Concord Monitor Endorses John Stephen For Republican Nomination For Governor

Concord Monitor Endorses John Stephen For Republican Nomination For Governor

MANCHESTER, NH- John Stephen, Republican candidate for Governor, today received the endorsement of the Concord Monitor for the GOP nomination for Governor.  In today’s editorial, the paper says Stephen is “intimately familiar…with the politics of trying to shift political and public opinion on budget cuts and spending” and is “best positioned to critique the work of [Governor] Lynch and the Democrats in the Legislature - and to present a clear alternative.”

“I appreciate the Concord Monitor’s endorsement and their support of my candidacy,” Stephen said.  “I’m thrilled they’ve supported my willingness to make the tough decisions to focus the public on cutting spending to balance the state budget.  We certainly do need a clear alternative to Governor Lynch’s 24% spending increase over the past two budgets that’s been fueled by his 84 tax and fee increases, including the job-killing LLC and rooms and meals tax hikes.”

The editorial noted many of Governor Lynch’s failures in office.  The paper pointed out that, “Business people have expressed frustration at increased taxes and fees.  Poor people have had to resign themselves to a waiting list for child-care subsidies, making it difficult to work even when jobs are available.  The judiciary and the mental health system are in distress.  State parks are in disrepair.  Local government officials are griping about the state's downshifting of costs to local property taxpayers.”

“The Concord Monitor accurately portrayed the mess that Governor Lynch has made of state government,” Stephen added.  “Despite seeing New Hampshire rise to having the highest business tax rate in the nation during his tenure, John Lynch has piled on tax after tax, fee after fee, while at the same time shifting $114 million in new costs onto local property taxpayers.  All the while, we are seeing the quality of services fall dramatically.  We need to take a different path for a new direction and true leadership in Concord.  We can do better – that’s why I’m running for Governor.”  

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 Paid for by Friends of John Stephen, David Horan, Treasurer

 P.O. Box 57, Manchester, NH 03105