Dublin • Jaffrey • Rindge Democrats

NH House District #7

Visit: www.KeithHalloran-NewHampshire.com

Keith Halloran, an active local citizen and supporter of NH Governor John Lynch, presently serves on the Rindge Planning Board, the Rindge Ingalls Memorial Library Board of Trustees, and as Vice Chair of the Rindge Democrats.

In recent years, Keith was the founding Secretary of the Rindge Agriculture Committee and author of its Charter, founding Secretary and historical and pictorial archivist of the West Rindge Common Restoration Committee, a Board Member of NH Main Street TEAM JAFFREY, and volunteer fundraiser for the Jaffrey PARK THEATER.

Live FREE & Move FORWARD

Keith HALLORAN supports NH Governor John LYNCH in our shared respect for New Hampshire's history & traditions, an emphasis on non-partisan and fiscally responsible approaches to governing New Hampshire today, and targeting priorities for building and safeguarding New Hampshire's future.

Live FREE

HONOR New Hampshire's unique history, culture and character, its commitment to personal freedom and responsibility, family values, independence and self-reliance, community involvement and civic duty, and honest, fiscally-sound, transparent and accountable government.

& Move FORWARD

FOCUS our FUTURE on New Hampshire's REAL Advantages

1) Tax Relief, Restraint & Fairness

New Hampshire has long been a tax-relief haven for thousands of familes who sought refuge in New Hampshire. But in 2008, Property Taxes in NH are reaching historic limits, with heartbreaking record mortgage and tax foreclosures, and New Hampshire families need relief. We need to carefully examine our current tax policies and explore responsible options for the future, and resist and move beyond paralyzing pledges.
 
Current taxes challenge working families, the retired, and our youngest citizens. New Hampshire is a prosperous and prudent state - let's use New Hampshire's REAL advantages and carefully prioritize our investments and obligations, and share fairly, in how we provide for our citizens and families, and pay for our state and local services.

2) Healthy & Secure Kids & Families

New Hampshire Kids are New Hampshire's future. And Healthy Kids & Families mean a healthy future for New Hampshire. Kids need families who stay together, who can KEEP their homes and HEAT their homes, and get the quality of health care, education, mentoring and guidance they need as the foundation for a healthy and productive future. New Hampshire has a lot to work with when it comes to NH Kids & Families. Lets invest in the future of our New Hampshire Kids and Families, and our own.

3) NH Jobs & Smart Growth

New Hampshire has a vibrant, renewable, sustainable economy, but one that also faces real evolving challenges. New Hampshire is one of the original 13 colonies, dedicated to independence and free determination. We can be proactive to create conditions and incentives that attract and protect local industries, that leverage our competitive advantages, our local talent and innate resourcefulness. I am a pro-business, pro-jobs MBA who will work hard to encourage and reward any New Hampshire initiative that invests and builds New Hampshire jobs and industries.

4) Affordable Renewable Energy

New Hampshire faces unprecedented pressures this winter, and the winters ahead, as home heating oil and natural gas prices shatter all previous levels, forcing families to choose between heating and eating, fuel and food. But New Hampshire has local resources and industries that offer a local solution - affordable, renewable energy. I am a fierce advocate of the local companies and technologies that offer real opportunities for local businesses and jobs, and real relief for working families in New Hampshire.

5) Clean Water & Environment

So many of us chose to remain or move to New Hampshire because of the amazing natural resources and healthy lifestyle and common sense that New Hampshire is well-known for. Our clean water and pristine environment are prescious life-nurturing assets that assure New Hampshire's top spot as the most livable state in America. With the magnificent and inspiring view of Mount Monadnock, and Lake Monomonac, that I enjoy from my farm on Hubbard Hill, I have every incentive to work hard to keep it that way, and to make it even better.

