Valerie Roman, Windham State Representative Candidate

Valerie Roman

Age (as of Election Day)

66

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

NH State Representative (Rockingham District 17)

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband Tony (married 40 years); Son Matt and daughter-in-law Sarah; Son David and daughter-in-law Jennifer; Infant grandson Aiden

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Wellesley College, Phi Beta Kappa, Bachelor’s Degree, Majors Math and Economics; Minor: Education with secondary school education certification

Occupation

Technology Management and Consulting for four decades

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

www.ValerieRoman4NH.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am disappointed in our town’s representatives and in what is happening in Concord. I couldn't sit on the sidelines. Instead of “Accept the things you cannot change” I have also lived by “Work to change the things you cannot accept”

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

Maintaining the quality of our schools with less assistance from the state. I would work to limit public taxpayer money being funneled to private and religious schools through the newly approved school voucher program. I would fight for our town getting adequate funding from the state so we can maintain the quality of our schools without raising our already-high property taxes.

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

I believe my proven success in problem solving and consensus building over a four-decade career in technology management will benefit Windham and the State of New Hampshire. I will bring a new name and face, as well as an open mind, to represent all residents of Windham in Concord. I commit to listening and working together for a balanced, bipartisan approach to finding real solutions.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Our current representatives have voted in ways that do not represent the residents and needs of our town. They have:

• Defunded public education with voucher programs that funnel money from our community to religious and private schools
• Failed our environment by denying science, voting against renewable energy and energy saving projects, leaving us with the highest electric rates in New England
• Made decisions that increased our property taxes. With less state education funding going to municipalities, towns must either cut school budgets or raise property taxes. And by letting big corporations and the wealthy pay less than their fair share, local property taxes are increasing on ordinary residents to maintain the quality of life that Windham has expected and enjoyed
• Took rights away from private companies and hospitals to decide their own employee health policies
• Made our town less safe by loosening already-loose gun safety laws, allowing guns in schools, polling locations, etc.
• Made it more difficult for legal voters to vote in NH
• Enacted the first NH abortion ban in modern history

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Support public schools, teachers, and students; Protect women's reproductive rights; Control property taxes; Address environment and energy crisis; Fight for common sense gun safety; Protect democracy

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

As a Director of Technology, I have spent my career listening to people about their needs and meeting those needs on a timely and cost-effective basis. I have had to be a team player, a leader, and have had to work with a variety of people with different perspectives to solve problems. As a high school valedictorian and Phi Beta Kappa college graduate, I have proven I can do the work needed to succeed.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

After I graduated from my local public school and began my freshman year at Wellesley College, I encountered other women who had come from prestigious private schools and grew up with more advantages than I had received. I questioned whether I belonged and whether I could succeed. I am of Greek descent – my mom’s family from Athens and my dad’s family from Sparta. My dad told me that I did belong and that I could do it. He said, “You were born with the wisdom of Athens and the courage of Sparta – don’t ever forget it”

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

I believe that to be a successful representative, you need to have an open channel of communication with your constituents — listening to them, learning from them, and keeping them up to date on what is happening in Concord. You need to be honest, work hard, and get things done to improve the lives of your constituents. I know that I have the skills and drive to do that, and hope you will give me the opportunity to be that successful representative for Windham.