For more than two decades, I have worked at the intersection of science, public policy and disaster resilience. My career has focused on helping communities understand, prepare for and reduce risks — from wildfires and floods to hurricanes and winter storms. Along the way, I have collaborated with fire chiefs, city managers, utility leaders, insurance executives, federal policymakers, educators, business owners and investors.
One lesson stands above all others: resilient communities are built on foresight and collaboration. The strongest economies and most resilient towns are not created by chance. They emerge when leaders make thoughtful decisions today that position future generations to thrive.
As a Granite Stater, a mother, a scientist and a citizen deeply invested in our state’s future, I believe New Hampshire stands at a pivotal moment. Hardworking families are struggling to put down roots. Young adults who were born and raised here can’t afford to stay. Seniors are being priced out of the communities they call home.
From Bristol to Henniker and Franklin to Sutton, I’ve connected with Granite Staters from all walks of life dedicated to building a more resilient reality. Not abandoning the traditions we cherish, but building a future where we know they will be carried on.
For years, politicians have invoked the phrase the “New Hampshire Advantage.” It appears in campaign speeches, advertisements and policy debates. Yet too rarely do we stop to ask what it actually means.
The “New Hampshire Advantage” entered the political lexicon during Gov. Stephen Merrill’s 1992 campaign to celebrate our state’s low-tax economic model: no sales tax, no income tax. Not now, not ever. However, our economic model is far older than the political term itself.
Since our state’s founding nearly 250 years ago, New Hampshire’s prosperity has been rooted in a tradition of limited government, fiscal responsibility, local control and individual opportunity. When Gov. Kelly Ayotte invoked the New Hampshire Advantage in her 2025 inaugural address, she used the same breath to remind our local leaders: “don’t forget the importance of keeping the tax burden as low as possible.” Meanwhile, local leaders in our small towns are working diligently to keep property taxes as low as possible while keeping our roads plowed, our schools open and striving for excellence, and our public safety agencies staffed and resourced to keep our communities safe and protected.
We’re at that moment where we’re forced to ask: What is the advantage we are trying to preserve? And more importantly, are our current policies strengthening it — or eroding it?
We see the warning signs all around us. Property taxes continue to rise. Our public schools are pinching pennies to meet students’ basic educational needs. Our roads and bridges are in disrepair. Our police and fire departments are fighting staffing shortages and budget constraints. Our neighbors cannot afford to heat their homes because of rising energy costs. Small businesses face compounding barriers to growth, and too many young people leave the state in search of career opportunities and affordable starter homes elsewhere.
These challenges affect every corner of New Hampshire. They affect the young family trying to buy a first home. The recent graduate hoping to build a career where they grew up. The veteran or senior citizen living on a fixed income and wondering whether they can afford to remain in the community they have called home for decades.
Whatever our political views, we should be honest with ourselves: rising property taxes, increasing financial strain on families and seniors and stagnant economic growth are not signs that the New Hampshire Advantage is thriving. They are signs that the status quo is no longer serving Granite Staters as well as it should.
Fortunately, New Hampshire’s greatest strength has never been found in Concord. It has always been found in our people and communities. People and communities who care deeply about preserving our New Hampshire Advantage while embracing the innovation necessary to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Economic growth and strong communities are not mutually exclusive, they are inherently interdependent.
This is not a partisan vision. It is a practical one.
The future of New Hampshire will not be determined by political rhetoric. It will be determined by whether we have the courage to confront these challenges and the discipline to pursue long-term solutions.
Granite Staters deserve a New Hampshire where seniors can remain in their homes and afford the necessities of life. A New Hampshire where young adults can find meaningful careers and purchase a starter home. A New Hampshire where families have access to quality public schools and affordable child care. A New Hampshire that protects its lakes, forests, farms and outdoor heritage while fostering economic opportunity. A New Hampshire that is fiscally responsible and accountable, and does not even need to discuss a broad-based income or sales tax. A New Hampshire where businesses can grow within strong, vibrant communities and a skilled workforce.
The New Hampshire Advantage is more than a political slogan. The New Hampshire Advantage is our commitment to fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, strong communities and a better, more resilient future for the next generation of Granite Staters.
We have a shared vision for a state government that lives within its means, spends existing taxpayer dollars wisely and focuses relentlessly on delivering results for the people.
That future is within reach. But only if we are willing to build it together.
Rebecca Harned is a mom, scientist, and resident of Sutton. She serves on the Kearsarge School District’s Municipal Budget Committee and is running for State Senate District 7.