YourNeighborhoodNews.com: The Bow Times

To the Editor:
As you may have read in the Oct. 7 issue of The Bow Times, a few residents of White Rock Senior Living Community attended a selectmen’s meeting to voice concerns regarding the management at White Rock. Unfortunately, the Times article was long on rumor and hearsay, and short on facts.

As I hear far too often, “please don’t bother me with the facts, that would just confuse me and cloud the issue.” However, as head of property management at White Rock, I would like to clear up several issues raised at the selectmen’s meeting, and present the truth supported by the facts.

Rents: Rents for 50 percent of the independent senior living apartments at White Rock are regulated by the federal government and are designed to be affordable. Rents are directly tied to the local area median income which determines the maximum allowable rent. In fact, White Rock rents are slightly less than the maximum allowed.

White Rock is obligated to comply with the rent structure for a minimum of 40 years. The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority closely monitors our compliance with the regulations.

The remaining apartments are rented at what is called the “market rate,” and is determined by the current market conditions.

Rents at White Rock range from $585 to $1,075 per month for a one- or two-bedroom apartment and include heart, electricity and hot water.

Yes, due to limited income, some senior residents have a very difficult time getting by each month. The structure at White Rock is specifically designed to help residents stretch their limited resources as far as possible in order to maintain their independence and enthusiasm for life.

Health emergencies: White Rock is an independent senior living community and does not directly provide health care services. As such, residents need to be able to function independently. White Rock is neither a nursing home, nor an assisted living home.

In the event of a health emergency, a resident may call their primary health care provider, or if necessary, call 9-1-1. Some residents choose to subscribe to Life Line, which provides emergency call service through the use of speaker phones and individual pendants. In fact, White Rock has arranged for a discount on Life Line for residents and assists residents in signing up.

In addition, a volunteer resident security team is available to provide non-medical, indirect assistance during off hours. Safety issues: White Rock was constructed with the most modern safety features in compliance with all Town of Bow building codes, and specifically with seniors in mind.

Each apartment has an automatic fire sprinkler system, smoke detector, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, and other features designed for the safety and comfort of the senior residents.

Each building has a complete fire alarm system that is tied directly to the Bow Fire Department. The residents’ handbook, which each resident receives when they move in, details emergency evacuation procedures in the unlikely event of a fire.

White Rock works closely and cooperatively with the Bow Fire Department to help ensure the safety of each and every resident. Organized fire drills are held periodically and are monitored by the fire department.

Optional support services: As residents of White Rock age, and their physical and mental conditions follow the natural aging cycle, they usually require more support in order to maintain an independent lifestyle. This support is available through an optional, a-la-carte menu of support service by local community service providers.

The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association has located a satellite office at White Rock and provides many optional home health services. The office space is provided to the VNA free of charge by White Rock, and is a great benefit to residents.

There is also a beauty salon located just off the lobby in the main building; an optional, independent meals program; and at least once a month many residents of the community come together to celebrate a special event or holiday.

As White Rock is not a nursing home or an assisted living home, senior residents pick and choose which particular services they need and want that meets their personal lifestyle and health objectives. Each resident decides how best to spend their money to meet their needs.

With independence comes responsibility, and most residents at White Rock respect and cherish both.

The foundation and philosophy at White Rock is to help seniors maintain their independence and enthusiasm for life by providing an array of optional ala-carte services designed to enhance and prolong aging in place with dignity and security. For some residents these are elusive concepts and life can be difficult.

However, my contact with many residents at White Rock indicates a positive outlook and high degree of satisfaction with all aspects of White Rock Senior Living Community.

Just last week, approximately 60 residents signed a petition that was presented to The Bow Times supporting the management of White Rock.
John Hunt
Summit Property Management Group

White Rock manager supports tenants and manager

To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Susan Clark’s editorial in the (Oct. 7) Bow Times regarding White Rock Senior Living Community.

