Christensen: Commissioner Holden Supports Tax Increase

Submitted by Chris Christensen

State Rep. Chris Christensen, R-Merrimack, spoke to the Amherst Republican Town Committee at its monthly meeting Saturday morning. The focus of his remarks was his position as a member of the Hillsborough County Delegation, and his candidacy for the District 3 seat as County Commissioner. The two positions are “incompatible” so Christensen will not be running for re-election as state representative. District 3 includes 24 towns in Hillsborough County. District 1 and 2 are basically the cities of Manchester and Nashua.

Christensen’s primary point was that incumbent Carol Holden, R-Amherst, who espouses a fiscally conservative position, had, according to Commission minutes, supported preliminary planning goals of spending nearly all of the available surplus, and raising taxes on the cities and towns by 2 percent. He noted that this tax increase had been offered by Commissioner Toni Pappas, D-Manchester, and it was highly unusual for a fiscal conservative to support such a position.

“In view of the fact that the largely Republican Delegation had set a goal of no increased taxes, and after 18 months of these same legislators refusing to raise taxes, I just can’t imagine why she would support the Democrat position of raising taxes,” Christensen said.

After subcommittee workshops reworking the entire budget, in which Christensen participated, the legislators passed a budget that reduced use of surplus by another million dollars, and imposed no tax increase.

“It also appears to me that supporting spending $25,000 for out of state travel for commissioners, while cutting $63,000 out of the budget to support elderly and disabled Meals on Wheels recipients is just a bad set of priorities” added Christensen. He noted, in full disclosure, that he serves on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels. “It’s time for a fresh perspective on the Board of County Commissioners, and I ask for your vote in the September primary election.”

In earlier biographical remarks, Rep. Christensen noted that he had lived in the Lakes Region prior to joining the Navy, and moved to Merrimack in 1975 after five years of active duty as a Naval Flight Officer. With a degree in business, Christensen spent 25 years in a business career. He also served six years as a selectman, including two terms as Chairman. In 2000, he was elected to the NH House of Representatives and was appointed to the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. This committee deals with economic development issues ranging from tourism to clean water supplies. He chairs two statutory committees: the Oil Fund Disbursement Board which operates as an “excess insurer” for cleanup of oil discharges, and the Exotic Aquatic Weeds and Species Committee which works to protect our lakes and rivers from invasive species which destroy the value of our waters for all types of uses.

Christensen was accompanied at the presentation by his wife, Town Moderator, Lynn Christensen, Fiscal Agent Ken Wilson, and Merrimack Town Councilor Bill Boyd.