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Jeanne Dietsch

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Jeanne Dietsch
Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 9th district
In office
December 6, 2018 – December 2, 2020
Preceded byAndy Sanborn
Succeeded byDenise Ricciardi
Personal details
Born (1952-04-16) April 16, 1952 (age 74)
Kenton, Ohio, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseBill Kennedy
Children2
EducationWestern Michigan University (BS)

Jeanne Dietsch (born April 16, 1952) is an American former politician and businesswoman[1] who served as a Democratic member of the New Hampshire Senate,[2] representing the 9th district from 2018 to 2020.[3]

In addition to her legislative career, Dietsch has engaged in work related to robotics and intelligent automation, technology policy[4], journalism, and public discussions on technology and society.[5]

Early life and Career

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Dietsch was born in Kenton, Ohio, and grew up in Marion, Ohio.[citation needed]

Before entering politics, she worked in the private sector and later became involved in a local sub-committee in Peterborough, NH.[6] In 1995, she co-founded ActivMedia Robotics with her husband, which was later renamed MobileRobots Inc. She served as chief executive officer until its acquisition by Adept Technology in 2010.[7]

Before founding ActivMedia Robotics, Dietsch worked in technology and internet market research through ActivMedia Research, which published early analyses of e-commerce, including Who’s Succeeding on the Internet and How.[8] She has written as a columnist to IEEE Robotics and Automation and has spoken at industry and academic conferences on robotics, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies.[9]

Government service

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Dietsch unsuccessfully ran for State Senate in New Hampshire in 2016, losing in the primary to Lee Nyquist.[citation needed]

In 2018, Dietsch won 54% of votes in the Democratic primary. She later won the general election against Republican Dan Hynes, 14,037 to 12,776.[10] Dietsch served as Vice Chair of the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee and Chair of the Commission on the Environmental and Health Impacts of Perfluorinated Chemicals.[11]

Political positions

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Dietsch has been a proponent of an income tax. In 2019, Dietsch was the sponsor for a last minute amendment, to an unrelated bill dealing with using cell phones while driving, which would have added a 6.2% payroll tax.[12][13]

In June 2020, Dietsch was quoted on comments made at a House Education Committee Meeting while debating a bill on school choice, where she stated “this idea of parental choice, that’s great if the parent is well-educated. There are some families that’s perfect for. But to make it available to everyone? No. I think you’re asking for a huge amount of trouble.”[14][15][16]

Dietsch's bill to establish Telecommunications Districts,[17] in order to ease rural broadband expansion, became law in 2020.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Sen. Jeanne Dietsch: Is this what voters wanted?". UnionLeader.com. 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Jeanne Dietsch". Kuster for Congress. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  3. ^ "Jeanne Dietsch - profile overview | Citizens Count". www.citizenscount.org. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  4. ^ "No, Robots Don't Steal People's Jobs - IEEE Spectrum". spectrum.ieee.org. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  5. ^ "Former Sen. Jeanne Dietsch to host discussion on NH libertarianism". nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  6. ^ "Economic Development Authority". www.townofpeterborough.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  7. ^ "Robots Move Into Corporate Roles". Computerworld.
  8. ^ Cyr, Joshua (18 March 2016). "Jeanne Dietsch, Co-founder and Former CEO of MobileRobots, Inc., to Share Insights April 13 at TechWomen Power Breakfast". New Hampshire Tech Alliance.
  9. ^ "Can We Predict How People Will Interact with Robots? - IEEE Spectrum". spectrum.ieee.org.
  10. ^ "New Hampshire State Senate District 9". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  11. ^ "Statutory and Study Committee Search". Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  12. ^ "New Hampshire Senate panel puts an end to tax on higher-wage earners". NH Business Review. 2019-05-22. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  13. ^ Leader, DAVE SOLOMON New Hampshire Union (21 May 2019). "Senate quickly kills proposed income tax on high wage earners". UnionLeader.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  14. ^ "NH Dem Senator: Working-class parents don't have intelligence to oversee their kids' educations". Lowell Sun. 2020-06-14. Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  15. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union (27 June 2020). "Dem's comments put Senate Dist. 9 seat in GOP's sights". UnionLeader.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  16. ^ "N.H. Dem Senator: School Choice 'Great if the Parent Is Well-Educated' But Shouldn't Be Available to Everyone". news.yahoo.com. 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  17. ^ "New Hampshire Bill Will Allow Multi-Town Broadband System". 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Governor Chris Sununu Signs Two Bills into Law". Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
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