Susan asserts management does not have respect for its tenants. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, we do have a large, diverse group of people living together, there will always be some who disagree with or have issues with management.

However, the majority of residents at White Rock find it to be a wonderful, caring community.

In fact, after The Bow Times article was published, more than 60 residents signed a petition in support of the management at White Rock, and sent it to The Bow Times.

Regarding the incident with Bernard Ash, it is very clear to me that he is the one lacking respect.

Never in my many years of developing and managing senior living communities has a tenant assaulted a manager.

Ms. Clark proclaims this as a case of “he said, she said.” False!

The Bow police investigated the incident which was witnessed by another White Rock resident. The Bow police charged Mr. Ash, and the legal system will determine the outcome and his responsibility.

Ms. Clark has got it wrong –to have more patience with this unfortunate incident could further jeopardize the safety of the manager and other residents at White Rock.

Assault is not acceptable behavior by anyone’s standards and the management at White Rock will fulfill its obligation and responsibility to its residents and deal with the situation in a proactive and respectful manner.

Perhaps Ms. Clark and The Bow Times need to show more patience and respect for the truth supported by the facts.
Charles N. Brush
White Rock Senior Living Community

Coaches and volunteers mentoring our youth make Bow great

To the Editor:

My four daughters just completed another great season of outdoor soccer in Bow and I continue to be amazed at the talent and kindness of the coaches and parent volunteers who make the Bow Athletic Club a success.

My 13-year-old has played indoor and outdoor soccer on Coach George Argeropolous team, the Tsunamis, for four years. He has been a reliable, loving coach who includes his wonderful family in the process.

This will be the Tsunamis’ last year together playing outdoor soccer but will hopefully have Coach George indoors for a few more years.

My daughter has enjoyed her games and teammates more than I can express. Myself, as well as my husband, could not wait to attend the games.

After all these years, we feel the girls on the team as well as their parents are an extension of our family.

Of course, the coach could not have instructed these girls without the help and support of Donna Hemeon and Rose King. These two women took the time every week to work with the girls and it was greatly appreciated.

When you look up the word “kind” in the dictionary, I think you would find a picture of Coach Martin Murray! He has taught my 11-year-old daughter that soccer was meant to be fun!

His joy at what he is doing is obvious at every game and practice. When you watch the children play you hear a lot of laughter, and see hugging and rough housing from the girls.

Coach Enzien was a constant and enthusiastic coach as well. He even attended practice on crutches one week because of an injury!

Thankfully, Coach Enzien is OK and the season went on to a successful, fun finish!

My 7-year-old has played her second season with The Bow Athletic Club, and if you have never seen 6- and 7-year-olds play, you have certainly missed an adorable sight!

“Little swarms of bees” we call them. Margaret Leary was our very patient coach and she did a super job making sure those little ones had fun! And sixth-grader Lindsey Wells, thank you for being there every week as our coach and referee!

As far as high school, Coach Z, what can we say?

Even though you are not a coach with the BAC, your constant love and support of these high school girls is commendable – especially through this extremely difficult and emotional season.

Thank you for being a great role model and friend to these girls.

I thank all adults who take the time out of their busy schedules to volunteer and mentor our youth. Without your care and guidance, the town of Bow would be a very different place to live.
Diane Corsetti
Bow

A "thank you" from Suncook Valley Chorale for coverage

To the Editor:
Perhaps an editor occasionally wonders about the impact of a particular article.

As a result of a recent feature on the Suncook Valley Coral, which ran in the Sept. 16 issue of The Bow Times, the Choral received several telephone inquiries on joining the Choral and welcomed additional new members to its second meeting.

Many said they responded after The Bow Times story.

We actually ran out of music and had to send out a rush order for more. What a lovely predicament and every choral director’s dream.

This community chorus has a good time working hard to make beautiful music together and we foresee a successful concert season.

But we cannot do it alone and we are ever so grateful for the boost you sent our way.

