LOCAL REPRESENTATION
I will truly represent the interests of the people of Lebanon. How could someone claiming to represent the people of Lebanon vote to cut $83 million in aid for school construction when we are trying to build a new JR High ? How could someone claiming to represent the people of Lebanon vote to cut revenue sharing that will cost Lebanon taxpayers $382,372 in this current budget ?
I DO NOT support closing neighborhood schools and consolidating all kindergarten students, expecially not at the high school location, and all 5th and 6th graders at Seminary Hill. These two moves will require busing large numbers of students back and forth across the City that now are able to attend schools in their own neighborhoods.
I have also learned that potential kindergarten children are being turned away because "they have an over abundance of kindergarten registrations". If there are that many children in need of kindergarten then why are we closing schools?
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
I am a strong supporter of Individual Rights and Personal Freedoms.
I will continue to support and defend the rights of law abiding firearm owners.
I do not support seatbelt or helmet laws for adults.
INCOME/SALES TAX
I grew up in Vermont and I know what an income tax and sales tax can do to a family's budget. I will work to preserve our economic advantage over our neighbors across the river in Vermont by firmly opposing any attempt to establish a broadbased income or sales tax in New Hampshire.
NH RETIREMENT SYSTEM
I believe that the NH Retirement system, specifically Group II that covers Police Officers, Fire Fighters and Teachers, has been tinkered and toyed with and used to draw from to balance the State budget and needs to be repaired. We need to find solutions that are fair to the contributors and that prevent future problems.
STATE SPENDING
I support a State budget that provides funding that has the most direct effect on local communities and local people. In these troubled economic times our "Representatives" should be weighing each project against its impact on the budget. Families are cutting corners and making do while the State continues to spend. They are spending your money and we need to remind them of that!
EDUCATION
If our children are going to have a future filled with opportunites they need a good education. I support school vouchers, tax credits and homeschooling freedom because local control and school choice is the best way to accommodate the individual needs of each child.
MARRIAGE
I respect that there are all types of relationships and I respect that people involved in those relationships all want recognition and legal protection.
I also respect that many people of faith, while loving their neighbor and with no intent to discriminate or hate, believe that some relationships are not in line with the teachings of their faith.
There are already legal protections in place in NH for civil relationships.
I believe that freedom of religion is just as important as non-discrimination of protected groups.
I believe that "religious marriage" is between a man and a woman and that decisions and policies set by religious organizations and the clergy, based on their faith, do not constitute discrimination or hate and should be protected.
Again to be clear (as there have been some misunderstandings) I believe that "Marriage" is between a Man and a Woman.
FAMILY ISSUES
I support parental rights.
Health and educational decisions effecting minor children should rest with the parents.
I believe in the sanctity of life.