin at a Glance
- ★Lifelong Sullivan County resident — born & raised in Claremont
- ★Stevens High School ’13 · Dartmouth College ’17
- ★Owner, Claremont Spice & Dry Goods since 2019, with his wife Chiara
- ★Board of Directors, Vital Communities 2020–2026
- ★Board of Corporators, Claremont Savings Bank since 2021
- ★Hands-on county experience — Conservation District & Sugar River business development programs
Top 3 issues for Sullivan County
Practical, county-level action — saving taxpayers money while building for the future.
Workforce Housing
Sullivan County’s staffing needs are large — and the cost of meeting them, particularly at the county nursing facility with traveling staff, is exorbitant. That calls for creative solutions through increasing our local workforce housing capacity. By supporting denser, community-minded development throughout our municipalities, the county can enable more working-age individuals and families to call this place home.
Sustainable Power
The county has established a community power framework, but we need to do more to help lower power bills for our residents. We need to direct our Conservation District to get USDA grants for our local dairy farms turning them into powerplants with methane digesters. We need to generate more power for our residents here while helping farms stay economically viable into the future. Getting more agrovoltaic projects, mixing solar fields with livestock and crops is also instrumental for shaping a successful future for our residents and farmers
Climate Adaptation
Times are changing, and we must adapt. The county should pursue federal and state grants to prepare our infrastructure for the extreme weather each year now brings. After the recent tragedies in our sister state of Vermont, being proactive will protect our communities from upheaval — and spare families and businesses from relying on delayed federal aid after the fact.
Why I’m Running
“We need to build a better future for all our residents — grow a home where our children and grandchildren can live and thrive.”
This campaign runs on neighbors like you
County races are won door by door and dollar by dollar. Here’s how you can help.
Volunteer
Knock doors, make calls, or help at events across District 1. Every hour makes a difference.
Request a Yard Sign
Show your neighbors you’re with Benjamin. We’ll deliver a sign right to your yard.
Donate
Local races run lean — a few dollars goes a long way toward signs, mailers, and gas money.
Checks can be made out to Benjamin Nelson.