Thank you also to Amy Fortier for her warmth and kind, perceptive reporting. She very accurately presented the essence of the Chorale, as its motto proclaims, “Sing for joy!”
Scott Lounsbury
Music director
Suncook Valley Chorale

Candidates’different views on health insurance issue says a lot

To the Editor:
There is no better foil to reflect the differences in our two candidates for governor than their positions on health-care insurance.

In 2003, Craig Benson signed Senate Bill 110 into law. SB 110 permits health insurers to base premiums for small businesses on the health of their employees.

For employers of young, healthy workers, it has meant a drop in insurance premiums. For employers with elderly, sick or handicapped workers, it has dramatically increased rates, forced them to reduce coverage or, in some cases, drop coverage altogether.

The proponents of SB 110 argue that by allowing insurance companies to better assess their risk and, therefore, be more profitable, more insurance companies, will be attracted in to the state creating competition and ultimately driving down rates.

The flaw in this argument is that the competition that SB 110 encourages is competition to insure the most healthy among us. The sick and those most in need of health insurance have been left out in the cold, and nothing in SB 110 will change that.

After all, who will compete to insure the unhealthy without being compensated for the additional risk and at least the same profit that can be made insuring those who are healthy?

Craig Benson supported the passage of SB 110 and signed it into law. His actions are consistent with his Libertarian philosophy. A man who brags about being a self-made man. A man who believes in our state motto of “live free or die.”

John Lynch has a different story. John turned around a failing business by creating incentives for his employees to work harder for bonuses, stock options and retirement benefits – not just for management, but for everyone.

John has pledged to repeal SB 110.

The purpose of insurance is to spread risk among a large group of people so that if a few suffer a loss they will be protected, but the cost will be spread among many.

To create an incentive for employers to get rid of sick employees and to deprive the least healthy among us from getting health insurance is not only bad policy, it is immoral. And it says something about the two men running for governor.
Gary B. Richardson
Hopkinton

Karolian’s slogan ‘Law Enforcement not politics’is to the point

To the Editor:
Regarding Sheriff Jordan’s accounting practices, I can only comment, “Are you kidding me?”

He claims that he is saving Merrimack County money by raising his secretary’s salary to $56,451. I’m sure that his deputies who put their lives on the line daily at current salary levels below $40,000 would like to “save the county money” in the same way too!

He raised his captain’s salary to $68,452 sighting the same reason that he was “saving the county money.”

I’d like to know how many hours of overtime they worked before the sheriff started saving the county money.

I doubt it was much since his captain (sheriff plate #2) has been seen leaving the office parking lot at or before 5 p.m. almost daily. Actually, I may be wrong since there’s that mandatory campaigning for the sheriff and his son who recently lost his bid for county attorney.

The last time I checked, freedom of speech was a Constitutional right.

Clark Karolian is campaigning for an elected office. Isn’t part of the process to discuss how you might improve the efficiency of the office you seek?

As a recently retired police officer and a patrol commander in charge of a department three times the size of Chief Russell’s of Henniker, I take interest in the letter that Chief Russell wrote indicating that Clark Karolian does not have the experience.

Tell me how 21 years of service with the Manchester Police Department doesn’t qualify as experience?

How do you ignore that Clark Karolian was a homicide detective and major crime investigator in the largest city in the state?

Perhaps Chief Russell should spend more time on the streets of Henniker and less time traveling promoting the Chiefs of Police Associations and the “good ol’boy network.”

Please take notice that most of the letters of support for the current sheriff are written by the people on his payroll, their spouses and his close personal friend, Chief Russell.

I like Clark Karolian’s slogan “Law Enforcement – Not Politics.” It gets right to the point.

I urge you to support and elect Clark Karolian as sheriff of Merrimack County.
Thomas Burke, Manchester

Don’t use my family’s lungs as a toxic disposal site

To the Editor:
I stood with my family at the Bio Energy plant site in West Hopkinton on Friday morning (Oct. 8) and listened to the speakers.

