NH election 2022: de Vries vs. Janvrin for state House seat representing Hampton, Seabrook
Democrat Erica de Vries, of Hampton, is challenging Republican Jason Janvrin, of Seabrook, for the Rockingham County state House District 40 seat representing Hampton and Seabrook.
Erica de Vries
Hometown: Hampton
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
People should have the right to make their own reproductive choices. They should do so in consultation with their loved ones and medical providers - not politicians. The government should not interfere in people’s family planning choices or medical decisions. As a state representative, I would support repealing the current abortion ban, which cruelly has no exceptions for child rape or incest victims and even seeks to interfere with doctors’ medical judgments by threatening them with jail terms of up to 7 years. New Hampshire must codify abortion as a right, which we have not done, and our neighboring states have. The Granite State should focus its efforts on preventing unintended pregnancies, including by making contraception widely available, especially for young people, low-income individuals, and individuals with disabilities, who face greater barriers in receiving care.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
The hard-working families of New Hampshire, retirees, and young adults are hurting right now. The recent spike in electricity costs is an economic disruption that state action could have prevented. Diversification of energy sources would have lessened the economic impact of natural gas price hikes that are beyond the state government’s control; however, Republicans continue blocking solar and wind projects. New Hampshire must become less reliant on fossil fuels. The labor shortage is complex, but there are actions that New Hampshire could have taken and still can take to make working in New Hampshire more attractive. One action would be for New Hampshire to start genuinely investing in more affordable housing. Right now, we are lacking at least 20,000 units. It is past time that our elected officials bring creative, state-driven solutions, including establishing smarter incentives for towns with overly restrictive zoning ordinances. Invest in making trade school more affordable and then we will have more skilled workers. The labor shortage will continue as long as we lack sufficient childcare. We need to invest in creating affordable access. New Hampshire also can bring the functional cost of living down by lowering property taxes. Two important ways to do this are: 1) requiring the state to contribute to public workers’ retirements, and 2) eliminating the over-budget school voucher program that is depleting resources from public schools.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
I love the Seacoast. Its residents deserve people who will fight for them in Concord. I will support the rights and dignity of every person in Seabrook and Hampton. That includes protecting gay marriage and LGBTQ+ rights. It includes advocating for children's public educations. It includes making sure that you and your family have access to the healthcare you need, including mental health services and addiction treatment. New Hampshire is a special place to live. We need more responsible leaders in Concord who are willing to work toward common sense solutions. It is time to make sure that our elected officials reflect Granite Staters' values and priorities. I hope you will elect me as state representative so that I can do that.
Jason Janvrin
Hometown: Seabrook
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
I am comfortable with the current state law. I served four years on the House Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction of any bills addressing abortion. My voting record will show that I do not support a total ban. The current state law is not a ban.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
It is surprising to a lot of people when they learn that N.H. tax rates were reduced, and the state still had surplus funds available. All under Republican stewardship. I attribute the high cost for electricity and fuel on the federal government. The price for natural gas has risen exponentially because of federal policy that has dwindled supply. That is why electricity has risen so rapidly. Relative to affordable housing, I think this is best handled by the municipalities through zoning changes.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
In my four years I spent in Concord, I worked diligently for the towns I represented. I was advocating for my constituents in Concord three or more days per week. The bills I sponsored or cosponsored covered many topics and we're mostly nonpartisan in nature.
Here are just a few that I was the prime sponsor for. You have probably heard of a few:
2018- Bill to allow Hampton to hold a special town meeting to address the sewer system failure; 2018- New England Patriots license plate; 2019- Naming the Red-Tailed hawk as the state raptor; 2018- Prohibition of personal watercraft in the Hampton/Seabrook estuary. I would appreciate your vote on November 8.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH election 2022: de Vries vs. Janvrin for Hampton/Seabrook House seat
