NH election 2022: Three-way race for one seat representing Greenland, Rye, North Hampton
Three candidates are running for the one Rockingham County House District 38 seat representing Greenland, Rye and North Hampton.
Robert Lincoln, of Rye, is the Republican on the ballot while Peggy Balboni, of Rye, is the Democrat. Running as an Independent is Steven Borne, of Rye.
Steven Borne
Hometown: Rye
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?
We need to keep church and state separate. Our government shouldn’t diminish our freedoms or legislate one group’s moralities on others. Instead, it should protect our right to everything from bodily autonomy to a free and fair election. You can find information on additional issues and sample ballots at www.Borne-Independent.com.
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?
The N.H. state Legislature does not have much impact on the global macro economy. Energy costs, the labor shortage and affordable housing are all impacted by a multitude of variables and these challenges should be non-partisan. Action requires we quickly get to policy we agree on, so we are not oscillating with partisan approaches. As an Independent, I can be a pivot point for what most can agree on.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
Until we try, we won't know if an Independent in the N.H. House can increase non-partisan discussions and solutions. All of my non-partisan activities, from leading the Rye Civic League, producing the N.H. Common Denominator Newsletter and other state-wide groups, are fueled by the engineer in me who knows we must make improvements to how we manage our government. All my life, I get things done, I don't shy away from big challenges. Nothing motivates me more than when I am told the "system" does not allow us to make improvements. I will not be quiet. I will ask questions and look for ways to add value. For example, District 38 is a Floterial District, what does it take to be the best floterial representative? We don't know yet, but I am going to keep on trying things and won't stop looking to make improvements. People are asking about the hand-painted signs. Simple, I am not taking money from anyone, and I can't justify spending our own money on something that will end up in a landfill one day. I am sure I will figure out how to reuse my wooden signs. If voters want one of their representatives to be an Independent, then I am willing to spend my time figuring out if I can make a difference as an Independent. If successful, I am hoping more Independent minded people will follow the path and provide alternatives to what the current political party primaries produce as options. I will be able to work with whomever gets elected, regardless of party.
Peggy Balboni
Hometown: Rye, NH
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?
New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does not proactively protect the right to abortion. As it stands now, legislators may pass additional laws to restrict access to abortion. As a mother and grandmother, I believe that a woman should be able to make her own reproductive health decisions in consultation with her doctor, without interference from the government. We must improve access to affordable contraception, family planning, and reproductive health care. We need to continue to fund and expand sexual health education programs for teenagers which have been proven to reduce teen pregnancy rates.
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?
All of these issues have a big impact on New Hampshire residents. People are struggling to pay their household expenses. There are many factors contributing to the current economic challenges that we are facing today. Many of these are not controlled at the state level: the rise of federal interest rates, the war in Ukraine, the supply chain issues and natural disasters. That said, at the state level, there are steps that we need to take to address these issues. The Federal Inflation Reduction Act has allocated New Hampshire $2.6 billion over 10 years to fund rebate programs, extend clean energy tax credits and create energy jobs. Lawmakers must maximize this funding to benefit our residents. The PUC has authorized dramatic increases to our electricity rates. We need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to provide our electricity and invest in alternative renewable energy sources and infrastructure. To counter the labor shortage, we must provide funds for retraining workers in a changing economy, providing child care assistance so parents can work and cutting the red tape so businesses can hire the seasonal workers they need. The state can offer incentives to local communities to provide more affordable housing and reward businesses who increase workers' wages
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
As a former teacher, parent of four and a new grandmother, I know that the most important advantage we can provide for our children is a great education and our local public schools are the heart of our community. I spent nine years on the Rye School Board and twelve years on the Rye Budget Committee working to make sure that our schools and town had the resources needed to support our families. While education is my passion, we need to find solutions for other everyday issues that matter to most people: providing a safe and healthy environment for our families, keeping healthcare and childcare affordable, and investing in infrastructure solutions with an eye to climate change. Recent Supreme Court decisions have made it clear that at the state level, we must protect a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions. During my fifteen years as a town board representative, I diligently researched the issues presented and listened to differing perspectives prior to making a final decision with my fellow board members. I understand the importance of balancing our municipal needs with conservative fiscal planning and funding. If elected, I will use these skills to effectively represent the people of Greenland, North Hampton and Rye.
Robert (R.J.) Lincoln
Hometown: Rye
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?
I do believe in freedom and the rights of a woman to do what she wants with her body; I also believe in supporting the rights of the voiceless unborn and I'm frustrated in the many pro-abortion people & politicians that are telling the public that New Hampshire has banned abortion, that's not true. This is copied from Planned Parenthood's website:
Abortion remains safe and legal in New Hampshire, but there are a few restrictions:
Abortion is banned at 24 weeks with exceptions for fatal fetal diagnoses and the life of the pregnant person. While this section of the law does not impact the care, we provide at PPNNE health centers, we believe all people should have the right to access the sexual and reproductive health care they need - including abortion – without government interference. Parental Notification is in effect. If you are under the age of 18 and seeking an abortion, N.H. requires that one of your parents be told of your decision 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement." Think of this, all of us could have potentially been aborted, thank God we weren't. Look at your children and grandchildren, they could have been aborted, thank God they weren't. 24 weeks is plenty of time, in most cases but, in isolated cases of the health of the mother, extensions could be allowed. Someone needs to stand up for the voiceless unborn, and I'm not ashamed to be one of them.
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?
This is a much bigger issue than can be answered here, but a start is budget reduction and fiscal responsibility. New Hampshire has done a good job here, but there's room for improvement. We need to cut back on spending, find new ways to bring more energy into the state and keep government out of as much as possible. It will be my initiative to work with businesses, to help them grow, make it easier for them to grow and hire more employees, then as they grow, they can afford to increase wages and help with housing.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
I have a strong belief in God, I believe in putting Him first. I want you to know, I'm here to be a peacemaker, work together with others in Concord to bring about common-sense policy and change. I believe in the Constitution, it's the foundation that's allowed the United States to grow to a superpower faster than any other country in human history. I believe in supporting our policemen, our veterans and that all lives matter, I believe in being a voice for the unborn and I believe in holding criminals accountable. I believe parents should control the education and wellbeing of their children. New Hampshire is an amazing state, the reason so many are looking to move here, let's keep it that way. I'd be honored to be your representative and will work hard to make you proud, please consider giving me your vote. Thank you!
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH election 2022: 3-way race for 1 Rockingham District 38 House seat