As they described the 2.6 tons of lead and pounds of mercury that the state of New Hampshire would permit the company to disperse in the area, it occurred to me that many of our concerns as citizens and parents may well be misplaced.

Why worry about terrorists smuggling a radiological dirty bomb into some far-off city, when we have our own state-endorsed dirty bomb set to go off right on our back doorstep?

Where’s the real threat?

I think companies do have a right to pursue their legitimate business aims. But, no one has the right to use the lining of my family’s lungs as a toxic disposal site, even if within acceptable limits.

And the state’s role should be to protect its citizens, not terrorize them.
Eric Palson
Contoocook

I recommend Karolian, but...

To the Editor:
I commend Mr. Karolian the Democratic candidate for Sheriff for his 20 years of public service as a Manchester patrolman, as well as the past two years that he has worked as a part-time contracted security officer (bailiff) at the federal building in Concord.

However, his career path lacks the management and leadership experience required to be the chief law enforcement officer of Merrimack County.

By his own admission, this candidate has never balanced a budget other than for “milk and bread” in his own home.

It is indeed laudable to strive for personal advancement, but to boast qualifications that will not meet the needs of the people when seeking public office is wrong.
Elizabeth Ann Robillard
Hooksett

Voters must seek out the truth

To the Editor:
As a long-standing member of the Democratic party, I am disappointed by the quality of the campaign offered by our candidate for sheriff to the voters of Merrimack County.

I know that Mr. Karolian has made repeated negative and misleading statements about the county sheriff’s office and Sheriff Jordan.

I have spoken with Sheriff Jordan and I am convinced that the allegations made by Mr. Karolian are without merit.

I am asking each citizen – If you are in doubt check it out!

The county officials we elect function very close to our homes. We, the voters, must seek the best qualified, honest servants to represent us.
Carole Salyer
Bow

Join me in re-electing Bush

To the Editor:
We live in challenging times. Each of us has been forced to re-evaluate our beliefs and ideas about the world we live in.

Our children’s future, their safety and the direction of our nation over the next four years hinges on the outcome of the November election.

After careful consideration of the candidates and the positions they have taken, I find there is only one choice for president that gives me hope for the future, which is why I am proud to pledge my support for President George W. Bush.

The president’s strong and steady leadership has been a source of inspiration through the difficult times our nation has faced.

The president has a vision for the future that offers hope to a troubled part of the world. I believe the president is correct when he asserts that freedom-loving democracies in the Middle East are the best hope for long-term peace in the region.

The president realizes that we must decisively win the war on terror and will not back down and will not waver. His position has not always been popular, yet even in the face of adversity, he has remained strong.

Our future, our economy and our way of life demand the election of a leader who is unafraid to do that which is right.

No poll, no referendum, can ever tell a candidate the right path to walk and we must not choose a president who shows any capacity to be distracted by momentary shifts in the political wind.

I ask all my friends and neighbors to join me on Election Day to vote George W. Bush for president.
Scott Ives
Dunbarton

Stop Bow Highlands condos

To the Editor:
Why does society feel a need to make everyone happy and equal?

I drive down Bow Bog Road every day and I cannot imagine seeing a condo complex any where along the road.

How can the zoning board approve something so hideous as a 42-unit low-income condo complex?

Are they trying to drive down the values of our homes or drive people out of town?

This is something that should be brought up before the land owners, taxpayers and voters of Bow – not a select few who can be persuaded by big developer pressure and promises.

What’s next, low-income housing on Allen Road or Putney Road, or how about a trailer park on Page Road or on top of Brown Hill?

If someone cannot afford to buy in Bow, why do we need to then appease to them? After all, they can get condos in Hooksett, Concord, Goffstown, Manchester, etc., and that is what our town will turn to if this project is allowed to continue.

I am involved in real estate for a living and I see the snide ways that developers find loop-holes and eventually get what they want.

I also see what putting something like the proposed complex will do to the town. As a land owner, taxpayer and voter, I insist on a town vote to see if the majority feels as I do.

