Alford-Teaster on Alford-Teaster

Jenn Alford-Teaster
Bradford
To the editor,

I’m running for state Senate because I see firsthand that New Hampshire isn’t working for too many Granite Staters. Every day, I talk to families struggling to make ends meet even with two parents working multiple jobs. I talk to families suffering from opioid addiction. I talk to families barely scraping together enough to cover the healthcare that keeps their loved ones alive. When people work hard, they should have the chance to get ahead. If we end downshifting of taxes onto New Hampshire’s property taxpayers, make smart investments in public schools, job training, and trades programs, expand access to healthcare, and properly use our resources to fight the opioid crisis, we can create a context in which hard work actually does pay off.

I grew up poor in New Hampshire and at 18, with two suitcases and $265, I moved to North Carolina to find work. My employers saw my potential and pushed me to apply for college. I had never thought that was an option before. I got a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees, moved home to the Granite State, and was able to make it to the middle class because I worked hard and because my New Hampshire community made smart investments that prepared me for success.

I was lucky enough to have the support everyone deserves to make their hard work pay off, but it’s even more difficult now for the people of New Hampshire to make ends meet. Now, I’m asking to be your voice in Concord so that together we can move our communities from surviving to thriving.

 

Jenn Alford-Teaster

Bradford