Belknap County District 8 represents Alton, Barnstead and Gilmanton.
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Incumbent?
What specific policy do you see as most vital?: The reestablishing of our constitutional rights especially Part First Art. 32.
How do you plan to address the significant budget challenges our state will face in the months ahead?: Reduce the recent expansion of bloated government agencies and regulations.
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What specific policy do you see as most vital?: My primary goal is to make New Hampshire a place where young people want to stay, and young families want to settle. That means health care for all, and affordable housing, and good public schools in every part of the state, and protections for the environment. It also means support for LGBTQ rights, and women’s reproductive rights. And to make liberty and justice for all a reality. I support fair redistricting based on independent studies, and an end to gerrymandering. To me income inequality is a major threat to our democracy, and I would advocate for increased fairness in our tax system, so that the burden on the middle class is reduced and those at the higher wealth levels contribute more. This includes taxes on large corporations, many of which are based out of state. Finally, I support compassionate, evidence-based treatment of persons with substance abuse disorders and mental health problems.
How do you plan to address the significant budget challenges our state will face in the months ahead?: To me, everything is on the table. A combination of lack of political will and consistent downshifting of services to the local level has resulted in an over-reliance on local property taxes. Most communities in New Hampshire are struggling to fund even bare bones public education, while residents in other towns benefit from low tax rates and high quality education. This situation results in a vicious cycle, with the property poor towns losing population and unable to attract or keep businesses. I would never take what is commonly referred to as “the pledge.” The pledge I would take is to work hard to make the tax system of New Hampshire more equitable, and to reform education funding so that all children, not just those in the wealthiest towns, have equal opportunities. To me, the future of New Hampshire depends on that.