If not, then build away, but be forth warned that this will only be the beginning! If you do feel the same as I do, voice your opinion to the zoning board and tell them that you are a taxpayer and to stop the Bow Highlands condos.

The zoning board of adjustment meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in Meeting Room C of the Town Municipal Building, 10 Grandview Road, Bow.
John Moscillo
Bow

As sheriff, I will remain accessible to address citizens’concerns

To the Editor:
As your sheriff, I continue my long held commitment to clean campaigning and truth in platform.

To date my opponent has not made a single factually valid statement against my office, my staff or myself.

For the duration of this campaign, I will continue to refrain from counterattack. I will, however, offer clarification of misleading or false statements to enable the voters of Merrimack County to make informed choices.

Prisoner transport guidelines, procedures and protocols, dictate prisoner transport processes these processes ensure safety and efficiency and have not been altered in any way to suit this political campaign. They are strictly a “law enforcement” function of the office.

My appointment by the governor and the Executive Council as a University System Trustee was not a “political favor.”

This appointment is a non-paid four-year service position.

I have not and will never, solicit or accept financial contributions for any of my political campaigns from my employees.

I and my office remain accessible to address any citizen’s concerns or questions.

Please exercise your privilege to vote on Nov. 2.
Chester L. Jordan
High Sheriff of Merrimack County
Bow

Support a commander in chief that our troops support – Bush

To the Editor:
A recent National Annenberg Election Survey asked people in military service and their families who they would trust as commander in chief and they chose President Bush over Sen. John Kerry by almost a 3-1 margin and, y similar margins, seven in 10 had a favorable view of President Bush.

These heroes are the men and women who have a front row view of the successes we had in both Afghanistan and Iraq. They know the truth.

The distorted view we’re getting from the Kerry sycophants in the left-wing press is telling.

The national elections in Afghanistan, woman voting and girls going to school for the first time are hardly a footnote in Kerry’s left-wing press.

In fact these poll numbers clearly shows that our military doesn’t trust Kerry. This means that in the catastrophic event that Kerry gets elected, he’ll have to institute a draft due to the huge volume of people leaving the military.

Kerry and his left-wing press will have you believe differently, but the facts speak for them-selves.In a recent vote in Congress, 100 percent of those voting for a draft were Kerry-supporting Democrats.

Why do our troops not trust Kerry? Is it because Kerry is always undermining our troops in his speeches by emboldening the enemy? Kerry was so successful at emboldening the Communist North Vietnamese 30 years ago that he earned a place of honor in one of their war museums.

Let’s send our enemy a message and come to the polls in droves to support a commander in chief our troops support and that leader is George W. Bush.
Van Mosher
Bow

President Bush has not functioned effectively for America

To the Editor:
We have people in this country that blindly vote the party line because their mothers or fathers, and grandmothers and grandfathers did.

They often blindly vote against their own interests without thoughts on the issues because of this.

Whether you agree or disagree with the following analogy of George W. Bush, the real core of this election is this: Our president is incompetent.

He is not a good president and he is a detriment to the country that we all love.

Let me count the ways:

(1) He has divided the country; we are all part of a vicious little hissing match.

We were united and humbled on Sept. 12, 2001. We are divided and humiliated now, telling lies about each other.

(2) He has divided the world. “We are all Americans now,” headlined Le Monde on that Sept. 12. Now, there are days when it seems as if they are all anti-Americans.

(3) He is leaving no child or grandchild without debt. He has taken the government from surplus into deficit in the name of national security and increased private investment.

We can pay the debt in two ways: with more government revenues (taxation) or by borrowing – against the sweat and income of new generations.

The president has chosen to borrow.

(4) He campaigns as a champion of smaller government, but is greatly increasing the size and role of government.

Ideological conservatism, it turns out, costs just as much or more than ideological liberalism.

Conservative and liberal politicians are both for increasing the reach and power of government. The difference between them is which parts and functions of the state are to be empowered and financed.

