Candidate Forum with Bedford Republicans Draws Over 50 People

The Bedford Republican Committee hosted a forum featuring N.H. gubernatorial and 1st U.S. congressional primary candidates: 

Gubernatorial candidates:
- Walt Haverstein
- Andrew Hemingway
- Jonathan Smolin

1st Congressional candidates:
- Frank Guinta
- Dan Innis
- Brendan Kelly

Ray Chadwick moderated the debate; taking questions from the fifty-five some-odd attendees.

Prior to the debate, Ray paid tribute to the our dear friend, neighbor and Republican stalwart, Kathy Benuck, whom we lost last week. 

Ray also introduced other race candidates in attendance for other offices:

State Rep candidates:
- Lawrence Cheetham
- Dave Danielson
- Bart Fromuth
- Linda Gould
- John Graham
- Laurie Sanborn
- John Schneller
- Melissa Stevens

State Senate candidate:
- Andy Sanborn

County Attorney candidate:
- Dennis Hogan

Registry Of Deeds candidate:
- Pam Coughlin

County Treasurer candidate:
- Dave Fredette

Opening statements:

Hemingway: Lives with his wife and children in Bristol.  Is a businessman who started two tech start-ups.  Believes "Live Free Or Die" is a statement of principle.  Economy and health care are biggest issues.  Has started 100 NH Ideas; a crowd-sourcing way of coming up with ideas best for New Hampshire.

Innis: Was UNH administrator, Dean of the Whittemore School of Business and businessman who owns the Hotel Portsmouth.  He believes government surveillance is out of control including the NSA in our cell phones.  Taxes are too high.  He's not a politician.  Washington needs a different kind of person and we need to beat Carol Shea-Porter.

Haverstein: Glad to be back at the BRC again.  We need to breathe life into our economy.  Small businesses are being taxed too much.  N.H. is now ranked 35th in the nation in economic development.  He was a CEO of the largest manufacturing firm in N.H.  He knows about regulatory burdens.  He was in the USMC protecting our freedoms.

Smolin: Works in the medical field, has 2 children.  We are on a downward spiral.  Medical care is too costly.  His father must live with him because it is too expensive now to live alone at his age.  The education system has gone downhill.  Common Core is terrible.  The young are leaving N.H.  State universities are too expensive.  Casinos are necessary for income, similar to liquor stores.

Guinta: It was an honor to serve in the 112th Congress.  They did not achieve all of their goals and objectives.  But, he is optimistic for what can still be done in the future.  They were able to begin cutting and change the debate.  Talked to family and decided to run again.  

Kelly: Selectman from Seabrook and Christian deacon.  Has served his country. Believes in original intent of the constitution.  Will not accept pension if elected.  He is embarrassed for his generation for allowing this country to fall into the debt we are in.  Asked for people's vote.  Asked people to find 2 people to vote for him.

Question 1 to CD1 candidates: What about deficits and debt ceiling always going up?

Innis: In 10-25 years, in 2029, the single biggest expenditure will be interest on the national debt.  It will swallow us and be catastrophic.  We need a 5-10 year plan.  Metrics are needed to keep to strategic plan.  Every year the budget needs to be voted on.

Guinta: We do have a 10 year budget.  The congress did cut spending but it depended upon the Democrat-run Senate to vote for it, which they did not.  Cut, cap and balance was passed when he was in Congress.  Senate would not pass it.  They also passed the Budget Control Act.

Smolin: This is the biggest issue facing us.  If not increasing the debt ceiling shuts down the government, that is okay.  It is a death sentence if we cannot control it.  Young people will be stuck with the debt.  There should be no other issue we are looking at now.

Question 2 to gubernatorial candidates:  What do you think about expanded gambling?

Hemingway: Current proposition is crony capitalism where the taxpayers are going to give money to a Vegas developer.  We already have charity gaming.  Should allow towns and market to drive what kind of gaming is created, not the state.

Haverstein: Opposed to any expanded gambling.  Cannot form backbone of economy.  Hassan is wrong.  There is already a glut of casinos in New England.

Smolin: Is in favor of casinos.  Build in central N.H. not near Mass border, so jobs are given to N.H. residents.  Is against the government paying for it.

Question 3 to CD1 candidates: Opinion of immigration laws not being enforced. 

Guinta: Discussed Obama's executive action a few years ago that gave amnesty to illegals 31 and under.  Two hundred ninety thousand illegals received amnesty through that executive action.  We are a nation of laws.  Watched his good friends who were Colombian become citizens and was very moved by it.

Kelly: Doesn't require much thinking for him.  Is for open immigration but need to enforce legal immigration.  We should take care of our neighbors.  Seal the borders.

Innis: No path for citizenship.  No comprehensive bill.  Do it in pieces.  Enforce the laws.  Look at the bright talented people we are keeping out who eventually compete against us in another country.

Question 4 to gubernatorial candidates: What should be done about the state's pension obligations?

Haverstein: It is the unspoken fiscal issue in the state.  Pension funded at 57%.  Not sustainable.  Need to move off a Defined Benefits plan to a Defined Contribution plan.  Need a bond for deficit.  Businesses must do it, so should the government.

Smolin: Agreed with Walt's approach.  Must rewrite pension plan.  

Hemingway: He wishes it was easy. But, the majority of towns are also part of the pension plan.  And the pension is led by the legislature.  A committee runs it.  And N.H. sued the firm that was hired to manage the plan.  The solution is with people closest to problem.  Public employees spiking hours near the end of their employment is a big problem.  Towns that allow bad practices like that should not be allowed to be part of the pension plan.  Mismanagement should be punished.  

Question 5 to all: Opinion on Common Core?

Kelly: Hell No!

Hemingway: No, local control.

Innis: No, local control.

Havenstein: No common core.

Smolin: No common core.

Guinta: No.

Question 6 and final: Thoughts on individual liberty/personal responsibilities.

Smolin: Employment is the root of the problem.  Welfare system should be temporary, not permanent.  Stop counting on the state.  Being on welfare should not be a career.

Guinta: It comes down to leadership.  President wants us to rely on government.  It comes down to family values.

Kelly: Education system is a disaster.  School should do its job to teach history and personal responsibility.  Following man's direction instead of God's is another problem.

Hemingway: Expanding personal liberty is the goal of all people.  Must push against the state.  Decrease government involvement in lives.  All night, all Republicans on the panel agree, or they would not be Republicans.  

Innis: Ditto!  Creating nanny state.  Cradle to grave entitlements.  Get Washington out of people's lives.  

Haverstein: It is why they are here running.  Nobility of work is what it comes down to.  Being proud of working.  Success should be based on people coming off welfare, not on added to welfare.  Economy important in reducing size of government.  Shaheen reduced health care providers in N.H.  His company, Sanders, said "no"!  Freedom cannot be bought.