Effective public policy is made locally. That’s why I’m running as the Democratic nominee for Executive Council in District 2, and that’s why it’s essential to vote in down ballot races on Nov. 8.
While the presidential race is critically important, federal initiatives, like the Affordable Care Act, must often be implemented locally. The federal law, backed by the president, created the opportunity for Medicaid expansion. But without the approval of our state Legislature and the passage of implementing contracts by the Executive Council, 50,000 hard working Granite Staters would not have access to affordable health care today.
On some issues, the fights may be entirely or primarily local. Efforts to implement livable wage laws, protect family planning funding, ensure labor organizing rights, expand commuter rail, and abolish the death penalty all depend on the votes of locally elected officials.
There is too much at stake – at every level of government – to skip any races on your ballot this fall. To continue moving New Hampshire forward, we must vote our values up and down the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Andru Volinsky
Concord