The choice is between military measures and order, or more redistribution of income.

Money is power.

(5) He is diminishing the military of which he is so proud now as commander in chief.

The invasion and occupation of Iraq have obviously not worked out the way he imagined – naked torture was not the goal. But the far greater problem for the future is that our proud commander has revealed the hollowness behind the unilateral superpower.

From the top down, we have not been able to win Iraq, much less the world. And going into Iraq has compromised or crippled the war on terror he declared himself.

(6) He is diminishing scientific progress – the great engine of the 20th century.

Only the truly ignorant can believe that the proper role of government is to hinder medical research and environmental study in the name of God.

(7) He is diminishing the Constitution of the United States, and preaching against an activist judiciary while appointing more activist judges who happen to hold different beliefs, particularly the idea that civil liberties are the enemies of patriotism, security and freedom itself.

(8) He has surrounded himself with other incompetents.

The secretary of state is presiding over the rape of diplomacy and its alliances. The secretary of defense has sent our young men and women into situations they were never meant or trained to handle, and now they are being ordered into battle by an appointed minister in a faraway land.

The national security adviser does not seem to know that her job description includes coordinating defense and diplomacy.

And then there was our $340,000-a-month local hire, Ahmed Chalabi, sitting in the gallery of our house spinning lies for cash.

(9) He has been unable or unwilling to deal with declining employment and the rising medical costs of becoming an older nation.

(10) He is, as if by design, destroying the credibility of the United States as a force for peace in the world – an honest broker – particularly in the Middle East. The list is longer, miscalculation after miscalculation. President Bush has not functioned effectively for America. He may mean well, but this has been a difficult time, and he is in over his head.

We and our kids will pay the price for his blundering, blunderbuss adventure in Washington. He has been tested in a difficult time – and, unhappily for all of us and the world, he has not been up to the job.
Jim King
Bow

How many criminals remain free in the name of pennies?

To the Editor:
On behalf of the men and women of the New Hampshire Troopers Association, I take issue with the most recent commercial by Gov. Benson’s campaign.

Using a retired state police major to deny the governor’s record of cuts to the state police and public safety causes New Hampshire’s troopers to wonder why the governor himself wouldn’t make his own statement. Is it because retired Major David McCarthy’s assertion that Gov. Benson never cut any state trooper position is blatantly untrue? Why would the governor’s campaign produce an ad that contains such an easily discovered lie?

The facts are clear. Retired Major David McCarthy retired from the New Hampshire State Police long before the 2003-04 budget was even proposed. One can only assume he received his information from Gov. Benson’s campaign because the record is clear.

Last year’s budget process is well documented. The governor first proposed a cut of 25 New Hampshire troopers, elimination of all holiday funding and large reductions in other overtime funding levels.

Only after New Hampshire troopers themselves lobbied their senators and representatives were these cuts to public safety in New Hampshire reduced. The result was 16 troopers’ positions eliminated and large cuts to funding for holiday pay and overtime. Gov. Benson’s administration continues to maintain that keeping troopers off the road is good business. It is not good business; it is reducing public safety to the citizens of New Hampshire when they need it the most. Ten percent of the uniformed state police force is gone. One third less troopers are working on holiday weekends. Gov. Benson’s record on public safety is clear. How many criminals remain free in the name of pennies?
Louis A. Copponi
President
New Hampshire Troopers Association
Concord

Gov. Benson will keep our New Hampshire advantage intact

To the Editor:
Gov. Benson has been a man of his word. Of how many other politicians can that be said?

While he has had to make some unpopular decisions, cutting expenditures that would have brought us into deficit spending, he is the man who kept his word to us when he promised, “no new taxes!”

He kept his word to us when he ran on that smaller government platform. Now that we have seen him in action, we know that he is indeed the prudent fiscal conservative he portrayed himself in 2002.

