Our state constitution qualifies public education for all as a fundamental right. And yet, taxpayers in NH have endured an increasing tax burden to cover the rising costs to fund competitive public education while the state legislature has failed to fairly and adequately fund public schools. Slashing the local school budget is not the solution to the tax burden. Reducing what we define as “adequate” is not the solution to the state’s funding deficits. Diverting tax dollars away from public schools is not the solution. The solution lies in electing the right people to the state legislature who will act to provide fair funding to all public school districts. The right people will fight for what taxpayers and families deserve under our democracy and the NH State Constitution: a fairly and adequately funded public school system that prepares students to thrive in our global society.
Hope Damon is the right person to represent District 8. She is a Croydon resident and she was instrumental in the fight to restore the school budget there after the sudden vote to cut it by more than half. She has energy and ideas for solving problems, and is balanced and collaborative in her approach. The Croydon decision was a wake up call to us all. The time for complacency and political apathy is over. We must pay attention to who is representing us and vote to ensure that our values are reflected in Concord. I value public education and that is why Hope Damon has my vote.
Whitney Skillen
Claremont