Connie Lane, Concord State Representative Candidate

Connie Lane

Age (as of Election Day)

65

Position Sought

State Representative Merrimack 12 (Ward 2 in Concord)

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My husband is Stan Diehl, who is semi-retired. I have 2 sons, Dan and Jeffrey Lane, both of whom attended Concord High, graduating in 2006 and 2010. I have 2 stepsons, Nick and Jordon Diehl, both of whom Milford High.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I attended the University of Georgia, graduating summa cum laude in 1977. I graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1980.

Occupation

Attorney with Orr & Reno. I have been there for 17 years; I have been practicing law for 40 years, including about 9 years with NH legal aid programs.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I was elected to my first term of office in 2018.

Campaign website

connielane4staterep.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want NH to reflect the values that this nation was founded on - equal justice and opportunity for all.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Finding a way to fund an adequate education for our community without continually increasing real estate taxes or reducing the quality of our public education system. Strong public schools are imperative to building a vibrant democracy and modern workforce. There is a bi-partisan commission studying ways to improve our education system, The Commission to Study School Funding, that was funded by the Democratic budget, to help find ways other than real estate taxes to fund the NH school system. Once the Commission's study is released, I plan to review it and work with others in the House to implement the changes that we think are the best. This is the issue that most often is raised by my constituents. In response to those concerns, I helped implement a state budget that provided funds to the Merrimack Valley School District and the Concord School District, as well as funds to the City of Concord so that a real estate tax increase would not be needed. The Governor's budget did not provide funds for the schools or the towns and cities, but Democrats fought hard to insure that the schools and cities that had been decreasing over the past 10 years.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I do not know my opponent, so cannot answer that question with regard to her personal beliefs. If she believes in the the ideals and agenda of the Republican party, then we have many differences. Fundamentally, I believe that that the way you judge a government is by how it treats its most vulnerable residents. Government must insure that equal justice and opportunity is provided to all citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or income. I also believe that climate change is a critical issue that we must face as a society, especially for the sake our children and grandchildren.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

To improve our community so that everyone has access to affordable housing and health care, jobs that provide a livable wage, and a voting process that insures that every inhabitant of NH can easily exercise their most important right – the right to vote. I am also concerned about the impact of climate change on the lives and livelihood of our children and grandchildren.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served in leadership roles on non-profit boards since 1987, as well as at my law firms. I been active in supporting affordable housing since moving to NH, helping to found CATCH Community Housing and serving on the board of NH Housing Finance Authority. I was the executive director of two legal aid programs, the NH Pro Bono Program and Legal Advice & Referral Center, which provided me insight into the challenges faced by low-income residents of NH. As the chair of the board of Red River Theatres, I was in charge of a capital campaign and hiring a new executive director. These positions, as well as 40 years as an attorney, have taught me to listen to all sides of an issue and find compromises that will work. These skills have proven helpful in drafting legislation and working with those who do not share my views. I try to find common ground and build on that to create a solution.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love being a State Representative and enjoy speaking with my constituents. I miss going door-to-door to talk with them about their concerns and how I can better serve them in the House. Campaigning during a pandemic certainly presents new challenges! I encourage them to write or call me during the campaign so that I can learn about what concerns them during these unsettling times.