District 5 candidates for Executive Council talk issues before primary
By Ella Nilsen, The Keene Sentinel, N.H. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Those are some of the most important issues facing
Councilor
After incumbent District 5 Councilor
Sheehan, Hattamer and Daler outlined their credentials for the job and talked issues in recent interviews. Wheeler, who served as an executive councilor in the past, could not be reached for comment.
The Democrats
Running on the Democratic side of the race are Sheehan, a
Each has experience in politics and civil service they tout as the necessary to be an executive councilor.
Sheehan said she became involved in politics because of the deep spending cuts across the state in 2010, during the tenure of a Republican-controlled state
"I was so concerned because we saw so much happen in the city with the 2010 administration with cuts to education," Sheehan said. "All the budgets have to be balanced, but all the cuts were passed down to the city of
Sheehan said her experience as a city alderman allows her to see how spending decisions in state government affect towns and cities.
"It's seeing how things translate to the community," she said. "I think I would be a better alderman with that information and I think I would be a better councilor."
On her website, Sheehan said she plans to continue her work as an alderman if elected to the executive council.
Like Sheehan, Daler said she also became involved in politics in the wake of the 2010
One day at the
Daler won a special election in 2011 to become a representative and served on the health, human services and elderly affairs committee.
She said she wants to preserve a balance of Democrats and Republicans on the
"
Daler said an example of this is when councilors did not renew a contract with Planned Parenthood in summer 2011, ending some services across the state.
And she said her time in
"I have state-level experience," Daler said. "I know how hard it is to create a balanced budget for the state."
The Republicans
Until recently, Hattamer admitted, he did not know much about the duties of the council and believed councilors were appointed to their jobs.
"
Hattamer, who is the chairman of the department of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at
"I can't think of a better time to have a physician in the
Hattamer said all three of his opponents are politicians, and he believes it's time to get someone on the council with a different background.
"I'm not a politician, I am a doctor," he said. "I try very hard not to give political answers. I'm the only one not trying to save my seat; I'm trying to save the state."
On the issues
Hattamer said the most important issue to him is making sure the state budget is balanced and
Since the
He and Daler also said they wanted to prioritize transparency on
"It's a very powerful position and the larger public doesn't seem to know much about it," Hattamer said.
Daler said she would fight for the contracts that "make sense" for the state. "The positive side of having a council is just to ask those questions, making sure things are open and transparent," she said.
All three candidates said they believe in supporting infrastructure projects, in particular, supporting a rail system connecting communities in southeastern
"Infrastructure can be used to lift the whole community," Sheehan said, citing regional rail as an important economic issue.
Even though he is a Republican and favors smaller government, Hattamer said "you have to invest in infrastructure, too."
"Most of the people in
He added he hopes a train linking
Sheehan said she would also like to see a rail system connecting the eastern and western parts of the state in the future.
Daler, who said she regularly used a commuter bus to get to work in the past, agreed on this point.
"I think a train would be useful to people, certainly as far west as
Speaking on health care issues, Hattamer said he is critical of some parts of the Affordable Care Act and agrees with others, but also said he is concerned about continuing
Hattamer said he was concerned about
In contrast, Daler and Sheehan were vocal in their support of the federal health care law and keeping
"That affects so many people that really have to depend on us for a safety net," Sheehan said, adding funding for
Daler agreed. "Keeping health care reform and keeping
___
(c)2014 The Keene Sentinel (Keene, N.H.)
Visit The Keene Sentinel (Keene, N.H.) at www.sentinelsource.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 1218 |
Diminished Value of Georgia Reviewed by the Atlanta & Company TV Program on NBC’s 11Alive
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News