Forrester pledges to focus on economic opportunity if elected to a second term

MEREDITH — State Senator Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith) yesterday announced her bid for re-election in District 2 before some 50 supporters gathered in the Carriage House at Church Landing.

Two years ago Forrester topped veteran lawmaker Fran Wendelboe of New Hampton in the Republican primary then ousted the two-term Democratic incumbent Deb Reynolds of Plymouth by a vote of 11,362 to 9, 414. She was the lone freshman to win a seat on the Senate Finance Committee and quickly gained prominence by successfully championing legislation to restrict the power of eminent domain.

"I am not a politician," Forrester said, opening her remarks last evening.

She said that two years ago she promised to direct her energies to balancing the state budget, promoting economic growth and fostering a more favorable business climate. "I'm proud to say I've kept those promises," she declared, conceding "but, it wasn't easy."

Forrester said that faced with $800-million deficit, difficult choices were required to overcome it. After cutting the budget by 11-percent, she said that "New Hampshire is now living within its means, without raising taxes or borrowing for operating expenses." The Legislature also took steps to slow the growth of spending in the future, she said, by requiring state agencies to present reduced budgets every two years.

Forrester expressed her support for legislation to increase the tax credit for investment in research and development and to ease the tax burden on firms by refining the deduction for reasonable compensation.

Forrester also touted the constitutional amendment to address the funding of public education adopted by the Senate and endorsed by Governor John Lynch, which has yet to gain the support of the House of Representatives. She said that the amendment would "finally help us to do something about the disparities that exist among the school systems in our state" by allowing the Legislature to target state aid to the neediest school districts.

With 19 of the 31 towns in her district in the path of either or both the preferred or the alternate route of Northern Pass, Forrester said that she not only closed a loophole in the eminent domain statute governing public utilities but also introduced a bill to study the feasibility of delineating an "underground energy corridor."

Looking ahead, Forrester said that she wanted "to continue the fight for economic prosperity in New Hampshire" by fashioning a 10-year plan for economic development. Describing successful economic development as "a collaborative effort," including the public and private sectors as well as labor, academia and non-profit organizations, she said that all these stakeholders would be engaged in developing a strategy. "This plan will look at how to capitalize on our natural resources and assets; how to retain the businesses we have and attract new business through supportive state policies; and how to improve our communications and energy infrastructures," she said.

Anticipating a "vigorous campaign," Forrester said that she expected there would be some "stark contrasts."

Earlier this week Robert Lamb, Jr. of Holderness, a former senior executive in financial services, announced that he would run for seat in District 2 on the Democratic ticket.

Senate District 2, as redrawn this year, consists of five towns in Belknap County — Center Harbor, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton and Tilton — 20 towns in Grafton County — Alexandria, Ashland, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton, Danbury, Dorchester, Ellsworth, Grafton, Groton, Haverhill, Hebron, Holderness, Orange, Orford, Piermont, Plymouth, Rumney, Warren, Wentworth — and two in Merrimack County — Hill and Wilmot.

The district lost nine towns in Grafton County, of which Forrester carried six — Bath, Benton, Easton, Landaff, Monroe and Thornton — and lost three — Canaan, Lyme and Woodstock — in 2010. Of the five towns added to the district — Danbury, Grafton, Hill, Tilton and Wilmot — the Republican candidate carried all but Wilmot in the last Senate election.