New Hampshire House of Representatives Belknap 1 candidate surveys, 2022
This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Belknap 1 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidates and election results
General election
General election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Belknap 1
Incumbent Tom Ploszaj defeated Sean Kavanagh in the general election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Belknap 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom Ploszaj (R)  | 54.1 | 1,053 |
 | Sean Kavanagh (D) | 45.8 | 892 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 3 | ||
| Total votes: 1,948 | |||
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
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Sean Kavanagh (D)
WOMEN’S RIGHTS “Live Free” also extends to the women of New Hampshire, and their rights to bodily autonomy. I unequivocally support a woman’s right to choose.
EDUCATION I will work to protect K-12 public education by attracting and retaining the best teachers. I will also research ways to allow school choice that is fair and equitable.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Promise #2 kept!: Communicated with and provided residents and town officials with updates to my voting thoughts and plans for their input prior to casting their District's votes
Promise #3 kept!: Refrained from political rhetoric, treated and interacted with each resident as an individual with their own unique beliefs, not as a political subset
Sean Kavanagh (D)
HEALTHCARE. My wife is a nurse practitioner and I know first hand how essential accessible healthcare is to a community. From services for children and young parents, healthcare for working professionals and care for the elderly, every penny invested in accessible healthcare returns many dollars in savings to the state. I fully support women's access to reproductive health, including abortion and birth control. Mental health. The lack of mental health care manifests in a variety of negative ways such as drug and alcohol addition and domestic violence. Healthcare, both philosophically and financially is one of the best investments we can make.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
My parents and uncles.
They were hard working, honest, family oriented fun people. By being at their sides and watching I learned the basics of ethics and responsibility along with being allow to have fun as a boy.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
The fortitude to respond their constituents, discuss their concerns and issues and in forthright in adhering to the constitution of how decisions are made on their behalf. The elected official's understanding that they are a public servant. A public servant is to listen to and be responsible to each individual and not isolate the individual within a subjective subgroup, an arbitrary "one fits all" demographic, or a political ideology.
The ability to be honest and concise in their plans and actions.
The fortitude to respond their constituents, discuss their concerns and issues and in forthright in adhering to the constitution of how decisions are made on their behalf.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
I had put the district first and did not become involved in the political rhetoric. I had maintained district interactions by keeping residents and town officials informed of legislation and my thoughts and plans as legislation progressed .
I shared and posted decision making concerning legislation prior to voting including requesting residents' for their last minute comments, instructions, and if my decisions where within the constraints of the constitution and a fiduciary.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Elected official's must understanding that they are a public servant and responsive to their constituents. A public servant is to listen to and be responsible to each individual and not isolate the individual within a subjective subgroup, an arbitrary "one fits all" demographic, or a political ideology.
An elected official needs to understand that it is their district's seat they represent. It is not the elected official's seat, not their political party's seat nor should it be used to pit one ideology against another but for what is best for future generations while adhering to the constitution.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
First employment. Dug and laid drainage pipes to carry downspout rainwater away from neighbor's house.
One week during the summer of 1965. I was 11 years old and made my first real wage, a $20 bill , double what I had hoped for. The memory and details of that job, done well, is still with me today as I just refolded and placed that same $20 bill back into my wallet.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
I enjoy his in depth historical and geographic research of the settings and the incorporation of the characters as he ties generations together.
Though I only have four generations linking my family from when my ancestors came to America, I still relate who I am today as part of the lineage of my grandparents.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
There are many people well versed in NH legislation and procedures whose guidance I sought.
As a freshman legislator I had requested of learned individuals to better assist the citizens and had the honor of discussions receiving legislative council, knowledge, reasoning, from many such persons as the former NH Representatives Paul Mirski and Dan Itse.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Tom Ploszaj (R)
Constitutionally the: NH Legislature makes and suspends laws in an emergency NH Art. 29 [Suspension of Laws by Legislature Only.], NH Governor may Art. 43 [...May Convene Them Elsewhere.] and Art. 50 [... Call Extra Sessions.]
The NH Constitution gives emergency powers to the legislature to suspend laws,
The NH Legislature, after 9-11, by statute RSA 4: 45 & 4:47 extended their emergency power responsibility to the NH Governor.
The legislature can repeal the emergency statutes, and be in accordance with the NH Constitution, and may extend any powers it may deemed necessary for the NH Executive and the State to function in a emergency on time of need basis.
The 2020 and 2021 NH Legislatures had the constitutional authority to repeal or amend any statute that was in violation by the executive of the legislative mandate.
Tom Ploszaj (R)
A NH Representative should listen to their district as a whole and understand that on local and county issues the citizens are concerned first about their family and livelihood which may not be represent by the boiler plate ideology of political parties. If a representative understands that the district's seat belongs to the citizen and not just those affiliated with a political party then making compromises, within the bounds of the NH Constitution, will be best for the overall of the citizens and by extension, the state.
See also
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