Economy, Taxes & Government

Why are you running, and why should Ward 7 vote for you?

Representation should begin with listening and continue with accountability. Over the past several months, I have knocked on doors throughout Ward 7 and heard directly from residents about housing, taxes, schools, homelessness, speeding, public safety, and the cost of living.

I am not running because I believe I have every answer. I am running because Ward 7 deserves a representative who will show up, ask difficult questions, study the issues, and remain accessible after Election Day.

If elected, I will measure success by whether I am accessible to residents, whether I help solve problems, and whether the votes I cast in Concord make New Hampshire and Ward 7 stronger.

What are your three biggest priorities?

My priorities are affordability and responsible government, better educational outcomes, and stronger and safer communities.

On affordability, government must remember that every dollar it spends ultimately comes from somebody who earned it. On education, the debate should not simply be about spending more or spending less; it should be about what results we are getting for our children. And strong neighborhoods require attention to housing, homelessness, crime, traffic safety, and quality of life.

These priorities are connected. A community is stronger when families can afford to live there, children receive a good education, and people feel safe.

You talk about wasteful spending. What specifically would you cut?

I do not think it is responsible to name a program simply because cutting something sounds good politically. Before voting for a cut, I want to know what the program costs, what it was created to accomplish, whether it is achieving that objective, whether another program duplicates it, and what happens if we eliminate it.

I will apply that test aggressively. If a program repeatedly fails to produce measurable results, administrative spending grows without improving services, or taxpayers are funding duplicative functions, I will question whether that spending should continue.

Fiscal responsibility is not about finding anything to cut. It is about making government justify the money it takes from taxpayers.

Will you vote to raise taxes?

My starting position is that New Hampshire families already work hard for their money, and government should demonstrate that it is using existing revenue responsibly before asking taxpayers for more.

I will not make the unrealistic promise that no emergency or extraordinary circumstance could ever require a difficult decision. But increasing taxes should be a last resort, not government's first response when it wants to spend more.

Before supporting a tax or fee increase, I would want to know what spending was reviewed, what alternatives were considered, what taxpayers receive in return, and whether the proposal creates another permanent expense. The burden of proof should be on government.

What will you do about property taxes?

Property taxes are primarily imposed locally, so a State Representative cannot simply walk into Concord and lower a Manchester property-tax bill. But state decisions absolutely influence local tax pressure.

Education funding is a major example. When the state shifts costs to municipalities, local property taxpayers often pick up the difference. I will examine state mandates, education funding, and policies that transfer costs onto Manchester.

I will also oppose calling something a state spending cut when it merely moves the bill to local taxpayers. The real question is whether taxpayers actually pay less.

Education

Should Manchester receive more state education funding?

Manchester should receive its fair share under a system that recognizes the actual needs of its students. But writing a larger check does not automatically create better schools.

When additional education funding is proposed, I will ask: What problem are we solving? What outcome do we expect? How will we measure it? And what happens if it does not work? I will ask equally hard questions about cuts: are we eliminating waste, or simply transferring costs to Manchester taxpayers and harming classrooms?

My objective is not maximum spending or minimum spending. It is better educational results and accountability for every education dollar.

Do you support Education Freedom Accounts?

I support parents having meaningful choices in their children's education. Whenever taxpayer dollars are involved, I also believe there must be appropriate transparency and accountability. Those principles are not contradictory.

We should evaluate Education Freedom Accounts based on evidence: Are families benefiting? Are funds being used for legitimate educational purposes? What safeguards exist against misuse? What is the program costing taxpayers?

Education policy should focus on children and families rather than protecting or attacking institutions.

Housing, Public Safety & Health

What will you do about homelessness in Manchester?

We need to stop pretending homelessness has one cause. Housing affordability matters, but mental illness, substance abuse, employment, family circumstances, and other factors can also contribute.

Our response therefore has to combine compassion with accountability. We should help people who genuinely need help, expand pathways toward stability and treatment where appropriate, and address barriers to housing. Programs also need measurable objectives.

Compassion is not measured only by how much money government spends. It should also be measured by whether people are actually moving toward stable, independent lives.

What will you do about housing costs?

Government cannot dictate an affordable market price for every home, but government can make housing unnecessarily difficult and expensive to build.

I want to examine permitting, regulatory barriers, infrastructure constraints, construction requirements, and other state policies affecting housing supply. We need more housing choices while respecting neighborhoods and legitimate local concerns.

I will be skeptical of policies that make construction more expensive because those costs eventually reach renters and buyers. The goal should be to make it easier to responsibly increase supply.

Cars are doing 50 mph on my 30-mph street. What will you do?

I will not pretend a State Representative controls Manchester Police or Public Works. But I also will not tell residents that it is simply somebody else's problem.

I will help bring the complaint to the appropriate city officials and ask for data: traffic volume, actual speeds, crash history, and when the speeding occurs. From there, we can pursue targeted enforcement and determine whether appropriate traffic-calming measures should be considered.

