Ben Ming, Milford State Representative Candidate

Ben Ming

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Position Sought

State Rep. for Hillsborough District 40

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Married with four kids under the age of 10.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

B.S. in Computer Science from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA.

Occupation

Lawyer for the past 10 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Hollis Planning Board member since 2016

Campaign website

https://BenMingNH.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I felt compelled to run by the inadequate Federal response to COVID-19. My wife is a frontline medical worker and with the pandemic response impacting my family in both unique and not so unique ways, I felt that I had to be involved. I hope to use my legal experience in real estate, as well as my time serving on the Hollis Planning Board, to make NH a more affordable place to live.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Whether it's COVID-19 support, funding for schools, or property tax reduction, I believe the most pressing issue in my district is a lack of aid from the state of New Hampshire to our towns. Being a political outsider, I believe that the best way to address this issue is to reject stale ideas that haven't worked in the past and push for new solutions.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe good governance serves an important role in our society and, by electing me, the people of Hillsborough 40 will be sending a person to Concord who wants to see government help everyone live their own version of the American dream, regardless of where they are on that journey.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

My other major campaign issue besides the issue of affordable living in New Hampshire is to give a voice to parents of young and school-aged kids. This is a time like none other in our recent history, and even well-meaning family and friends who, themselves, don't have school-aged kids, can not appreciate the unique stresses that the past several months and the worry of the next year has brought upon our young families. There's a reason that paid family leave continues to be out of reach; out of touch politicians don't understand what it's like to raise a family in the 21st century.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My experience as a lawyer for the past 10 years, while concentrating on real estate and estate planning, has touched on a variety of areas of law. Learning quickly is a skill that is required of a lawyer who doesn't simply concentrate in one area of the law. I intend to use that skill to condense the time new legislators typically spend learning the ropes and hit the ground running. I've listened to the concerns of my town of Hollis while serving on the planning board for the past 4 years, so I understand what core issues are affecting nearly everybody in my community.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Don't be afraid to show pride in your accomplishments.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If elected, I will be listening to every single one of the 30,000+ people in Hollis, Milford, Mont Vernon, and New Boston; political party affiliations should only matter in elections, not in representation.