Congressman Hodes graduated from Dartmouth College in 1972 and entered Boston College Law School earning his JD in 1978. Upon graduation from law school, he returned to New Hampshire to begin his legal career in the New Hampshire Attorney General s office in the criminal justice division. Congressman Hodes served as Assistant Attorney General from 1979 until 1982 and continues as the Special Prosecutor for the State of New Hampshire.

He has been married for 28 years to Peggo Horstman Hodes, a versatile singer and teacher. Beginning in 1985, Peggo and Paul released their first recording of pioneering rock-and-roll for children and families, garnering multiple Parents Choice awards.

Congressman Hodes has been devoted to community service throughout his career. He served as a NH State Councilor on the Arts and as Chairman of the Board of the Capitol Center for the Arts from 1990-1996 and then again as a member of the board from 2002-2006, he helped lead the Concord community s efforts to create a premiere, award-winning performing arts institution. He also served as the first chairman of the Board of Family Strength, a highly successful not-for profit which provides support to entire families upon court referral of troubled youth, as an alternative to juvenile incarceration.

Soon after being sworn in as a member of Congress and in recognition of his dedication to carrying forward the shared agenda of change and helping the middle class, Congressman Hodes was elected president of the historic freshman class of 2006 by his 41 democratic colleagues and the chair of their caucus, The Class of 2006 .

Over the past year congressman Hodes has helped to provide real help to working, middle-class families in New Hampshire. He cosponsored and helped pass legislation to cut the costs of student loans by an average of $4400 to help more students afford college.

He helped to pass the first increase in the minimum wage in a decade, enough to give working New Hampshire families enough income to afford a year s worth of groceries or two years of health care.

Congressman Hodes is hard at work every day, both in Washington and at home in New Hampshire, to honor the mandate for change that the people of New Hampshire s 2nd Congressional District delivered when they elected him to Congress in November of 2006.

Bonnie Mitchell will be running for re-election as State Representative for District 7, Dublin, Jaffrey, and Rindge. During her second term she served on the Health and Human Services Committee, but at the Speaker's request she moved to the Commerce Committee her second year. This was an appropriate move since Bonnie has spent 35 years in the insurance/financial industry and holds an MBA from Suffolk University. She also holds a CPCU, an ARM, and is a licensed insurance broker and advisor. Bonnie, as well, holds a master's degree from Harvard University in the Arts and has been an instructor at Northeastern University. In 2007 this experience paid off and she was invited to take part in the coveted Finance Committee helping to put together the 2007-2009 state budget.

Along with these committees, Rep. Mitchell was also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR.) This committee serves as legislative oversight in the area of administrative rule making.

Bonnie also served on the Executive Committee for Cheshire County and has dealt with such issues as the county budget and the location for the new jail. She was vice chair of Cheshire County in 2008 and, if re-elected, hopes to serve as chair in 2009.

Bonnie served as co-chair of the Women's Reproductive Rights Commission and helped to preserve women's right to choice in New Hampshire.

She moved from New York City to Jaffrey almost six years ago to be with her family. Her son, Max, and her daughter, Noel, are owners of the Inn at Jaffrey Center. Her family including her son-in-law, Stephen and her two grandsons, Mitchell and Duncan, live very near to her in Jaffrey. They are all active in and tied to the community. Bonnie is a former member of the local Rotary, one of the charter members of the "Shelter from the Storm" project to develop transitional housing, the Jaffrey Energy Committee and a deacon at First Church in Jaffrey. Bonnie's grandsons attend the public schools and this make the educational system of great personal interest to her. Currently she is working with the Selectmen of Jaffrey on the 202 by-pass project and hoping to work with the Rindge Selectmen with the building of their community center. She has been receptive to all the concerns of her constituents in Dublin, Rindge and Jaffrey.

During her first term in Concord, Representative Mitchell sponsored three pieces of legislation, including HB 1711, requiring the licensing of gas fitters. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor on June 8, 2006. She has already established herself in the legislative system and according to Dan Eaton, Cheshire County Democratic Chair, "She exemplifies what all legislators should be…honest, hardworking, and fair. Never forgetting that all politics is local, genuinely representing her district."

