Robin Vogt, Portsmouth-Newington State Representative Candidate

Robin Vogt

Age (as of Election Day)

28

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

State Representative | Rockingham District 21 (Portsmouth Ward 1 & Newington, NH)

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

Mark Vogt (Father), 73 and Mary Vogt (Mother), 62

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors Degree, Granite State College

Occupation

Special Education Paraeducator, 10 Years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

http://www.vogtfornh.wordpress.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Running for office here in New Hampshire is more than just an opportunity to represent my district in Concord. It is a unique chance to elevate the voices of those in my community who otherwise would never have the chance to do so, and to bring each concern before the highest level of state government. I walk throughout my neighborhood and those across Portsmouth and Newington to find people that are struggling to make ends meet, are looking for guidance on how to have their voice heard, or just need someone to speak for them, to help. Running for office is not about me: it's about the people. ALL people that call our amazing state home.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our district is affordable housing and availability of workforce housing for those who wish to call Portsmouth and Newington home. Currently, to live in Portsmouth or Newington, NH comfortably, you would need to make anywhere between $29 to $32 per hour minimum. This is based on income, current rent / mortgage rates (per month basis) and all other fee's associated with housing. With rents averaging $1,300 a month for a 1 BR / 1BR apartment, those making the state minimum wage of $7.25 to $14.50 per hour cannot afford to live here. As State Representative for Rockingham District 21, I will develop and support legislation that seeks to reform our current housing plans as a state. We need to dig deep into workforce housing qualifications that currently do not include specific income brackets ($20K to $35K per year) and develop committees to research municipal development projects that could easily take on state support when converted to affordable housing plans. It can get done with community support and a representative that is ready to take it on. I am that representative.

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

I am not afraid to challenge a past and/or current practice when it has clearly and consistently pushed out those who have something important and critical to share. Every single individual has a place in our local government and the right to know exactly how it functions. I am an educator, so my job is to educate and to elevate the curiosity of those in my community, and to encourage participation in such an important part of our society. The critical difference: I am loud about things that matter and very in tune with what is happening in my district.

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.

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

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Ignore the noise and stay true to who you are. People are going to try and mold you into something, so don't let them"

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

This campaign is built on the liveability of our communities. For years, representatives have been elected to Concord under a "party platform" and encouraged to only speak to that. Buried underneath this platform lies the unheard calls for real change and the movement away from status quo practices. As the representative for Rockingham District 21, my responsibility will be to elevate the calls for change on the floor of our legislative body, and not conform to that same status quo. We can find way's to work with each other as a collective, however, the voice of all those that call the Granite State home MUST come first. This campaign is for our families, our grandparents, and their grandchildren who wish to call New Hampshire home someday.