There are many important issues facing New Hampshire this election year and I want you all to know what I will focus on when I am elected.
CLEAN WATER
It is essential that everyone in the state has confidence in their drinking water. There has been a focus on eliminating PFAS and the state has been making great progress. A recent settlement with 3M and Dupont will bring additional dollars to the state to clean up PFAS in our drinking water. There is also an ongoing testing program that is looking at contaminates in private wells. I cannot stress enough the need for homeowners with a private well to test for contamination.
CLEAN LAKES AND RIVERS
Everyone living near a lake or river has a responsibility to keep chemicals from polluting nearby lakes and rivers. Cyanobacteria blooms, e coli, runoff and pollution are mostly manmade problems, and we can fix that by being extremely careful with how we treat our environment.
LOCAL CONTROL OF LAND USE
Our towns and cities oversee land use, and it needs to remain that way. The state could provide incentives to towns and cities to relax some of their zoning ordinances, but in the end, it is up to the voters in each town or city to best determine land use.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
There is no question the housing stock in NH is woefully inadequate. The state needs to work with builders to attempt to try to have them help solve this problem.
BALANCED BUDGET
Over the last four years we have been fortunate to have ARPA money that was spent on one-time projects that allowed many unmet needs to be funded. The days of ARPA are over, and we need to live within our state income. This means we will have to prioritize state spending and make sure we live within our means, just as every household must do.
SCHOOL FUNDING
During the last budget cycle the state significantly increased school funding, however it is essential that we relook at how educational funding is distributed across the state. This is a never-ending problem as it truly affects local property taxes. I will work to ensure it is fair and balanced throughout the state.
NO NEW TAXES
I will never support a sales or income tax. It is extremely important that we never lose the New Hampshire Advantage. I have taken the CNHT Anti-Broadbased Taxpayer Pledge