Tweedie: Appoint Guinta National Drug Czar

RYE, NH — With the recent news of U.S. Rep. Marino withdrawing his name from consideration for the position of Drug Czar, we have the chance to nominate and confirm a real champion on this issue. While in Congress, former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta started and chaired with NH’s other Representative, Annie Kuster, the Bi-Partisan Congressional Task Force on the opioid crisis. Frank worked tirelessly on this issue in Washington and here at home in New Hampshire.

From personal experience, he would check in often at the charity on whose board I served to see how we were doing and if there was anything he or his staff could do to help. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Hampton-North Hampton NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. Like Hampton-North Hampton NH Patch on Facebook)

It was Frank who made in-person visits to check on our progress. On a national level, he helped lead a bi-partisan group of legislators who were working on funding solutions to get help to the local level and fast. There was no partisan gamesmanship: Frank and Annie worked together and in their respective caucuses to get the needed votes. You see, these drugs know no socio or economic boundaries. They are truly equal opportunity killers. And what this country needs is real leadership from someone who understands the problem from Washington right down to the streets, schools, and neighborhoods of New Hampshire where we unfortunately rank among the top in the nation for deaths.

Frank Guinta is that person.

I believe beyond any doubt that the person to lead the nation in stemming this crisis and helping people into long term recovery and doing all of this with both knowledge and compassion is Frank Guinta. I would implore President Trump to nominate him right away and encourage our two Senators to look beyond the usual partisan politics to support and vote for Frank. Our country needs him.

Ray Tweedie, a former state Senate candidate and Area Vice Chairman of the NHGOP, lives in Rye.

Image via Guinta's Congressional Office.