Keene Ward 4 House race features rematch between Newell, Savastano
The race to represent Keene’s Ward 4 in the N.H. House features a Democratic incumbent who works at a homeless shelter and a Republican challenger who is an ordained minister.
Jodi Newell is seeking her second term. This is the second time Tom Savastano has run for the seat. She beat him, 1,276-633, two years ago for the seat representing Cheshire County District 4.
Newell said in an interview Monday she brings a perspective that many other representatives don’t have. She lost her fiance to a fatal drug overdose almost 16 years ago and needed to rely on social service agencies as a safety net as a single mother of two young children. Newell, who also works for The Community Kitchen in Keene, understands first-hand the importance of such agencies. “We wouldn’t be here today if we didn’t have the support of our community,” Newell said. “I definitely think that brings a unique perspective. I see the value in what we do.” If re-elected, Newell said she will continue to focus her legislative work on the plight of the homeless, the fight against opioid abuse and will work to increase the supply of affordable housing. "Whole families are in homeless shelters because they simply can’t afford the high cost of rent, even in situations where a parent is working," she said. “It’s very clear to see how hard it has become for people,” said Newell, who also works at a shelter in Norwell, Mass. “They can’t afford to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.”
Savastano, 58, said he supports limited government and low taxes. An important goal is to make housing more affordable, he said. “Though macroeconomic factors such as inflation and interest rates have the greatest influence on prices, some statewide policies could help bring some relief,” he said in an email Monday. “Such policies would include eliminating unnecessary government regulation at the statewide level, and encouraging reasonable development. I believe that such development should be incentivized rather than imposed, thereby upholding local control of zoning.”
The two candidates differ on the question of whether New Hampshire should join surrounding states in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Newell, 44, said she favors legalization of cannabis for adults in a system with proper consumer and public safety regulations. “People should be able to use it within reason and in a responsible manner,” she said. “Criminalization has done a lot of harm. Legalization would allow us to have testing to make sure adulterants are not being added. “If you’re setting up a system of legal sales, you’re also setting up a structure to ensure the safety of the product so people know what they’re getting and not just buying something off the street.”
Savastano opposes legalization.
“I formerly was a local and the statewide director (in Massachusetts) of a life-skills diversion program for teens who had a first-time nonviolent offense,” he said. “I know it’s not popular to say this, but from the experience of ‘boots on the ground,’ I’ve seen that marijuana really is a gateway drug. While I’m open to marijuana being available medicinally, I cannot in good conscience advocate for its legalization as a recreational drug. Too many people’s lives have been wasted, and the long-term trade-offs are way more expensive to society than any easily made short-term revenue.”
They also differ on the state’s Education Freedom Account program, which uses taxpayer money to help parents pay to have their kids attend private, religious or home schools.
“I wish we could dial the program back,” Newell said. “I’m a huge supporter of public schools. I have personally experienced the wonderful support our kids have in the public school system.” She said the EFA program “peels off a whole lot of money that should be going to our public schools.”
As of Sept. 1, there were 5,321 students in New Hampshire with Education Freedom Accounts at an estimated public cost of nearly $28 million this year, according to preliminary data from the N.H. Department of Education.
Savastano supports the program, saying it provides “a means for children to thrive, by helping their families find and fund the best educational option for their kids. For some families, public school works well, and their children thrive there. For other children, however, other schooling options are better, because of social pressures and pain they suffer in public school, or because they learn differently.”
The election is Nov. 5.
Comentários