Merrimack District 2 includes Northfield.
Two candidates are vying for one seat. Republican incumbent Gregory Hill will face Democratic challenger Joyce Fulweiler in the general election. Hill did not respond to the Monitor’s survey.
Joyce Fulweiler
Party affiliation: Democrat
What town/city do you live in? Northfield
Political experience: 1985-1988 administrative assistant to the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation Executive Committee; 1991-1994 state representative for Merrimack County District 2, Ways & Means Committee; 2019-2020 Merrimack County District 25, State/Federal Relations & Veteran’s Affairs.
Professional experience: Belknap/Merrimack Community Action Program Vista Volunteer, Franklin Area Director; Served as a town administrator for the towns of Northfield, Newmarket and Tilton spanning 1989 to 2018 when I retired.
Community service experience: I have continued to engage with my community focusing on health, safety and providing an adequate education for our children. The list is too long of my community activities over the years to add to this survey. However, I did enjoy spending 14+ years with the Winnisquam Regional School District keeping an active PTO organization alive from pre-kindergarten to Graduation.
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? No. I concur with the existing laws we have to date that require medical referral.
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? Give towns and cities grants to revise their local zoning restrictions.
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? NH law enforcement should seek opportunities to assist and hold them accountable.
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? It should keep the current law of restricting abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? Repeal the current state education funding laws and replace them with funding for improving adequate education to take off the load on property taxes.
NH consistently struggles with funding its government and services. What is one way you would raise state revenue, and what is one area you would cut expenses? Be specific. Focus on our businesses in NH and parents to develop programs to enhance or participate in training in our schools. Also, businesses should be encouraged to provide their employees with childcare. This will lay down the foundation for expanding our business economy.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? I strongly believe that we need to change our current funding formula since the Legislature changed the formula back in the early 1990s to a statewide school property tax that is not working. I look forward to working with our fellow representatives so we can resolve this problem.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? The cost of health insurance and the number of citizens unable to afford physical and behavioral health care.
This candidate did not provide a link to a campaign website.