Dist. 16: Libertarian Senate candidate says his party is growing converts

July 19--Dist. 16: Libertarian Senate candidate says his party is growing converts

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN

New Hampshire Union Leader

July 18. 2017 10:34PM

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State Senate District 16 special election

When: Tuesday, July 25.

Where: The district includes Manchester Wards 1,2 and 12, and the towns of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton and Hooksett.

Who: Republican David Boutin of Hooksett, Democrat Kevin Cavanaugh of Manchester, and Libertarian Justin Dubrow of Dunbarton.

DUNBARTON -- Libertarian Party candidate for State Senate Jason Dubrow believes more New Hampshire residents are becoming open-minded to supporting third parties such as his that oppose the expansion of state government and favor more personal liberty.

Since November's election, three members of the 400-member New Hampshire House of Representatives -- two Republicans and one Democrat -- have switched to become Libertarian.

"I suspect we will see more Libertarian switches," said Dubrow, a 38-year-old computer engineer.

Libertarians won automatic status on the ballot by getting at least 4 percent of the vote in the race for U.S. Senate last fall.

Dubrow moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts nearly 10 years ago but not as a follower of the Free State Project, a national call by the Libertarian Party for like-minded citizens to move here and make the Granite State a major political beachhead for the cause.

In his only other elective office experience, Dubrow ran as a Republican in a 2010 primary for state representative and lost.

He and his wife, Becky, have two daughters, Cassiopia, 6, and Callista, who is 15 months old.

Dubrow faces two better-known and more well-financed opponents in this State Senate District 16 race that voters will decide next Tuesday.

Republican nominee David Boutin held the seat for eight years but decided not to run in 2016. Manchester Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh is the Democratic nominee in District 16, which includes Manchester Wards 1, 2 and 12 along with the towns of Hooksett, Bow, Candia and Dunbarton.

Dubrow is best known among political activists as a gun rights supporter and he applauded the Republican-led Legislature last spring for making New Hampshire one of a small number of states that let people carry a concealed gun without a permit.

"We finally passed constitutional carry that needed to be passed for many years," Dubrow said. "We would have passed in 2010 if not for Senator Boutin back then."

At that time, Boutin served on a House-Senate conference committee trying to resolve differences between competing versions of the concealed carry bill, but negotiators failed to reach an agreement.

Some gun advocates blame Boutin for the collapse; Boutin insists he wanted to reach a deal and that pro-gun groups have given him good grades for his voting record on the issue.

Dubrow faulted lawmakers for passing a two-year state budget that increased spending from state revenues by nearly 10 percent.

"I would definitely say that any increase in spending is bad. It was a lot more than I think it needed to be," Dubrow said.

Dubrow agrees with the Libertarian Party's support for abortion rights.

"From a government point of view, I don't think it is the government's role to regulate them. From a personal point of view, I hope there comes a day when we don't need abortions," Dubrow said.

Dubrow's views on drugs is consistent with the Libertarian Party's approach.

He believes New Hampshire should start reform by decriminalizing possession of all drugs.

"If users are non-violent, they have a medical problem; they don't have a criminal problem," Dubrow began. "Let's look at the cost of people losing their lives through criminal convictions. I believe decriminalization is a good step and legalization is a laudable long-term goal."

As for fighting the opioid epidemic, Dubrow said he believes lawmakers from all three parties would work together to expand access to drug treatment and more prevention programs.

On Northern Pass, Dubrow said he doesn't favor letting Eversource acquire private properties by eminent domain if lands are needed for right-of-way along the electricity transmission project.

"We need to make sure there is no environmental impact from this project but we do have a serious problem with generation in New Hampshire," Dubrow said. "We definitely need to look into whatever options we have to lower our high electric rates."

Dubrow said he converted his home energy use to solar four years ago.

"Renewable energy has a place in the market but I don't support government mandates like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative," Dubrow said.

On health care reform, Dubrow said the federal Affordable Care Act is not sustainable and New Hampshire and other states should be able to pursue deregulation efforts on their own.

Dubrow said he likes the suggestion of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. -- to make sure all Americans have catastrophic care coverage, which can be much more affordable than the mandated set of benefits contained in Obamacare.

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