Because bureaucracy in this state is still small, life is relatively simple and taxes are at a low roar, we may be tempted to forget for a moment that these are not the circumstances experienced by so many others in the various other states.

We may, for just a moment, take for granted our comfort, or our freedoms. But we must remember that the way of life to which we have become accustomed has been afforded us by those who represent us, those who we have elected and who, on our behalves, have fought for it.

As governor, Craig has successfully fought to keep our way of life here in New Hampshire simple. He has been proactive, bringing new jobs and businesses into the state. He worked with legislators toward deregulation, encouraging a free market economy. He fought fiercely to keep government spending under control, trimming the state budget by 10 percent across the board.

New York is almost bankrupted by the tax and spenders. Although we have been out of recession since the second quarter of 2002, New York is just beginning to see signs of life. California has had the pleasure of having to attempt correction of a record $30 billion deficit. The ridiculous cost of living in the state of “Taxachusetts” has driven the masses north by the droves!

These states function to any degree at all only because they are constantly rescued by federal dollars and because their state legislatures continue to raise taxes without regard to economic impact.

Their bureaucracies are enormous, their regulatory agencies bloated, their regulations intricate and convoluted. Life is anything but simple for them. It could not happen here, you say. Sure it could. Elect a tax and spender. So why would we consider electing anyone but he who has proven himself the man in line with our convictions?

Where does John Lynch propose to acquire all of the money he so desires to spend? All of the spending on the myriad of new programs he says that he will bring to the state will top the current budget by $500 million. And this is the same man, (the only man), who says that we are in a $2 million deficit?

He has not signed the pledge against new taxes. Hmmm. Does that strike anyone as strange?

While many of the state employees are up in arms over the cuts to government spending that Craig Benson has been able to see realized, they are loathe to the idea of taxation.

Well, which way will it be? New taxes? Higher taxes? And the accompanying negative economic growth?

Unsustainable spending for short-term – solutions‚ borne by bureaucrats, or a strong economy and low tax burden attractive to entrepreneurs, and innovators?

Which will we choose – proposed deficit spending, expanded regulation or living within our means? We need to keep our New Hampshire advantage well intact! We need to re-elect the most pro-business and economy-friendly governor this state has ever seen – Craig Benson.
Sheila Ross
Concord

As state rep. from Hopkinton, I will give my 100 percent

To the Editor:
You know the old line, if you don’t like the weather in New Hampshire just wait a few minutes?

Well, the same seems to hold true of election districts.

If you’re confused about who you’re voting for to represent you in the state Legislature, there’s good reason for that.

In the election of 2002, Hopkinton became one of seven towns in District 34 (Bradford, Henniker, Hopkinton, Newbury, Sutton, Warner and Webster) and elected six representatives: J. D. Colcord, David Currier, Barbara French, Christine Hamm, Richard “Stretch” Kennedy and Derek Owen.

When Rep. Colcord resigned to become a Merrimack County Commissioner, Beth Rodd won a special election to take his place.

Now Hopkinton’s district has changed again, with just three towns– Hopkinton, Warner and Webster – making up a newly-created District 4.

On Nov. 2, these three towns will elect three delegates from a slate of eight candidates to the State House of Representatives.

I am asking for your vote to continue to be one of them.

To get your voice heard among 400 legislators, the respect of colleagues is a serious advantage.

These past two years, representatives from both parties have commended me for my insights, and for speaking strongly and effectively for my positions.

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I have addressed the legislature about such issues as education funding, rising property taxes and the Constitutional separation of powers.

I have co-sponsored and testified for legislation in several areas, including continued funding for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (L-CHIP), and to limit lead and mercury emissions that would affect the district’s air, soil and water quality from Contoocook’s Bio Energy plant.

Several statewide organizations that monitor key legislative votes affecting the environment, the economy, health care, education, and children and families have rated my record at 100 percent.

In other words, I hope I have earned your vote.

With so many important national and state offices at stake, I thank you for giving this letter and my candidacy your attention.
Christine Hamm
Hopkinton