Candidate Bio: Joseph Thomas, Republican for State Rep.

Merrimack Patch has sent a candidate bio to all people running for state representative and state senate to tell Patch readers a little about themselves and why they are running for office. Bios will be posted as they are received and will feed into our Election 2012 topic page which can be found under the "News" tab above.

Joseph D. Thomas, Republican

Running for state representative

Date of birth: March 7, 1935

Background and education: I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in New Jersey. I moved to New England in 1974 and have called Merrimack my hone for over 13 years.

• St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J.
• St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, N.J.
• Newark College of Engineering, Newark, NJ, Special courses
• Phoenix College: Graduate studies toward MBA

I was an industrial Engineer and spent my work career controlling cost in the highly competitive manufacturing business. These skills can be very useful in seeking out waste and making government more efficient.

Prior Elected Office: New Hampshire State Representative, 2011-12.

Personal: Married over 50 years to my wife Doreen, four children and 12 grandchildren.

• Retired
• Volunteer at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center
• Volunteer at Corpus Christi Food Pantry
• Member of The Knights of Columbus 4th degree

Priorities: My priorities are to build upon the progress made in my first term:

• Keeping taxes down
• Fighting for fairness on the Everret t Turnpike by eliminating the tolls
• Protection of life from conception to natural death
• Support a good business climate to attract new business to New Hampshire and to Merrimack.
• Protection of our freedom to own and bear arms
• The protection of good family values and maintenance of personal freedom

Why Are You Running: I am running for state representative because I feel that it is important for qualified people to use their talents, time and experience to serve the community and apply their business and life experiences to attain the goals that I have set forth above.