Candidate Profile: Chuck Morse

(Editor's note: Salem Patch is contacting candidates for the state House and Senate for Salem with a questionnaire, and their responses will be published as candidate profiles between now and the Sept. 11 primary. Disclaimer: Salem Patch will be publishing these responses as they are returned to us.)

NAME: Chuck Morse

DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 11, 1960

BACKGROUND/EDUCATION: Morse earned a bachelor of science degree from Plymouth State University. 

He has served on the board of directors on a myriad number of non-profit organizations in his communities; including the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, the Salem Life Care Foundation, Silverthorne Adult Day Care. 

In 1997, he received the Bill Brown Distinguished Business Person of the Year Award and in 1994 received the Richard P. McCoy Award from the Salem Boys and Girls Club. 

Chuck also received the prestigious John P. Ganley Award in recognition of his service to the community and for his support of the Salem Boys and Girls Club.

EXPERIENCE/OCCUPATION: President of Freshwater Farms & Garden Center in Atkinson

PRIOR ELECTED OFFICE: Chuck is currently serving his third term in the New Hampshire Senate, representing the citizens of Atkinson, Pelham, Plaistow and Salem.  

In the Senate, Chuck is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.  He has also served on Capital Budget, Public Affairs, Ways & Means and Transportation Committees.  

Morse has also previously served two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives representing Salem and Windham. 

In 2006, Chuck was the Republican nominee for Executive Council for the third district.

Morse has also served his local community of Salem as both town moderator and selectman.

PERSONAL: Morse resides in Salem with his wife, Susan, and their daughter, Emma.

PRIORITES: Securing the funding to widen I-93.

Pass casino gaming bill to ensure the revitalization of Rockingham Park and ensure economic development opportunities for the region.

Work further to hold the line on taxes and spending on New Hampshire’s state budget.  Reduce the burdens on New Hampshire’s families and small businesses by ensuring state government lives within it’s means. 

Why are you running?

We are in the midst of the fourth year of a terrible economy that has put significant strains on New Hampshire’s families and small businesses.

Two years ago, I decided to once again run for the state senate because the previous majority had gotten our state budget seriously off track.  As a private citizen, I saw the damage that the 24 percent increase in state spending between 2007 and 2010 and the  84 taxes and fee increases placed on New Hampshire taxpayers.  I ran for the state senate again and made bringing fiscal sanity in Concord my entire platform in the 2010 campaign. I was proud and deeply humbled to earn the confidence of the citizens of Atkinson, Pelham, Plaistow and Salem by such significant margins.

After the election, I learned that rampant spending left a $900 million deficit to address.  As Senate Finance Chairman over these past two years, I worked to ensure that our state budget was balanced without raising taxes and by maintaining critical services for New Hampshire citizens.  We did just that by cutting spending and making tough decisions.

New Hampshire citizens should have never been put into the position of having to dig out from such rampant spending and, if re-elected, I will continue to hold the line on spending and ensure that New Hampshire state government has to live within its means – just like Granite State families do on a daily basis.

What is your stance on expanded gambling in New Hampshire?

I’ve been an advocate for a revitalized Rockingham Park for a long time.  A revitalized Rock will bring thousands of jobs when they are needed most and millions in new revenue to the community.

I’ve work to pass legislation in this regard and, if re-elected, will sponsor legislation that will ensure that the millions of dollars in non-taxpayer revenue will be available to the state of New Hampshire to address priorities such as job creation and critical highway infrastructure projects such as I-93.

With a limited expansion of gaming in New Hampshire – at least two casinos – we will recapture most, if not all, of the $80M a year New Hampshire residents presently spend when they leave our state to gamble.

Furthermore, the significant share of revenue and visits from expansion of casino gaming will bring over four million annual visits to the Rock.  This expansion will bring Massachusetts citizens into our state in a pattern, I would argue, that’s similar to what we’ve seen from retail sales due to the absence of a sales tax and through our lottery and liquor sales.

With Massachusetts already expanding, it’s very important that we do not cede this advantage to them.  The size of the loss of employment and non-taxpayer revenue is too significant for us to ignore.

How would you help stoke economic development in the state of New Hampshire?

The worst economic climate of my lifetime has been a barrier to job creation. 

We need to ensure that Concord’s policy agenda does not make such a tough situation worse by added further burdens and challenges on New Hampshire families, taxpayers and small businesses.

This starts with keeping taxes and spending low. We can bring jobs to New Hampshire by a limited expansion of casino gaming.

Furthermore, we must ensure that some of that money is available to widen I-93 – that alone would be a significant economic catalyst for the state of New Hampshire.

Besides bringing relief for the many congested secondary roads of towns along the I-93 corridor and increasing safety for drivers on the roads, the expansion of I-93 will only strengthen it as the gateway to New Hampshire – and the gateway for tourists to the Lakes Region and our North Country.

Furthermore, a widened I-93 will see significant economic development in the communities alongside the highway.