Thomas Oppel

Thomas Patrick Oppel (born December 1953) is an American politician, consultant, and former journalist. He is a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Grafton 9th district and represented Canaan, Dorchester, and Orange. A resident of Canaan, New Hampshire, since 2000, Oppel is the chair of the Canaan Economic Development Committee. In 2021, Oppel became the secretary of the Canaan Planning Board and his term as secretary was set to expire in 2027, although as of 2026 he is no longer the secretary or a member of the board. He was previously a board member of the Canaan Planning Board from 2005 to 2007. He taught as an English teacher in Hudson, New Hampshire. Oppel began his career as a journalist as a part-time political correspondent for The Nashua Telegraph. He worked for United Press International and several newspapers in New England and the South. He resigned his seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on August 3, 2026.

Political positions While a candidate, Oppel was opposed to the establishment of a state income tax and sales tax. After his election, Oppel has supported the "3-3 Tax Savings Plan," which, if passed by the legislature, would create a 3% income tax for all New Hampshire residents and a $3 tax per $1,000 of equalized property value that would not apply to the first $250,000 of property value for New Hampshire homeowners.

Electoral history