Binda pushes low taxes, local control, cannabis reform in run for Statehouse

GILFORD — Republican Bob Binda is well versed in his hometown’s politics as member of various committees and boards, and now has sights set on representing District 6 in the Statehouse.

Binda is running for a seat to represent Gilford, Gilmanton, and Laconia’s Ward 2, in a field of six Republicans vying for four spots in the Tuesday, Sept. 8 Primary Election.

Who is Bob Binda?

Binda moved from Bourne, Massachusetts, to Gilford, five years ago when he and his family built a house to retire in. He was born and raised in Boston, before moving to Hanover, in eighth grade. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1974, with a degree in criminal justice and business.

Binda owned liquor and convenience stores in Massachusetts, before retiring and moving north.

Binda is vice chair of the Gilford Zoning Board of Adjustment, a member of the town’s Capital Improvement Committee, and was recently elected to the budget committee. He is a past member of the Gilford Electric Committee, and water commissioner for Gunstock Acres.

Why run for office?

“I believe that you should keep government local,” Binda said. “Local control is the most important aspect. You can go before your town selectmen, and come before our boards, and actually say you have a problem.”

During his time on the zoning board, Binda found Concord is mandating many rules and regulation, and local control is being taken away. In Gilford, there is a zoning bylaw prohibiting residential apartments in commercial areas. The board had a meeting last month about someone converting apartments in a commercial area. As of July 1, a law was passed to allow it.

“We lost that local control,” he said. “Now, we’ll have to change to comply with Concord. So, we know what’s best.”

Binda is a proponent of affordable housing and lowering costs, saying it can be addressed at Town Meeting. He said it’s important to let people vote, so it is up to them and not a state mandate.

“The town’s people can decide,” he said. “Do you want cluster zoning? Do you want to take smaller lots and allow more building on those lots? That will bring the cost down. If you can put four houses on the same lot that requires one house, so now that cost is being split four different ways for the one lot. But, then again, do you want that mandated by somebody from Concord, or Nashua, or Hudson?”

Binda said the people of Gilford should decide on whether they want density or open space.

Binda touched on single-family housing, saying unfortunately, many grew up with central air conditioning, granite countertops and a 4,000-square-foot house. He said in the 1950s or '60s, a starter house would have been only about a quarter of that size, with a couple bedrooms and one bathroom for a family.

“Can we go back to that?” Binda said. “Or, the people want the bigger houses with the amenities. You can’t have both. For the affordability, you have to have bare basics. The problem is that a contractor is not making their profit margin on bare basics.”

Binda referred to Levittown, a community in Pennsylvania where thousands of units were built after World War II to help the housing crisis. This isn’t what he’s advocating in Gilford, but said it is up to voters to address affordability.

“Do you want to take an area in town and do it densely, or do you want to keep it is?” Binda asked. “Let the people decide. Don’t let Concord shove it down our throats, because Gilford knows better.”

Taxes

“I am definitely against broad-based taxes, sales tax, income taxes,” Binda said. “I definitely will not vote for that.”

Binda pointed to states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, as proof an income tax doesn’t lower the cost of property taxes. He said it creates “bigger government” that takes more money, for aspects other than it was intended for. He said income tax only fuels more government spending.

Any sales tax will also hurt the local economy, he said.

“Same way with the sales tax,” Binda said. “If you look at a sales tax, that would devastate southern New Hampshire’s economy. I don’t care if the sales tax is only 2%, 1%, or 3%. People from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York are coming in, and they’re saving that 6% to 8% sales tax.”

Cannabis reform to help education

Binda also has an idea to afford increasing school spending. Even though he personally is not in favor of the sale of cannabis, he said the fact surrounding New England states have legalized it is a missed opportunity.

“Look at the rest of our country,” Binda said. “The majority of the country. New Hampshire repeatedly will not vote for marijuana sales. I’m not saying legalizing, everybody has it. I’m saying, have the stores. People from Massachusetts come up to buy liquor, buy cigarettes. People from New Hampshire are driving down to Massachusetts and Maine to buy cannabis.”

