I have been a full-time resident of Andover since 1990, now living in the farm on Shaw Hill Road that my parents purchased in 1951. For most of my adult life I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats, since both parties worked in the past to truly represent all residents and made New Hampshire one of the top-ranking states in so many categories: best state to live, best state to raise a child, best educated citizenry, and best business climate.

Our representatives did not have an ideology other than to be frugal and make New Hampshire a great state. I hope to continue in that tradition.

I will be a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 13, for the District 1 State Representative seat being vacated by Mario Ratzki.

Like Mario, I am a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, and I believe that the role of a Representative is to represent all people in the district. I will listen to and learn from everyone, be available to my constituents, collaborate as needed to solve problems, and always be ready to explain my votes.

If elected, I will bring the experience of 29 years at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to my job as State Representative. In 1996, I led the interagency team that turned the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program into the New Hampshire Employment Program. While I was the Director of the Division of Family Assistance, we won almost $32 million in federal High Performance Bonuses in areas like reduction of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, timely and accurate benefit delivery, and job placements that were long-term and had gains in earnings, thereby moving people off assistance and into the workforce.

This experience, together with my subsequent lobbying position for the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire and frequent testifying before various New Hampshire Senate and House committees, gives me a good knowledge of how state government works.

I hope that you will write in my name on the September 13 Democratic Primary ballot and continue to support me in the General Election on November 8. Thank you.