Jarvis Launches Indie Bid for Governor of NH

CONCORD, NH - Add another candidate to the list of people who would like to be the next governor of New Hampshire – only this candidate is striving to bypass the two major party primaries and gain ballot access running as an independent.

Jilletta Jarvis, a self-proclaimed “middle-class wife and mother,” from Sandown, who works in the financial sector, jumped into the race a few weeks ago and is now undergoing the daunting task of gathering the signatures of 3,000 registered voters to have a place on the ballot in November.

“I believe it is time to bring true representation to the Statehouse, and as a citizen of the state that has been suffering the same woes as the voters instead of sitting above them,” she said in a statement, “I feel I have a more level view of what people in our state are facing on a daily basis.”

Candidates for state offices must file intentions of declarations of candidacy between June 1, and June 10, 2016, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. In order to obtain ballot access for governor as an indie, Jarvis needs 3,000 certified signatures – 1,500 from each congressional district – signed by registered voters and submitted to checklist supervisors by Aug. 10, 2016. From there, supervisors have three weeks to check the signatures. The certified nomination papers need to be filed with the state by Sept. 7.

The task – as anyone who knows who has done it – is daunting, especially when potential candidates can, instead, pay a $200 filing fee as either a Democrat or Republican and gain access immediately – and easily. Jarvis though believes that the independent route will allow her to represent all of the people of the state.

“I am running as an independent because I believe that too many politicians these days use their party as a crutch to get voters to believe in them,” she said. “I know that our voters in New Hampshire are able to look at the opinions and views of the individual running for the office and that they vote for the person here … I don't tie myself to a party because here in New Hampshire free will and dedication to principles says more than hiding behind someone else's banner.”

Jarvis, a mother of three, has worked a number of fields including education, healthcare, insurance, and financials, and noted that each of the industries she has experience with are connected to everyone’s daily life. It was her job at these positions, she said, to find solutions to issues and help people learn to fix them while also teaching others to succeed at their jobs. Jarvis said she would bring those experiences – being in the trenches, helping others – to the corner office.

Jarvis is making her views available online, and is answering voter questions directly on her Facebook page. Nomination forms can be downloaded directly at her website.

Her platform is a mix of small L libertarianism with bits and pieces of both Democrat and Republican ideals.

Jarvis said she supports “the Portuguese model” of drug enforcement – focusing on dealing more than consumption – and also wants to study the current education financing system in order to relieve property taxpayers while also making home ownership more affordable. She supports gun ownership rights and doesn’t support broad-based taxes. She favors expanded, regulated casino gambling and as well as same-sex marriage while opposing new pipelines and the Northern Pass Project. Jarvis is also calling for more solar energy as well expanding job opportunities in the state beyond just the retail and manufacturing sectors but into science and technology, pharma, while also protecting small businesses and entrepreneurs – “our largest income group in the state.”

Fighting political corruption is also at the forefront of her campaign noting that while most state offices are comprised of volunteers and citizens, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t corruption in the system.

“Lobbyists and special interest groups still infest our state and try to persuade officials to vote in their favor with gifts and money,” Jarvis stated. “This is not in the best interest of the voters. I would like this practice to end. If they want to be heard they can go to the town halls and voice their concerns like everyone else…by using their voices, not their wallets. Let them speak where the people of New Hampshire can hear them and dispute them.”

Jarvis joins a myriad of candidates currently running for governor.

On the Republican side, state Rep. Frank Edelbut, state Sen. Jeanie Forrester, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, and Executive Councilor Chris Sununu are all running.

On the Democrat side, former Deputy Secretary of State Mark Connolly, author Derek Dextraze, former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand, and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern are running.

Other potential indie candidates include Mike Gill and Jon Lavoie.