This election season has been pretty depressing.  Neither party can look in the mirror and say “We’re better than them”.  It has been far too long since we had a contest of ideas.  Our election season should be filled with plans and positive visions of the future, with the voters deciding which one to try.  I’ve had some ridiculous dirt thrown at me in the past.  It hasn’t happened yet this cycle, but then again I haven’t gone to the Post Office yet today.

New Hampshire voters have been generally good at rejecting sleazy tactics in local elections, at least here where we live.  I ask you to take that standard, and next time, apply it to the top of ticket.  It is hard.  A lot of smart people on both sides hire marketing people who work night and day to make you hate each other.  You have the power to make it stop.  I have never hated my opponent or thought they were bad people.  I run for office, and re-election, because I think my ideas and my positions are a better path forward than theirs.

Recruiting people to run for state and local office gets harder every year.  Part of that is that they don’t think opening themselves up to attack, to dirty mailers, to having their family persecuted (all have happened to me) is worth it.  We can change that.

I am going to call out dirty players every time I see them… and I don’t care which party they are in.  I hope you’re with me.  The political leaders of each party are clearly not interested in a return to respectful differences of opinion.  Together, we can force them to.

Steve