Candidate Profile: Dee Lewis

(Editor's note: Salem Patch is contacting candidates for the state House and Senate for Salem with a questionnaire, and their responses will be published as candidate profiles between now and the Sept. 11 primary. Disclaimer: Salem Patch will be publishing these responses as they are returned to us.)

NAME: Dee Lewis

DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 28, 1948

YOUR BACKGROUND/EDUCATION: BS, International Business, Southern NH University, 1995; HR Certificate, Cornell University, 2000; Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification, 2003 & 2006

EXPERIENCE/OCCUPATION: Human Resources Manager at Lucent Technologies until I retired after 25 years in 2001; State of N.H., Employment Security, Salem Office, 2002 to 2006; Human Resources Manager, Textron Systems, 2006 to 2008.

My work skills translate very nicely into the skills needed in Concord – the ability to negotiate, manage conflict resolution, understand both sides of issues, and problem solving.

My experience as an Employment Counselor gave me a deep understanding of individual’s and family’s needs during a life crisis such as losing one’s job.

PRIOR ELECTED OFFICE: None

PERSONAL: I have lived in Salem for 34 years. My two sons are graduates of Salem High School.

PRIORITIES: 

Why are you running?

First of all, I feel Salem has been underrepresented by former representatives. In the course of my employment I had background checks and am happy to say that I passed with flying colors to the point that I was cleared for a US Security Clearance. I do not have a criminal record in this or any other state. I believe Salem that deserves the best in representation.

On another note, I am running for State Representative because I care about the future of our state. I believe this legislature has the wrong priorities and their policies have hurt middle class families. My first priority is to fight for middle class families.

• Vibrant public education

• Jobs in New Hampshire

• Advocate for Women’s Rights

We must ensure that New Hampshire continues to grow and create an economic environment conducive to business and jobs.

What is your stance on expanded gambling in New Hampshire?

I believe expanded gambling is an opportunity for Salem. Salem is in an enviable spot at Exit 1 on Route 93. We are a major gateway to the N.H. North Country – the lakes and mountains. We need tocapitalize on our location, our tax free status, and the opportunity that the Rockingham land parcel
represents. Combined with Canobie Lake, we can be a dynamite vacation spot.

Increased traffic would be a boon to our local merchants and draw in more businesses and draw in more businesses and restaurants. It all adds up to more jobs for Salem residents and an increase to our tax base. The safety concerns would be offset by the added revenue and the subsequent ability to add more police and firefighters as needed. We have a skilled labor force. Why not employ people in N.H. instead of our citizens driving over the border to Massachusetts?

How would you help stoke economic development in the state of New Hampshire?

My professors at Southern New Hampshire University were pretty clear. In order to make money, you have to invest money. Going to a voucher system for Medicare in N.H. will drive older folks out of the state equating to a loss of revenue and decrease in demand (lower prices )for homes. Doing away with kindergarten will cause young families who might otherwise have bought a home in N.H. to decide in favor of another state with better services. Decreasing funding to the university and school systems results in a less educated workforce and a stateless attractive to new businesses. Companies who might want to invest in NH will look at theradical Tea Party Agenda in Concord for the last two years and say…”I don’t think N.H. is the right place to invest in.”

In other words, we need a solid infrastructure that supports the folks who live here and the businesses who want to be invest in N.H. More business = more income for the state = better ability fund the infrastructure.

At the very least, we need to offer some tax advantage to companies looking to relocate or start in N.H. We need to support our small businesses. Our laws need to be business friendly – and I don’t mean that in the “Tea Party” sense – no laws. I mean that businesses need guidelines that protect employees, protect the environment, etc., but don’t constrict their growth. We need to invest in roads and other basic infrastructure. We need to study the feasibility of rail service.

Just like you invest in yourself by going to college or buying a home with upside potential –we need to invest in N.H. and make it a place where people want to live and where companies want to invest. If we don’t invest in ourselves, no one else is going to do it and we’ll have the continued pattern – people jumping in their cars at 6 a.m. and flying down 93 to jobs that either don’t exist in N.H. or pay more. We must stop the money and talent from flying out of the state.