By KEVIN LANDRIGAN New Hampshire Union Leader July 18. 2017 10:34PM State Senate District 16 special election When: Tuesday, July 25. <\/p>\n
Where: The district includes Manchester Wards 1,2 and 12, and the towns of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton and Hooksett. <\/p>\n
Who: Republican David Boutin of Hooksett, Democrat Kevin Cavanaugh of Manchester, and Libertarian Justin Dubrow of Dunbarton. <\/p>\n
Since Novembers election, three members of the 400-member New Hampshire House of Representatives two Republicans and one Democrat have switched to become Libertarian. <\/p>\n
I suspect we will see more Libertarian switches, said Dubrow, a 38-year-old computer engineer. <\/p>\n
Libertarians won automatic status on the ballot by getting at least 4 percent of the vote in the race for U.S. Senate last fall. <\/p>\n
Dubrow moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts nearly 10 years ago but not as a follower of the Free State Project, a national call by the Libertarian Party for like-minded citizens to move here and make the Granite State a major political beachhead for the cause. <\/p>\n
In his only other elective office experience, Dubrow ran as a Republican in a 2010 primary for state representative and lost. <\/p>\n
He and his wife, Becky, have two daughters, Cassiopia, 6, and Callista, who is 15 months old. <\/p>\n
Dubrow faces two better-known and more well-financed opponents in this State Senate District 16 race that voters will decide next Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Republican nominee David Boutin held the seat for eight years but decided not to run in 2016. Manchester Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh is the Democratic nominee in District 16, which includes Manchester Wards 1, 2 and 12 along with the towns of Hooksett, Bow, Candia and Dunbarton. <\/p>\n
Dubrow is best known among political activists as a gun rights supporter and he applauded the Republican-led Legislature last spring for making New Hampshire one of a small number of states that let people carry a concealed gun without a permit. <\/p>\n
We finally passed constitutional carry that needed to be passed for many years, Dubrow said. We would have passed in 2010 if not for Senator Boutin back then. <\/p>\n
At that time, Boutin served on a House-Senate conference committee trying to resolve differences between competing versions of the concealed carry bill, but negotiators failed to reach an agreement. <\/p>\n
Some gun advocates blame Boutin for the collapse; Boutin insists he wanted to reach a deal and that pro-gun groups have given him good grades for his voting record on the issue. <\/p>\n
Dubrow faulted lawmakers for passing a two-year state budget that increased spending from state revenues by nearly 10 percent. <\/p>\n
I would definitely say that any increase in spending is bad. It was a lot more than I think it needed to be, Dubrow said. <\/p>\n
Dubrow agrees with the Libertarian Partys support for abortion rights. <\/p>\n
From a government point of view, I dont think it is the governments role to regulate them. From a personal point of view, I hope there comes a day when we dont need abortions, Dubrow said. <\/p>\n
Dubrows views on drugs is consistent with the Libertarian Partys approach. <\/p>\n
He believes New Hampshire should start reform by decriminalizing possession of all drugs. <\/p>\n
If users are non-violent, they have a medical problem; they dont have a criminal problem, Dubrow began. Lets look at the cost of people losing their lives through criminal convictions. I believe decriminalization is a good step and legalization is a laudable long-term goal. <\/p>\n
As for fighting the opioid epidemic, Dubrow said he believes lawmakers from all three parties would work together to expand access to drug treatment and more prevention programs. <\/p>\n
On Northern Pass, Dubrow said he doesnt favor letting Eversource acquire private properties by eminent domain if lands are needed for right-of-way along the electricity transmission project. <\/p>\n
We need to make sure there is no environmental impact from this project but we do have a serious problem with generation in New Hampshire, Dubrow said. We definitely need to look into whatever options we have to lower our high electric rates. <\/p>\n
Dubrow said he converted his home energy use to solar four years ago. <\/p>\n
Renewable energy has a place in the market but I dont support government mandates like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Dubrow said. <\/p>\n
On health care reform, Dubrow said the federal Affordable Care Act is not sustainable and New Hampshire and other states should be able to pursue deregulation efforts on their own. <\/p>\n
Dubrow said he likes the suggestion of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. to make sure all Americans have catastrophic care coverage, which can be much more affordable than the mandated set of benefits contained in Obamacare. <\/p>\n
klandrigan@unionleader.com<\/a><\/p>\n State Government State <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excerpt from:<\/p>\n Dist. 16: Libertarian Senate candidate says his party is growing converts - The Union Leader<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By KEVIN LANDRIGAN New Hampshire Union Leader July 18. 2017 10:34PM State Senate District 16 special election When: Tuesday, July 25. Where: The district includes Manchester Wards 1,2 and 12, and the towns of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton and Hooksett Continue reading