About Scott Shepard
Research training, business leadership, local service, community volunteering, and fact-based policy analysis.
Scott Shepard is running for New Hampshire State Representative in Strafford County District 4, representing Barrington and Strafford.
I believe New Hampshire works best when state leaders listen to local communities, respect taxpayers, and take responsibility for solving the problems that affect families, schools, businesses, and towns.
Facts. Strategy. Real Solutions.
NH Insights & Op-Eds
I created NH Insights to help New Hampshire residents better understand statewide policy issues. Through Substack, Facebook, podcasts, op-eds, and public commentary, I have written and spoken about education, school funding, property taxes, housing, workforce development, childcare, local government, and the state budget.
My approach is straightforward: start with facts, explain tradeoffs honestly, and avoid the political theater that prevents real problem-solving.
Research, Business, and Problem-Solving
I earned a PhD in Genetics, which gave me a foundation in research, evidence, and analytical thinking.
My business career focused on strategic analysis, organizational performance, operational improvement, and large-scale business transformation. I worked with teams across major companies and industries to align organizations, develop shared visions, and execute complex programs.
That experience taught me how to move from broad goals to practical implementation — a discipline I believe New Hampshire needs more of in Concord.
Local Government Service
I have been actively involved in local civic life in Barrington, including service on the Planning Board, Advisory Budget Committee, and Capital Improvement Program Committee.
Those roles have given me firsthand experience with the pressures facing local communities: growth, housing, school budgets, infrastructure, land use, capital planning, and the difficult choices taxpayers and local officials must make every year.
Local government is where state policy becomes real.
Community Volunteering
Since retiring, I have tried to use my experience in ways that are useful to the community.
I volunteer with SCORE, providing free mentoring and consulting to help local small businesses think through strategy, operations, growth, and sustainability. SCORE supports entrepreneurs and small business owners through mentoring, education, and practical business advice. Learn more about SCORE New Hampshire & Vermont.
I previously served as a CASA — a Court Appointed Special Advocate — supporting the best interests of children involved in court cases. That experience reinforced for me how important it is for vulnerable children and families to have steady, responsible adults willing to listen, show up, and advocate thoughtfully.
I also joined the Waypoint Home Host program, and for more than a year I have provided stable housing support to a young man who experienced homelessness. That experience has reinforced my belief that practical support can make a real difference in someone’s life. Learn more about Waypoint’s Host Home program.
Barrington and Local Planning
Before starting NH Insights, I began applying my analytical approach locally in Barrington. I studied the town’s master plan, housing patterns, and local economy, then shared my findings with residents through weekly posts in Barrington Connections.
We discussed difficult questions: how new housing affects school enrollment, what residents were reacting to in new development, and what kind of growth Barrington wanted for the future.
That work helped lead to a strategic planning session with the Select Board, a clearer community vision, and my service on the Planning Board to help move zoning changes forward.
Why This Work Matters
I’m running because I believe Barrington and Strafford deserve representation grounded in facts, local experience, fiscal responsibility, and practical problem-solving. My work through NH Insights, local government, SCORE, CASA, Waypoint, and community planning has reinforced a simple belief: good decisions begin with good information, honest conversation, and a willingness to do the work.