Today, I filed for reelection. This time is different than others. While I am proud of my accomplishments like reforms to vehicle and traffic laws, streamlining processes for municipalities, advancing new technology in NH, and securing grants for the towns that I represent… there is one big undone task hanging out there. I was elected during a wave election largely the result of an uprising over the “donor town” system of funding education. In the decade that has passed since then, several of my towns continue to lose education money every year because of stabilization grant reductions. If you don’t know what that means, please read this – What is a stabilization grant?

I maintain that there are three distinct problems to solve:

1. Stabilization grant reductions
2. Overall level of funding
3. Funding source

The highest priority, and one that can be accomplished immediately is to stop the bleeding. It took years, but we got a new formula created that would accomplish just that, and restore all of the money our towns have lost. Then this Legislature decided not to act. They literally announced that the bipartisan bill (which I sponsored, along with Senator Hennessey) to enact the plan was “dead on arrival” before it even got to the Finance Committee.

I feel cheated, and I’m pretty cranked about it.

This will be my number one priority. The work has been done. The reports have been filed. There are those who want more studies, more commissions, more talk. I want our money back, and I want it now. The plan has been written. It just takes a Legislature willing to not tie it up in political spiderwebs. It takes a Legislature willing to deal in facts and not campaign strategy. It will take your involvement as well.

I have been a strong advocate for District 11 and I am asking you to support me again. I am asking for your vote to send me back to Concord to make sure they do not forget about you and your priorities.

Steve