Belknap County District 1: Joseph and Ploszaj

Belknap County District 1 represents Center Harbor and New Hampton.

Party: Democrat

Age: 73

Town of Residence: New Hampton

Occupation: Retired

What specific policy do you see as most vital?: Unity. Health care is a right. Rail transportation is essential to make our economy move forward.

How do you plan to address the significant budget challenges our state will face in the months ahead?: These are truly dangerous times for all of us. We must invest in the future for N.H. Encourage businesses and improve infrastructure of aging buildings, roads and railroads. By this investment, this will provide incentives for business growth and increased employment. If this is done, perhaps we can avoid broad based taxes.

Tom Ploszaj

Party: Republican

Age: 66

Town of Residence: Center Harbor

Occupation: Retired from Analytic Research Science - FT-IR, Microscopy

What specific policy do you see as most vital?: As a fiscal Constitutional, my policy is to involve residents to be pro-active in protecting the rights of all and supporting responsible budgets that address property taxes, quality education, and reducing fees for responsible Granite Staters while providing opportunities and advancement for both workers and businesses.

How do you plan to address the significant budget challenges our state will face in the months ahead?: The pandemic reminded us that the Legislature cannot continue to buy votes with promises of more and more government programs and entitlements without first establishing dedicated funding that provides the revenue needed to continue programs during unplanned deficit. I will be a fiduciary for the New Hampshire taxpayer and their future generations by working with all legislators to formulate budgets addressing the over $500M of lost revenue due to COVID-19 without an income or general sales tax. The New Hampshire Advantage needs to be strengthened. New Hampshire's successful financial future will be our visitors and tourists along with being a more worker-friendly and pro-business state.