Often heated, sometimes whimsical rhetoric evoked during abortion discussion

An angry District 9 hopeful, Amy Malone, a Democrat says, "I don't think that if somebody who makes the decision in the 7th, 8th or at nine months, that they should have to put it through us." (City of Rochester screenshot)

ROCHESTER - Tuesday's Candidates Forum at City Hall took up several tough issues ahead of the Nov. 5 election, but the subject that best showcased the vast differences between the candidates for New Hampshire House seats were their comments on abortion.
Moderator and former Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean began the forum with a question regarding whether candidates thought the New Hampshire abortion statute should be made more or less restrictive or left as is.
The current law allows abortions for any reason through the sixth month of pregnancy and then limits it to only when the health of the mother or baby is at risk.
"No religion is above the state," said Larry Brown of Milton, a Democrat who is running for a District 2 seat, which also includes Ward 5 in Rochester. "A woman has the authority to start, continue or end a pregnancy."
Incumbent District 8 candidate Democrat Chuck Grassie agreed with Brown, but went further saying he would be for codifying Roe v Wade into the New Hampshire constitution.
Grassie's opponent is Republican challenger Sam Farrington, a UNH students who is unapologetically prolife.
"I'm prolife," he said. "But I think we need to offer more help for these women who need our support."
District 6 candidate Kathleen MacLeod, a Democrat, said "Abortion is health care, and it should be a decision between the doctor and the patient."
Her opponent, Denise DeDe-Poulin, a Republican, said in her opinion, "the baby has equal rights just like the mother."
Patricia Turner, a Democrat candidate for District 5, agreed with MacLeod.
"It's up to the woman and her doctor," she said.
Her opponent, incumbent Thomas Kaczynski Jr., pointed out that the six-month limit is what the people of New Hampshire want.
"It previously was allowed up to the birth," he said. "The present law is what the citizens want."
District 19 candidate Melena Lugo, a Democrat, said "the state can't tell women what to do."
Another District 19 candidate, incumbent Daniel Fitzpatrick, said much the same, but also mused openly that no one should support a law that doesn't have an impact on them.
"No one should pass a law that doesn't affect them," he noted. "How can a man pass a law that doesn't affect the man?"
District 19 incumbent Kelly Potenza, a Republican, said she's amenable to the six month limit of choice, but not after that.
"I've advocated support for any reason through six months," she said, "but we should spend more time helping these women than just spreading disinformation."
Republican Jenny Wilson, who is also looking to grab a District 19 seat, agreed she was "pro life," but wanted to do more to help those who are having a tough time dealing with their pregnancy.

The General Election is scheduled for Nov. 5.