And I will follow up. Sometimes representation is not passing another law; it is making sure a legitimate concern does not disappear into an inbox.

What will you do about crime and public safety?

Government has a fundamental responsibility to protect people's lives, property, and communities. I support law enforcement while also expecting accountability and professionalism from government institutions.

At the state level, I will evaluate criminal laws, corrections, bail policies, mental-health resources, and funding based on whether they actually make communities safer. Locally, I will listen when residents raise concerns about theft, dangerous streets, or recurring problems.

Supporting police and demanding accountability are not mutually exclusive. We should expect both.

Values, Rights & Federal Issues

What is your position on abortion?

I am pro-life. My Catholic faith and my values have shaped my belief in the dignity and value of human life, including the life of the unborn.

But being pro-life also means caring for the life and health of the mother. This is not an abstract issue for my family. After our first son was born, my wife and I experienced a miscarriage. She needed appropriate medical care. We were fortunate that the care she needed was available, and we later went on to have our second son. That experience has stayed with me.

I do not believe abortion laws should prevent a woman who is miscarrying, or experiencing another serious pregnancy complication, from receiving appropriate and timely medical treatment. No woman or physician should have to delay necessary care because the law is unclear about whether doctors are allowed to intervene.

My position is clear and personal: I will defend unborn life, and I will also defend access to appropriate medical care when a mother's health or a pregnancy complication requires it. Protecting unborn children should not require abandoning women when they need medical care.

What is your position on the Second Amendment?

I support the constitutional right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms. I also believe government has a legitimate responsibility to address violent crime and hold dangerous individuals accountable.

When firearm legislation comes before me, I will ask whether it actually targets criminal behavior and improves public safety or primarily burdens law-abiding citizens who were not causing the problem.

Constitutional rights should not disappear because government faces a difficult problem. Responsible gun ownership and serious enforcement against violent criminals should both be part of the conversation.

Do you support President Trump?

I can agree with a President when I believe he is right and disagree when I believe he is wrong. But Ward 7 is not electing me President or sending me to Washington. You are considering sending me to Concord.

I will discuss national issues honestly, but my responsibility as a State Representative is to evaluate New Hampshire legislation on its merits and ask how it affects the people I represent.

My vote should not automatically belong to a President, governor, party leader, or political organization. It belongs to the responsibilities of the office and the people I am elected to represent.

What is your position on ICE and immigration?

Immigration law is primarily federal law, and a New Hampshire State Representative does not control ICE. However, New Hampshire does make decisions about how state and local governments interact with federal immigration authorities.

My starting principles are straightforward: immigration laws should be enforced, constitutional rights and due process should be respected, violent criminals should not be protected from lawful enforcement, and state policies should clearly define the responsibilities of state and local agencies.

When legislation comes before me, I will examine what it actually does rather than voting based on labels.

What about the war with Iran?

War and American foreign policy are primarily responsibilities of the federal government, particularly the President and Congress. A New Hampshire State Representative does not vote on whether America goes to war.

That does not mean federal decisions do not affect New Hampshire. They affect military families, veterans, energy prices, businesses, and taxpayers. I will speak honestly about those consequences and communicate concerns to our federal delegation.

I will not mislead residents into believing I have authority I do not have. Voters deserve to know both what I believe and what the office they are electing me to actually has the power to do.

What about energy costs and climate policy?

Energy policy should begin with three things: affordability, reliability, and responsible environmental stewardship. Families and businesses need electricity they can afford, and the grid has to work when we need it.

I will evaluate proposals based on actual costs and benefits rather than political labels. If a policy significantly increases electricity costs, proponents should explain the measurable benefit ratepayers receive. If someone opposes cleaner or more efficient technology, they should explain why.

New Hampshire families should not be forced to choose between protecting household budgets and pursuing sensible long-term energy policy.

Health, Addiction & Working Across the Aisle

What will you do about healthcare and mental health?

Government cannot solve every healthcare problem, but New Hampshire has legitimate responsibilities involving Medicaid, mental-health systems, substance-use treatment, and healthcare regulation.

I want resources directed toward services that demonstrate results, particularly where untreated mental illness contributes to homelessness, emergency-room use, incarceration, or family instability. Prevention and effective treatment can sometimes cost taxpayers less than repeatedly dealing with crises after they occur.

Funding alone is not a strategy. Agencies and providers should be able to show what outcomes they are achieving.

What about fentanyl and the opioid crisis?

We need both enforcement and treatment. Someone trafficking fentanyl into our communities is not in the same situation as someone trapped in addiction, and policy should recognize that distinction.

I support serious consequences for people who profit from distributing dangerous drugs. At the same time, treatment and recovery programs should provide people willing to change with a path toward stability.

Success is not how many programs government funds. Success is fewer overdoses, fewer people addicted, more people completing treatment, and more families getting their loved ones back.

