In the News
Foster's Daily Democrat Endorses Jackie
Jackie Cilley is seeking a second term in the Senate. Before that she served one two-year term in the House of Representatives.
She is someone who quickly earned a reputation among her colleagues in the Senate and elsewhere — a reputation that marked her as a quick study, someone who does her homework, someone who understands the nature of her statewide constituency as well as those who reside in District 6, and someone who values the opinion of others while not being cowed by senators with more time in their seats.
What we see in Jackie Cilley is someone who hit the ground running two years ago and hasn't stopped running since. What we see in her today is someone who understands we are caught in an economic maelstrom and many of the ideas of two years ago no longer apply. There are people in New Hampshire, including people in District 6, with their backs to wall. They are faced with making hard economic choices and so, too, are their elected representatives. We're confident Cilley is one who can make the hard choices, too.
Jackie Cilley has an understanding of the needs of businesses and citizens. She is qualified to understand those needs by education and as a participant in the world of business. (Full disclosure: Cilley was once engaged by George J. Foster Co., Inc. for her knowledge in marketing.)
We are confident Jackie Cilley can and will cope with the challenges of the next Legislature.
Business experience in Senate Dist 6 Race
"I'm running because the state is facing it's biggest challenge in decades," Cilley said. "We're facing unprecedented economic circumstances, and it's going to require a steady hand and an understanding of economic principles, as well as the needs of businesses and citizens."
Cilley, who was recently named the state senate's top democrat on business-related issues by New Hampshire Business Review, said one of her goals if re-elected will be to ensure the state enacts a sound fiscal policy, which she claims would consist of balancing needed expenditures with the realities of the current economic environment.
"Some people think a good fiscal policy is just cut, cut, cut," she said. "Our waste water distribution system has been neglected for years, 46 percent of our roads are in disrepair, 37 percent of our bridges are in disrepair; sound fiscal policy does not mean letting this state take a giant step backward to dirt roads and cow paths."
Cilley does not support a broad-based tax in the state, neither sales nor income tax, and has voted to allow debate on expanded gambling and it's potential revenue benefits.
Jackie at "The Forum" Candidate's Night
Sen. Jackie Cilley said the last term was an "exciting two years." She also lauded the increased minimum wage for the 26,000 New Hampshire residents on minimum wage, LCHIP funding, RGGI (regional greenhouse gas reduction), strides with small businesses, NH Health First, and workforce housing.
Read a summary of the evening at The Forum.
Jackie on WTSN
Click to Listen to Jackie's Debate with her opponent on WTSN. Senator Cilley and Mr. Groen discuss issues ranging from the State Budget to teaching "Intelligent Design" in our schools.
Letters to the Editor in Fosters
To the Editor:
It's particularly important that citizens in the cities and towns that make up NH Senate District 6 re-elect Jackie Cilley.
Ms. Cilley has been a tireless advocate for local communities, organizations and individuals. She is one of the most responsible and responsive people I have known in state government.
In the case of the Town of Barrington, there have been numerous instances where town government needed some form of intervention or information from the state. Ms. Cilley has taken these matters to various agencies or the governor's office and received responses or action, sometimes within a matter of hours.
She has organized forums for local officials on issues such as the state's pension shortfall and on regional issues such as federal support for fuel assistance. I can honestly say that I am not aware of anyone who has worked harder for this district.
Jackie Cilley is one of those rare people in politics who doesn't cleave to the party line. She appears to be driven entirely by the desire to make state government an effective instrument to meet the needs of the people.
The business of governing is always a matter of balancing competing interests. In my experience Ms. Cilley has always been willing to listen to different points of view and search for common ground. I'm not sure you can ask for more than that from any public official. She deserves our wholehearted support.
Charter Weeks
Barrington
To the Editor:
I am the owner of George & Ed's convenience store on North Main Street in Rochester.
Recently the Department of Health and Human Services revoked my license to accept WIC and food stamps at my store.
This not only threatened the existence of my business, but it placed a severe burden on my faithful customers who live within walking distance of the store, a fact that is extremely important to those who do not have vehicles enabling them to drive to malls to do their shopping.
Representatives Julie Brown and Bill Brennan and Senator Jackie Cilley took on the task of finding a solution to this problem and because of their intervention I not only received an apology from the Department of Health and Human Services, but my license has been reinstated as well.
I am grateful for their caring and concern for me and for my customers and for their diligence and hard work in solving this problem for us.
They have my support and my vote for re-election in the upcoming election on Nov. 4. I hope they will have yours too. They deserve it!
Guatem Patel
Owner of George & Ed's
Rochester