NH election 2022: Gannon vs. Oldak for District 23 state Senate seat
Republican state Sen. Bill Gannon, of Sandown, is being challenged by Democrat Brenda Oldak, of South Hampton, for the New Hampshire state Senate seat representing District 23 (Brentwood, Chester, Danville, East Kingston, Epping, Fremont, Kensington, Kingston, Newton, Sandown, Seabrook and South Hampton).
Bill Gannon
Hometown: Sandown
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
During the last legislative session, after listening to the people in communities across our state, we passed an abortion law that was the right fit for N.H. We settled on a law that gives women six months to seek access to an abortion for any reason, including rape and incest. In months seven to birth, a woman can still get an abortion if her health is a factor or if there is a fetal fatal anomaly, same as in Massachusetts and much of the country. My opponent supports abortion at any time for any reason, up to birth when a baby is fully viable.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
On the issue of energy, I have spent years trying to increase all cost-effective ways of supplying our energy alternatives. I have helped increase renewables from using waste pulp, to increasing our use of wind, hydro, and solar. I have also tried to get larger clean natural gas pipelines into N.H. to utilize our resources to lower our electric and heating costs. With energy prices surging all cost-effective options must be on the table to help struggling families across our state. Regarding our workforce shortage, I reduced regulations and licensing requirements to attract out-of-state workers to come to N.H. For example, we allowed nurses lacking N.H. requirements to relocate so long as once here they continued to acquire the needed N.H. credentials. In the Senate, we have lowered taxes which has brought thousands of new businesses to N.H., creating tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. In the Senate, we have been working with business leaders this summer to address the shortage of workforce housing. I have legislation coming this session with a business partnership theme to address the housing issue. This is an issue the government should not address alone. We must also ensure that any workforce housing does not unduly burden small towns that are burdened with high property taxes. Senior housing differs as it adds to a tax base with few costs to the local community while increasing tax revenue. The two issues are vastly different and need to be approached differently.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
I am currently serving my second term as the state Senator for District 23. I am a husband to a wonderful and supportive wife, and father of four children who are attending or are graduates of our public schools. I have served my local community, often as a coach, member of the Lions Club, a planning board member, and a state representative. In the Senate, I currently serve as vice chair of the Judiciary and Commerce committees, and I previously served as vice chair of the Transportation Committee. I prioritize taxpayer protection and this past term I am proud to have sent 500 million dollars back from the state to our towns to help lower local property taxes and provide communities with aid for infrastructure costs associated with schools, roads, and bridges. N.H. is the best place to live, work, and raise a family, I am running for re-election because I want it to continue to be for your children and mine.
Brenda Oldak
Hometown: South Hampton
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn a prior Supreme Court ruling on a constitutional right was unprecedented. New Hampshire's ban on abortion doesn't take into account rape, incest, or the health of the mother. Physicians must now delay or refuse treatment if the health, but not the life, of the mother is at stake. Neither politicians nor lawyers have medical degrees, nor do they carry medical malpractice insurance, so they should not be making and delaying medical decisions affecting the health and lives of people who are pregnant.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
NH's economy, residents, and businesses are being hit with high property taxes, soaring electricity rates, rising fuel prices, and inflation. N.H. legislators increased property taxes by cutting taxes for multi-state corporations, downshifting public employees' retirement costs, and underfunding public education. I would work to relieve financial pressure and attract labor by voting to reduce property taxes. Lowering property taxes would encourage working-age people to move and live here and would relieve the labor shortage. N.H.'s rising fuel prices and inflation are affected by national and international events. N.H.'s soaring electric rates are exacerbated by N.H.'s legislators blocking solar and wind projects which cause more dependence on fossil fuels. I would vote for initiatives increasing net metering, renewable resources, and energy conservation. I would promote incentives for affordable housing and affordable childcare, both of which would relieve the labor shortage. I would promote trade schools to build our economy. I would vote to support public education rather than dismantle it which is behind the most sweeping school voucher program in the country and siphons our public money away from our communities and off to wealthy private and religious schools, often out of state, with no accountability. Quality public education would attract young working families and keep young trade and college graduates in state to work and raise their families.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
Social Security and Medicare are earned benefits, not entitlements, and must be protected. I believe business and the economy will benefit from increased attention on the individual, family, and worker's needs such as reduced property taxes, affordable housing, reduced energy costs, affordable childcare, quality public education, and a living wage. I support fire and police. They are our frontline workers and deserve our respect. I support our veterans and members of our Armed Services. They deserve the best quality health care we can provide. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights and must be protected. I would work to protect our natural resources which is integral to human health. As a nurse, former welfare officer, and founder of the South Hampton Council on Aging, I care about people. I know how to address problems as challenges that have solutions. As a small business owner, I know how to help employees and promote business and the economy. The people in our state need leaders who can solve problems, represent everybody, and bring people together. We need to protect the individuals and community values that gave N.H. its reputation as a great place to live, rather than stoke culture wars that divide us. I will listen to you, work for you, and represent you. Please vote for Brenda Oldak for state Senate on November 8.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH election 2022: Gannon vs. Oldak for District 23 state Senate seat
