Meet the Merrimack County District 10 House candidates
The Monitor sent questionnaires to area House candidates. We asked the candidates to answer a checklist of questions about positions the most recent Legislature took on a range of issues. Although we asked for yes or no responses, many of the candidates went further. Rather than limit the responses, we provided as much leeway as space will allow. Each candidate was also given a chance to add information specific to their candidacies. Here’s what they said:
Merrimack County 10
Concord Ward 5, Hopkinton (3 seats)
FRANK ROSANO
Party: Republican
Town: Concord
Occupation: Retired
Incumbent? No
Do you support ...
Right-to-work legislation? No
Repealing gay marriage? Not sure
Allowing guns on college campuses? No
Legalizing medical marijuana? No
Allowing any employer to exempt contraception from insurance plans? No
Last year’s 50 percent cut in university funding? No
A constitutional amendment giving the Legislature full authority over education funding? No
A business tax credit to fund scholarships? Yes
The efforts of the Committee on Redress of Grievances? No
A constitutional amendment barring an income tax? No
Requiring voters to present a photo ID? No
Some form of expanded gambling? Yes
What would you like voters to know about your philosophy, principles or priorities? Honesty
More information: Call 225-9017
DEBRA JOHNSON
Party: Republican
Town: Concord
Incumbent? No
Did not respond to survey
RICHARD KENNEDY
Party: Republican
Town: Hopkinton
Incumbent? No
Did not respond to survey
MARY JANE WALLNER
Party: Democrat
Age: 65
Town: Concord
Occupation: Director of Merrimack Valley Day Care Service
Incumbent? Yes
Do you support . . .
Right-to-work legislation? No
Repealing gay marriage? No
Allowing guns on college campuses? No
Legalizing medical marijuana? Yes
Allowing any employer to exempt contraception from insurance plans? No
Last year’s 50 percent cut in university funding? No
A constitutional amendment giving the Legislature full authority over education funding? No
A business tax credit to fund scholarships? No
The efforts of the Committee on Redress of Grievances? No
A constitutional amendment barring an income tax? No
Requiring voters to present a photo ID? No
Some form of expanded gambling? No
What would you like voters to know about your philosophy, principles or priorities? I have been in the Legislature for 32 years, and during that time I have served on numerous committees and held leadership positions. For 16 years I was on the Finance Committee, and for four years I was the majority leader. I am a person who has common sense, I make decisions based on facts and information. I strive to gather opinions from the residents in my district and to represent them in a fair and honest manner. The next Legislature will be faced with the monumental challenge of developing a state budget that meets the needs of our citizens. A priority for me is to use my previous budget experience and be part of the budget process.
More information: Call 225-5249
GARY RICHARDSON
Party: Democrat
Age: 68
Town: Hopkinton
Occupation: Attorney
Incumbent? Yes
Do you support ...
Right-to-work legislation? No
Repealing gay marriage? No
Allowing guns on college campuses? No
Legalizing medical marijuana? If properly supervised, yes.
Allowing any employer to exempt contraception from insurance plans? No
Last year’s 50 percent cut in university funding? No
A constitutional amendment giving the Legislature full authority over education funding? No
A business tax credit to fund scholarships? No
The efforts of the Committee on Redress of Grievances? No
A constitutional amendment barring an income tax? No
Requiring voters to present a photo ID? I do not support the Voter ID law recently passed by the Legislature because it is too restrictive.
Some form of expanded gambling? No
What would you like voters to know about your philosophy, principles or priorities? My top priorities are education funding, the economy, affordable health care and the environment. I believe that solving problems is more important than ideology.
More information: As a three-term legislator, my voting record is available on the N.H. House website. I can also be reached at 746-4315.
MEL MYLER
Party: Democrat
Age: 68
Town: Contoocook
Occupation: Retired educator, former executive director NEA-NH; director, executive staff of National Education Association
Incumbent? No
Do you support . . .
Right-to-work legislation? No. Employees have a right to organize.
Repealing gay marriage? No
Allowing guns on college campuses? No.
Legalizing medical marijuana? Yes. Assisting people in need is a good thing as long as there are clearly identifiable regulations controlling its distribution and sale.
Allowing any employer to exempt contraception from insurance plans? No. Employers should not interfere with employee insurance benefits.
Last year’s 50 percent cut in university funding? No. We need to increase funding of higher education. Higher education provides the critical edge for a strong economy and jobs for our future.
A constitutional amendment giving the Legislature full authority over education funding? No. I believe in the separation of powers between the legislative, judicial and executive branch of government.
A business tax credit to fund scholarships? No. First, why would we want to provide further business tax credits when we are struggling to find enough revenue for the state? Second, this is a form of school vouchers.
Requiring voters to present a photo ID? No. As in other states, this is part of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s national agenda to limit voter access to the voting. There has been no history of voter fraud in New Hampshire, and this is not needed.
Some form of expanded gambling? No. We need additional revenue sources for the state, but not this choice.
What would you like voters to know about your philosophy, principles or priorities? Some of our elected leaders have decided to take an “absolutist” position on their key issues and have failed to seek out the compromise to obtain mutually attainable outcomes. There are campfires of discontent with the current House leadership, even within the Republican caucus. The challenge is to make these isolated campfires into a raging brush fire of transformation for change, bringing back the historic integrity of a chamber that can, in a respectful manner, agree to disagree without being disagreeable. I want:
∎ To bring civility and common sense back to the Legislature.
∎ To create 21st century schools.
∎ To increase school funding to school districts.
∎ To strengthen the economy for middle-class jobs.
∎ To fight against increased health care costs for seniors, women and families.
∎ To bring respect for diverse opinions and positions back to the legislative process.
More information: Email melmyler4nhhouse@gmail.com
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