I am a proud fighting Democrat running for county commissioner in Merrimack District 2.
I will be transparent about county government as I was with my “report from Concord” when state representative for Merrimack District 1.
I am a taxpayer and I will strive to keep county taxes down while making sure that our most vulnerable neighbors can rely on the nursing home, and our challenged youth and adults get help from our county attorney and the sheriff’s office in diversion programs that keep them out of jail.
The county jail and the nursing home are the two major expenses, but county government is more than that: county attorney, the advocacy center for children, the sheriff, the registry of deeds and UNH extension. The budget is $93 million for 2020. About half comes from local property taxes. The three commissioners and the county delegation will scour the details for possible reductions.
My record as state representative speaks for itself. I put my constituents first; I fought for flood control monies for Franklin, Hill and Salisbury. I got $1.1 million from Massachusetts for flood control payments they owed us. I fought for broadband expansion in our underserved communities. I created CLAD, the Coalition of Legislators Against Downshifting, and garnered bipartisan support.
I was instrumental in keeping the county courthouse in downtown Concord.
I am a true fiscal conservative and a true social liberal. I respectfully ask for your vote on Sept. 8 in the Democratic primary and in the general election on Nov. 3.
MARIO RATZKI
Andover