Bonnie thinks New Hampshire is a great place to live, but even good places need constant vigilance. "We still haven't solved education funding, our roads and bridges need serious work, and our taxes are a tremendous burden on our lower and middle income citizens. I want to go back to Concord to help make New Hampshire an even better place to live. I hope that my constituents will contact me with their concerns."

"I am a 33-year resident of New Hampshire, living in Nashua.

"I have spent the last 17 years in elected office -- 5 years in the House of Representatives, 10 years in the State Senate, and was elected to the Governor's Council 2 years ago. While in the State House and the State Senate, I sponsored and advocated for legislative initiatives increasing funding for education, returning state surplus money to cities and towns for property tax relief, establishing anti-stalking laws, funding statewide kindergarten, reforming campaign finance laws, increasing the age for child passenger seat belts 12 years to 18 years, increasing the cigarette tax to deter children from smoking, enhancing environmental protection, improving the foster care system, bringing a Legal Assistance Office to Nashua, and curbing violent crime, including family violence.

"Since my election to the Governor's Council, I have worked hard to minimize the practice of awarding NO BID contracts and retroactive contracts. I have also tried to make sure that the state is getting the best value for services purchased, thereby saving taxpayer money.

"I have served as the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Environment Committee and as a member of many other Senate Committees, including Capital Budget, Health and Human Services, Public Affairs, Rules, Wildlife and Recreation, and Economic Development.

"While a State Representative, I served on the Children, Youth and Elderly, and Appropriations Committees.

I served as Assistant Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and as Democratic Whip and Vice President for Policy in the Senate.

"I have been designated as one of the ten most powerful women in New Hampshire by New Hampshire Editions Magazine, have received the Meritorious Service Award from the New Hampshire Women's Lobby, the John F. Kennedy Award from the Hillsborough County Democratic Committee and have been awarded the Anita and Norman Freedman Award at the 2004 Democratic Convention.

"In 2005, I received the William E. Paine, II award for my work preventing domestic and family violence.

"I have also received an Award recognizing my excellence in river and watershed conservation from local groups representing dozens of New Hampshire Communities along the Contoocook and North Branc, Lamprey, Lower and Upper Merrimack, and Swift Rivers.

"My husband, Mike, and I raised two children, Adam and Ben, who are now in their 20's.

"Before running for office, I served as the Executive Director of the Nashua Girl's Club, now Girl's, Inc., and the Director of Tenant Services for the Nashua Housing Authority."

In 1996 Jeanne Shaheen became the first woman elected Governor of New Hampshire. Re-elected in 1998 and 2000, she is only the fourth person in New Hampshire's history to be elected to three consecutive terms as Governor. During her six years in office, Jeanne Shaheen successfully fought to strengthen education; improve health care; protect New Hampshire's environment; expand civil rights; and build New Hampshire's international economy.

Jeanne Shaheen was born in St. Charles, Missouri on January 28, 1947. After attending public schools, she earned a B.A. in English from Shippensburg University. A summer job following college graduation brought her to New England.

Jeanne Shaheen has been involved in all levels of New Hampshire life. She has taught in a New Hampshire high school. She was chair of Madbury's zoning board, co-chair of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Women, and director of two successful New Hampshire presidential primary campaigns.

In 1990 Jeanne Shaheen became a candidate herself, challenging and defeating an incumbent in the State Senate, where she served for three terms, until her landslide election as Governor in 1996.

Jeanne Shaheen recently left her position as the Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government to run for the United States Senate.

She and Bill Shaheen still live in Madbury, New Hampshire, and have three daughters, Stefany, Stacey and Molly, and five grandchildren.

Steve is currently working on his bid for the New Hampshire Senate District 11 in a campaign he calls 'Challenge New Hampshire'.