Will you work with Democrats?

Absolutely. Working with someone does not mean abandoning your principles.

If a Democrat introduces a good idea for Manchester or New Hampshire, I will not oppose it simply because there is a "D" beside the sponsor's name. I hope Democrats would give Republican ideas the same consideration.

I will argue strongly for what I believe, but disagreement does not require disrespect. Voters send us to Concord to govern, not to perform for political parties. Good ideas do not become bad ideas because the other party thought of them first.

Representation & Accountability

Will you vote with your party or with Ward 7?

I will listen carefully to Ward 7, but residents themselves will not always agree. I cannot honestly promise that every vote will reflect every constituent's opinion.

My responsibility is to listen, study the legislation, consider the Constitution, examine the consequences, apply my principles, and cast the vote I believe best serves the people I represent.

Then I owe residents an explanation. You should be able to ask why I voted a particular way and receive an actual answer, not a party talking point.

How accessible will you be after the election?

Accessibility should not end when campaigning ends. If elected, I want residents to have ways to contact me directly, and I intend to continue community conversations rather than waiting until the next election.

I cannot promise that every problem can be solved or every message answered immediately. But residents should know where their representative stands, how to reach him, and what he is doing in Concord.

If I ask you to trust me with your vote, I have an obligation to remain accountable when I have it.

What if I bring you a problem that is actually a city issue?

I will tell you the truth about jurisdiction. If it is a Manchester issue, I will not pretend I have authority over the mayor, aldermen, police, or Public Works.

But I can help identify who does have authority, communicate with that office, and follow up. The worst answer government can give citizens is sending them from office to office until they finally give up.

Sometimes my job will be legislating. Sometimes it will be advocating. Sometimes it will simply be making sure the right person in government actually hears you.

What legislation would you introduce during your first term?

I do not want to manufacture legislation simply so I can say I introduced a bill. Before filing legislation, I want to identify a real problem, determine whether existing law is causing it, and understand the consequences of changing that law.

Education funding and Manchester's treatment under state funding formulas deserve close examination. Housing barriers, government efficiency, and issues residents bring forward may also justify legislation.

The measure of a legislator is not how many bills have his name on them. It is whether the laws he helps create actually solve problems without creating bigger ones.

What would success look like after your first two years?

I want residents to be able to point to results. Did I remain accessible? Did I respond when Ward 7 residents needed help navigating government? Did I protect Manchester's interests in the state budget? Did I help advance legislation that made government more efficient, education more effective, or our communities stronger? Did I explain difficult votes? Did I continue showing up after the election?

I do not want my report card to be a list of speeches I gave. I want it to be problems addressed, residents helped, taxpayer dollars scrutinized, and measurable improvements pursued.

Economy, Workers & Public Trust

What will you do about the rising cost of living?

Government cannot control the price of groceries, gasoline, insurance, housing, and electricity simultaneously. But government influences the cost of living through taxes, fees, regulation, energy policy, and housing policy.

That is why I will ask about the cumulative cost of legislation. A proposal may sound inexpensive when considered alone, but families experience government costs collectively.

My affordability test is simple: What does this proposal do to the family sitting at the kitchen table trying to balance its monthly budget?

Do you support unions and workers' rights?

I support people's right to work, organize, and advocate for better wages and working conditions consistent with the law. I also believe taxpayers deserve accountability when government enters contracts involving public money.

Those principles can coexist. I will evaluate labor legislation based on workers' rights, economic competitiveness, taxpayer obligations, and whether the rules are fair to everyone involved.

The objective should be a New Hampshire economy where businesses can succeed and workers have opportunities to build stable, prosperous lives.

What will you do for small businesses?

Small businesses do not need politicians telling them how important they are while making it increasingly expensive to operate.

I will look closely at taxes, licensing, regulations, insurance pressures, and administrative requirements that disproportionately affect smaller employers. That does not mean eliminating every regulation; some rules protect workers, consumers, and public safety.

But government should be able to explain why a regulation exists, what problem it solves, and whether there is a less burdensome way to accomplish the same objective.

How will you deal with lobbyists and special interests?

I will listen to anyone who can provide useful information, including businesses, unions, advocacy organizations, and policy experts. But access does not mean control.

Special interests often know legislation in great detail, and their expertise can be valuable. They also have interests of their own. Legislators therefore have to hear multiple perspectives, examine evidence, and make independent decisions.

Nobody should be able to purchase my vote simply because they donated money, endorsed me, or has influence in Concord.

What happens when you make a mistake?

I will acknowledge it. Public officials are not going to get every decision right. What concerns me more is a politician who becomes so invested in defending himself that he refuses to admit when the evidence changes.

If I make a factual mistake, I will correct it. If I cast a vote and later conclude I was wrong, I will explain why. Changing your position because new evidence proves you wrong is not weakness.

I want residents to judge me not by whether I am perfect, but by whether I am honest, prepared, and willing to correct course when necessary.