CANDIDATE LETTER: Kristi St. Laurent

The following is a candidate letter for state office. Submit your own by following the same format as this letter. Make sure to provide a photo. All submissions should be sent to michael.ryan@patch.com

Name:   Kristi St. Laurent
             www.KristiStLaurent.com

Date of Birth:  September 13th, 1967

Background/Education:
Master of Science in Physical Therapy, University of Miami, Florida
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Michigan
Pinkerton Academy, Class of 1985

Experience/Occupation:
Over twenty years of experience as a licensed Physical Therapist in multiple settings around the country
Employed at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem since 2002

Director of Children's Ministries at Windham Presbyterian Church 2007 - 2012

Prior elected office:
Windham Planning Board - elected 2010, term expires 2013.  Previously served as appointed Alternate Member for two years.
Windham Capital Improvement Plan Committee - Vice Chair 2011, Planning Board member representative
Village Center District Subcommittee - Vice Chair 2012

Personal:
I have lived in Windham for thirteen years with my husband Rob and our three children, Robby, Grace and Abby.  Our children attend Windham Middle, Center and Golden Brook schools, respectively.  I am serving my second term as Chair of the Windham Democratic Town Committee, bringing candidates, speakers and information to Windham for the benefit of the community.

Priorities:
+  Bring the concerns and interests of Windham to Concord as a vital part of the tapestry of what makes New Hampshire great.
+  Conduct a civil, honest and respectful campaign.
+  Support a State budget that is frugal, responsible and supported by the facts while reaffirming New Hampshire's longstanding commitment to ALL of its residents.
+  Support all of what comprises the New Hampshire Advantage:  overall low tax burden, breathtaking natural beauty and the people.
Why are you running?

I agree with candidate Mark Samsel that this past legislative session brought a huge change to Concord, statewide and locally.  It was a swing of the pendulum from a Democratic majority to a solidly Republican one, but the change of party is not the primary concern for me.  In this case the majority did not just switch parties - the degree of change to a strongly partisan, conservative agenda was alarming.  For a time, I bought into the stereotype that a Republican-mentality would mean a strong focus on jobs, the economy and the budget.  What I saw was a razor-sharp focus on social issues and guns that only served to further divide the state, rather than an attempt to recover economically by pulling up on our fiscal bootstraps.  The budgetary moves that were made only made things worse - such as underestimating revenue and then decreasing it with a number of cuts inconsequential to the end-user that resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in total for New Hampshire.  If the marriage license fee had  not been lowered five dollars or the cigarette tax not lowered ten cents a pack we could have preserved many services for the elderly, children and those with mental illness.  Education was also the target of many bills.  For example, an attempt was made to repeal the Kindergarten requirement.  The majority of the House felt this was 'inexpedient to legislate', or not worth changing.  Four of our Representatives who are running again felt otherwise.  I want to represent Windham to stand up for what contributes to the quality of life in Windham, and in New Hampshire.  For me, the critical issues are education at all levels, adequate (not exorbitant) health care, infrastructure, tourism and jobs - all balanced with a reasonable tax burden that does not drive out the most vital part of Windham, and New Hampshire - our people.