Personal Information: Steve Spratt is a long time resident of New Hampshire who has been married to his wife Debra, a New Hampshire native, for 24 years. Steve has long been involved in community and public works. Before becoming self-employed he worked in the computer industry beginning his career at IBM. As a freelance writer he has contributed numerous articles to newspapers and magazines. His interests include home restoration, sports, history, antiques and pencil/pen and ink drawing. Steve can be seen alomst any day walking his black Great Dane Apollo who often acccompanies him on the campaign trail.

Steve's Public Service History:

• State Representative for Hillsborough County District 3 (Peterborough, Sharon, New Ipswich & Greenville)
• Clerk of the House of Representatives Commerce Committee
• Chairman of the Chamberlin Library Board of Directors
• Former Vice-Chairman of the Mascenic District School Board
• Member of the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire School Boards Association
• Member of the National Council of State Legislatures
• Member of the Council of State Governments International Committee
• Member of the Council of State Governments Education Steering Committee
• Member of the Hillsborough County Executive Committee
• Member of the Contoocook Valley Transportation Cooperative Steering Committee
• Member of the River Center Board of Governance

Legislative Accomplishments:

Healthcare

• Supported increased access to health care by raising coverage age to 26
• Supported the statewide smoking ban
• Supported legislation to prevent lead poisoning in children
• Supported Health First initiative for small business

Economic Issues

• Increased the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade
• Re-established the job training fund
• Expanded access to affordable housing
• Established R&D tax credit

Consumer Protection/Public Safety

• Led the successful fight to stop predatory lending
• Supported licensing of mortgage brokers to help eliminate damaging transactions
• Increased the number of state troopers
• Established death benefit for police and firefighters killed in the line of duty

Education

• Supported the definition of an adequate education
• Supported the work to cost an adequate education
• Voted for mandatory kindergarten to bring NH in line with the other 49 states
• Supported additional assistance to NH universities and technical colleges

Environment

• Supported the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• Supported the Renewable Energy Portfolio requiring 25% of the state's energy come from renewable sources by 2025
• Supported the banning of the burning of toxic construction and demolition debris

I am running for re-election for the position of Register of Probate. The Probate Court resolves issues involving families as well as property. When I ran previously, I set three goals that needed to be addressed. The first was bringing the Court office into the 21st century, the second was to provide educational outreach to inform the public of the need to think about and plan for future issues that could come before the Court, and the third was to ensure that the public was better served with improved customer service.

I have been successful in meeting each of these goals and hope to continue my work when re-elected.

When I came to the office, I immediately started to address the massive backlog of work. By bringing good office management to the job - and getting rid of the daily use of typewriters - I started to address the inefficiencies and the time spent on unproductive tasks. By far the biggest efficiency was to assist the Judge of Probate to use the computer to edit his orders. This alone saved the staff and the Judge countless hours of work.

I sought out opportunities to speak about Probate Court issues. I have addressed the Rotarians, senior luncheons and social service agencies. I was asked by Home, Health Care and Hospice to appear at some of their presentations and I have spoken to many people about the need to think about their Advance Directives and Wills.

The customer service has improved appreciably, with the paperwork coming into the Court being addressed in a more timely manner. Certificates of appointments are acquired more quickly and court dates for hearings can be scheduled very quickly.

Addressing all three goals, I also put up a website to allow citizens better access to information on how to proceed with a case, allow them to research answers to their questions and to download forms. This improves the citizen access to information and frees up the staff to spend more time processing the work on hand. I hope you will check it out and make use of the information available. And of course, we are always available to assist by phone or in person as well.

Prior to being elected Register of Probate, I worked at Keene State College for sixteen years gaining computer and management skills that I brought to the Registers position. I updated office protocols and improved the skills of the staff. I assisted the Judge with getting comfortable using the computer to edit his Court Orders, and improved the overall efficiency of work flow. This and other initiatives resulted in reducing a chronic backlog and increased the speed with which necessary paperwork could be delivered to the public.

I hope you will support me in my re-election so I can continue to improve the Court to better serve the public.