Hillsborough District 42 includes Lyndeborough, New Boston, Mont Vernon.
Voters will choose from six candidates for three seats. The Republican incumbents, Gerald Griffin and Lisa C.M. Post, are on the ballot alongside fellow Republican Rob Lovett and Democrats Teri Harkins, Lee Nyquist and Peter Ryder. Griffin, Post, Lovett and Ryder did not respond to the Ledger-Transcript’s survey.
Teri Harkins
Party affiliation: Democrat
What town/city do you live in? New Boston
Political experience: Local organizer
Professional experience: Licensed court reporter, retired
Community service experience: Member of Friends of the Library
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? Before answering this question, I’d like to hear the arguments for and against.
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? I believe the main objection to workforce housing is the potential strain more families might put on public schools and subsequent higher property taxes. NH is last in the nation for the percentage of school expenses paid by the State. That needs to change. We are under court order to almost double adequacy aid, and the governor and legislative majority insist the judge got it wrong!
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? NH government should not assist ICE in the inhumane warehousing of human beings. NH law enforcement should assist ICE in apprehending dangerous criminals. If the mission is costly and criminals occupy NH prisons, the federal government should provide funding.
Do you support the Education Freedom Accounts program? No
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? I believe the current law allows for health-of-the-mother safeguards after 24 weeks. If so, I support existing law.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? I would repeal the voucher program in its entirety. NH needs to abide by court orders and fund public schools adequately before even thinking about funding private education.
NH consistently struggles with funding its government and services. What is one way you would raise state revenue, and what is one area you would cut expenses? Be specific. Cut the voucher program; save $50 million plus per year; reinstate to business profits tax to 8.5%, increase state revenue by about $500 million; reinstate the interest and dividends tax with adjustments for inflation from previous qualifying levels.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? As a start, the state should follow recent court orders and double adequacy funding. Because special education is state and federal mandated, the respective government entities should be funding special education. Building aid should be robustly funded to account for the $650 million backlog in statewide needs.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? With over a decade of Free State legislative advances, there are a lot of issues to be addressed in NH. Two days ago, a nurse brought to my attention the crisis in mental health care with people in crisis showing up at hospital emergency rooms. Availability and cost of workforce housing continues to be a problem for NH residents.
This candidate did not provide a link for a campaign website.
Lee Nyquist
Party affiliation: Democrat
What town/city do you live in? New Boston
Political experience: Town Moderator, town of New Boston since 1992; Chair, NH Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council since 2005.
Professional experience: Retired attorney; past president of both the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers and Manchester Bar Association.
Community service experience: Board of Directors of the Community Church of New Boston; Board of Directors of the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America; Board of Directors, Gunstock Ski Club; years of volunteering with youth baseball and soccer programs.
Policy Positions
Should NH legalize recreational marijuana use and possession? Yes
What is the No. 1 action the Legislature should take to address the housing shortage? Give towns and cities grants to revise their local zoning restrictions.
How involved should NH government and law enforcement be in immigration enforcement? Only to assist when there is a dangerous criminal at large or in another serious life threatening situation.
Do you support the Education Freedom Accounts program? No
To what extent should NH restrict abortion, if at all? It should keep the current law of restricting abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
What is one law currently on the books in NH that you would repeal, and why? EFAs should be methodically scaled back with a goal of elimination. Tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money is being diverted from public schools Adequate state funding of public schools is mandated in our state constitution and public education is a primary concern of mine.
NH consistently struggles with funding its government and services. What is one way you would raise state revenue, and what is one area you would cut expenses? Be specific. I would methodically restore the cuts to the business profits and enterprise taxes and methodically restore the interest and dividends tax.
As people across the state struggle with their local school tax bills, what role should the state play in funding education? The state must meet its constitutional obligation to fully fund an adequate education for all of our students. The state must stop downshifting costs to the property taxpayers.
Aside from those mentioned above, what do you believe is the biggest issue facing the state today? We must restore civility to the legislative process and restore NH values and resist ideological ones.
Find more information at the candidate’s website: facebook.com/share/1F7Q4zgB7o/
