My name is Patrice Myers, and I’m running for State Rep in Ward 5, Concord. I’m a Mom, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, a US Air Force veteran, and Chairman of the Merrimack County Committee of Safety.
We want to thank Patrice Myers for this Op-Ed Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
I have a degree in Education, which I used to homeschool and tutor. My platform is based on the Bible, and the NH (1784), and U.S. Constitution.
I ran for State Rep in the last election for Concord Ward 2. Due to redistricting, I was moved to Ward 5 – from the Penacook line to Clinton Street. Since I’m self funded (for lots of reasons), I’ve been going door-to-door for the past couple of months, like they used to do way back when. They called it stumping and now I know why! Thank God for Epsom salts. But I’ve really enjoyed meeting the people whom I will potentially represent.
I’d like to take this opportunity to share and clarify where I stand on the issues.
The Economy: Having worked in 3 State departments, I saw how much wasteful spending goes on. For example, just before the new fiscal year, to keep the same budget for the new year, the departments have a “spend down”. They spend any surplus they may have because that surplus goes back to the general fund, and their budgets are reduced. In order to keep their budgets, they have to show that they have no surplus. I believe a win-win solution for both the State departments and the taxpayer can be accomplished.
Schools: The Concord school system has no oversight on its budget. They get what they ask for because they answer to no one. The Concord Patch has excellent articles detailing this. Not to mention all the other issues, one being the academic (or lack thereof) education in our schools. Question: If the public schools were for sale in Wal-Mart or Macy’s, would you buy them?
Sidenote: Have you noticed that when the State gives us a “tax break/cut,” the city promptly takes it away?
Pro-Life: Life starts at conception. That’s science. When the egg is fertilized, the cells begin to multiply and grow; growth = life. And Life is one of our unalienable rights as outlined in both NH and U.S. constitutions.
Rule of Law: We are a Republic, not a democracy. We need to go back to the basics. The constitution outlines the rights we have as human beings. It doesn’t give us those rights. Then it describes what the government’s duties are – first and foremost, to protect those rights – and how to perform those duties. The Bible also describes our rights and, if properly understood, is the best lawbook ever written: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Then it lists the ways in which you do that. (If you aren’t into religion, it’s still a good read.)
“If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any!”
Term Limits: Yes, we need to limit the number of terms a representative can serve. My opponent has been in office for 22 terms (44 years). However, I am not at this time, in favor of a Constitutional Convention. I am told that it would ONLY be held to codify term limits. Where have we heard that before (“It will ONLY be for…”)? At this point, I’m not willing to trust in that.
Right to Work: I do not believe that one should be coerced into paying to be part of a union that s/he is not, nor does s/he want to be, part of. Especially when that union uses his/her money to support agendas that one disagrees with.
Guns: Second amendment. Period.
Voting Integrity: Do not use machines to count the votes. Go back to the original terms for absentee voting—only citizens of NH vote. Our NH Constitution (1784) outlines exactly how to conduct elections.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, but in a nutshell, this is what I support (and don’t). This is where I stand. If you agree, I would very much appreciate your vote. If not, that’s what elections are for.
Thank you so much for you attention!