He said when five other New England states have legal sale of cannabis, it makes sense fiscally to reform the current situation. He suggests letting state legislators set up a commission of Republicans, Democrats, and independents, and conduct a study on the best method.

“I don’t personally know the best method,” he said. “They have private growers and license it out. But, have a study on that. Have a study to see which is the most cost effective for the people. And also, all that revenue is to be dedicated just to education.”

Binda suggested state-sponsored education, with money from cannabis sales going to schools, and helping communities lower property taxes. He pointed to Massachusetts, which he said had $1.5 billion in sales and took in nearly $400 million in tax revenue. He isn’t saying New Hampshire needs to tax that much, but it is important to look into how other states are benefiting.

“So, the marijuana to fund strictly education, and I think that is how you can control property taxes."

School budgets

Binda said while some advocate in Concord to put a cap on school budgets, he thinks this should stay under the control of school boards and district voters. He noted Gilford has a much different dynamic than cities like Nashua.

“The town voters will decide if that school budget needs to be tweaked, or not,” Binda said. “Again, my platform, keep government local.”

Hearing from constituents

“The talking points are the affordability on the housing and the affordability in food prices,” Binda said. “I tell people point blank, 'If you elect me to the Statehouse, I’m not going to bring down the price of, you know, cauliflower.'”

He said there’s no chance it's that simple, and when the federal government is running massive deficits with inflation far higher than the 2.5% being claimed, it isn’t going down anytime soon. Binda said anyone shopping at the grocery store will tell you inflation is a major issue, and constantly getting worse.

While he can’t control that, if elected, he will put pressure on Congress and Senate.

Binda noted President Donald Trump recently put a 50% tariff on building materials, and Canada reciprocated. He wonders how housing can be made affordable with these variables.

“The local people have to put pressure on our national people,” he said. “Hold them accountable.”

Binda has been talking to constituents in a number of ways, but mostly bumping into them around town, at the store or post office. People know him from being on boards and committees, and he has written letters to the newspaper.

Unlike other Republicans, he filled out the Citizens for Belknap and Citizens Count surveys, saying he wasn’t around for the issues with Gunstock and legislators, and plans to show up at debates and answer questions from anyone who asks.

“I’ll be happy to answer anybody’s questions.”

How will he lead?

“When you get into a government position, you’ve got to answer not only to your constituents, you’ve got to somewhat answer to your party that got you there,” Binda said. “They got you there, because the people that elected you there expect you to follow your party’s guidelines.”

Binda said he doesn’t agree with all aspects of the Republican platform, just as he doesn’t agree with Democrats, but he respects the division. He is happy to listen to all points of view.

“Can I work with them?” Binda said, referring to Democrats. “I will try to, and I’ll try to listen to what they have to say, but there are fundamental differences that a true Democrat, or a true Republican, can kind of compromise on, but they can’t sell out the constituents.”

He was unsure about crossing the aisle, because there are some stances by which he stands strictly.

“I mean, I can’t support having men in women’s sports or having men in women’s lockers,” he said. “I mean, we have some on the Democratic side that say, 'Yeah, you should.' I can’t compromise with that. Then, you have some Democrats that say we should have 3% sales tax or income tax, and give that back to cities and towns. See, things like that, I can’t support.”

Why vote for Binda?

“I believe with my resume, I have more than enough local experience, plus for 45 years I’ve owned multiple companies,” he said. “When you own a company and deal with the public, you cannot have a public opinion. That costs your business. So, either 50% will love you and support you, and the other 50% won’t support you.”

Binda said when he moved to the Granite State, it was his intention to keep it the way it was, and set it up right for future generations.

“My generation reaped the benefits of our past generations, but unfortunately, I think this generation is leaving more of a burden on the next generation,” Binda said. “That’s why I’m wanting to keep New Hampshire ‘live free or die,’ to continue that advantage.”