1. Why are you running, and what do you hope to achieve in the next legislative term?
I am running to promote safer, more hopeful communities for families and children in New Hampshire. My focus is on strong public schools, common sense gun safety and effective climate change initiatives.

2. Assess the recent performance of Gunstock. If elected, would you keep it in the same direction or change course, and how?
Gunstock has been so successful over the last few years and I support their current course.

3. Given budget constraints for the Belknap County Nursing Home, how would you stretch county taxpayer dollars and still meet our high standards of care?
I believe competitive compensation for staff is essential and necessary for filling the empty positions and operating the nursing home at maximum capacity. Medicaid reimbursement rates need to be increased and I am curious if there are any other possible funding sources.

4. As a member of the Belknap County Delegation, how would you improve county hiring practices to attract the highest quality candidates for our nursing home, public safety and administrative positions?
Competitive salaries and broad based recruiting are needed to attract staff that may also be interested in living in this beautiful county. Affordable workforce housing issues must be addressed as that is another element for successful recruiting.

5. Should Belknap County manage its own nursing home and county corrections departments, or privatize them? What about Gunstock Recreation Area/Gunstock Mountain Ski Area?
No, Belknap County should not privatize the nursing home, corrections department or Gunstock Mountain Recreation/Ski area.

6. What are your ideas for the former 220-acre Laconia State School property?
I believe the priority for the former Laconia State School should be appropriate housing across the spectrum of affordable, workforce and low income. Day care and other services that help people live and work in the Laconia/Belknap County area are also a priority that can make business opportunities grow.

7. What would you do as a State Representative to improve the opioid and drug problem in the region?
I worked as a Substance Use Recovery Coach for 5 years at Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region. In that capacity I learned a great deal about all the substance issues (including opioids, meth and alcohol) in this area. There has been great progress in the services available for rehab and sober living in Belknap County. Increases in affordable housing for those in recovery that are working, staying sober and reuniting with family are essential. Sadly, overdose death rates are still very high in NH. Newer areas in the battle include prevention methods such as drug detection strips and needle exchange. Research highlighting the importance of adverse childhood experiences holds promise to understanding the factors leading to substance use and potential early interventions. When I decided to run I checked in with some former colleagues to ask about changes that have occurred since I retired in 2021. They commented that continued steady support rather than drastic new legislative efforts were needed.

8. What do you think is the most important skill of being a good State Rep, and why?
Connecting to a broad range of constituents, not only supporters, and developing viable policy options to address current concerns and issues looming in the future is key. I believe open-mindedness, creativity and compassion are important in finding solutions without compromising basic values.

9. What do you see are the biggest needs of Belknap County, and what would you do to fill that need?
Workforce housing, child care, continued substance use treatment support, environmental protection including effective plans to address climate change. I would also like to see bipartisan common sense gun violence prevention efforts as our suicide by gun rate is very high across the state. How to fill the need is a big question. The Laconia Mayor’s Committee on Housing is a good way to move forward as housing is a complex problem. Learning about other successful workforce and homeless housing efforts, either in the state or across the country and then developing projects here is a good way to move forward. Local zoning offers challenges across the country and there are success stories that can provide inspiration. I do not know that much about how to incentivize more child care center development but am very interested in learning more. I worked with so many young mothers who were caught in the bind of trying to find and afford child care in order to work.

10. What percentage of your campaign funding comes from outside the county? How much from out of state?
70% from residents inside the county and 30% from friends and family out of state.

11. Do you think our current county government should be smaller, larger, or stay the same?
At this point, I don’t have a position on this

12. What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
After receiving a Masters in Public Administration from Indiana University, I worked for 15 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 10 of those years in the Climate Change Division. I was the Team Leader for the Energy Star Existing Home Program and worked closely with state officials to develop energy efficiency programs that save homeowners money and reduce energy consumption. In my second career, I worked as a personal trainer and a Nationally Certified Health Coach. In 2016, I moved to Gilford once my daughter went to college and worked as a personal trainer at Taylor Community and as a substance use recovery coach at Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region, a great opportunity to get to know all different kinds of people, a broad range of ages and vastly different circumstances. I retired in 2021 and now volunteer at St Vincent de Paul as a rental support coordinator and at Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, a non-partisan gun violence prevention group.
My education, work and volunteer experience has given me the background to be an effective legislator. My belief is that connecting first with people across the political spectrum on the values we share and then moving to develop positive policies to advance those values with respect and compassion will result in children and families feeling safer and more hopeful for the future in Belknap County and across New Hampshire.

13. What endorsements have you received?
I have received the Gun Sense Candidate Distinction from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. I have applied for a few others but have not heard back yet.

14. How long have you lived in Belknap County?
8 years