State Senate District 15 includes Bow, Concord and Hopkinton.
Democratic incumbent Sen. Tara Reardon faces a challenge from Dennis Blankenbeker, a Republican. Blankenbeker did not respond to the Monitor’s survey.
Tara Reardon
Party affiliation: Democrat
What town/city do you live in? Concord
Political experience: 7-term State Representative, 2 terms as Chair of the House Commerce Committee, Merrimack County Commissioner, At Large City Councilor, School Board member.
Professional experience: Retired attorney, housing work that includes creating housing for unhoused veterans, individuals with intellectual disabilities and over 40 resident-owned manufactured housing cooperatives.
Community service experience: Member of the Concord Zoning Board of Adjustment, Chair of the Crisis Center of Central NH, Corporator of the NH Mutual Bancorp, Governing Council of Housing Action NH, Supreme Court Society, Concord Garden Club.
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? Yes
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? It will take all of the above actions to successfully increase the housing stock in NH. I am working with the NH Forum, BIA, Housing Action NH and NH Community Loan Fund to draft legislation to address this problem.
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? Criminal activity, by a citizen or immigrant, should be the focus of local law enforcement and immigration enforcement, if applicable.
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? Abortion is a medical procedure that should be left to a doctor and patient.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? NH RSA 275:32 regarding Sunday work. “Whoever requires an employee engaged in any occupation to do on Sunday the usual work of his occupation, unless he is allowed during the 6 days next ensuing 24 consecutive hours without labor, shall be fined not more than $50; provided that this section and the following section shall not be construed as allowing any work on Sunday not otherwise authorized by law.” The law originally passed in 1931 and was last amended in 1951. Federal and state law, as well as contracts, have modernized employment law practice and require overtime compensation to an employee that work hours beyond the usual workweek.
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. The elimination of the interest and dividends tax and lowering of the business tax rates has resulted in a billion dollar loss in state revenue, without any corresponding benefit. Bringing accountability to the Education Freedom Account program is a good first step in determining the use of taxpayer dollars.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? The state of NH should fulfill its constitutional obligation to fund public education, and advocate for the federal government to fulfill their obligation to fund special education.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? Affordability in Granite Staters’ household budgets, including housing, childcare, groceries and education, is the number one issue. In addition to those mentioned, the state of NH has a workforce retention problem. State agencies sometimes pay three times the cost of the work on a project hiring outside consultants because they have failed to retain state workers.
This candidate did not provide a link to a campaign website.