Sullivan County District 7 – Istel vs. Aron

By GLYNIS HART
[email protected]
ACWORTH – District 7 of Sullivan County comprises Acworth, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, and Washington but both candidates, Judy Aron (R ) and Claudia Istel (D) are well-known in Acworth, where they are each involved in community projects. Judy Aron is the secretary of the Acworth Community Project, which runs the village store. Claudia Istel has served on the Acworth Conservation Commission and is an Acworth Cemetery Trustee.

 

Judy Aron

(R)

Hometown: Acworth

 

Eagle Times: What particular skills or experience do you have that make you the best candidate for Sullivan county, District 7 in the state legislature?

Judy Aron:  I understand our New Hampshire law making process and already have contacts in the state legislature. I plan to draw upon key people in our communities to discuss the impact of  proposed legislation on our towns. Because of my life experiences, I understand what it takes to run a business, raise a family, take care of loved ones and educate children. I have the perspective and experience of living in another state which adopted Progressive social and fiscal policies, so I know the burdens and financial problems that those policies cause. Being able to view proposed legislation through that lens makes me very clear on what policies are needed to continue the successes that New Hampshire currently enjoys.

ET: Is there a particular issue you are focused on for the upcoming term?

JA: Voters made it clear to me that they do not want any more taxes imposed on them by the State through an income tax, sales tax or other broad-based tax.  They understand that the institution of those kinds of taxes incur huge wasteful administrative costs. They also know that if those taxes are imposed that the promise of property tax relief would not be realized, plus they would end up with an income tax and/or sales tax to boot! They know that we would end up paying more in taxes in total when all is said and done. Throwing money at problems does not solve them and destroying our “NH advantage” would kill all of the business and financial gains that our state enjoys.  

ET: What achievements have you made in the past that are relevant to what you want to achieve in the legislature?

JA: Graduating college magna cum laude majoring in economics with minors in business and computer science means that I have a firm understanding of how economies work and what makes them run well. I understand how businesses operate and why healthy markets and competition is important. I am tech savvy and have kept up with modern computer applications and social media and can use them to communicate, analyze and research information. 

I managed computer systems for insurance and securities investment management systems. I managed a diverse staff,  developed skills to track projects, and was responsible for deliverables. 

I earned the Silver Communicator award in Toastmasters International which demonstrates my ability to communicate, present ideas, provide leadership and work with people on various projects. 

As a small business owner I understand what is needed to for business to flourish and succeed, meet customer demands and manage money. I serve on the board which directs the operation of the Village Store in Acworth.  This gives me an understanding of what challenges businesses face with regulations, management, responsibilities, and staffing.

Serving my second term as an elected member of the Acworth Budget Committee, I have developed the understanding of town budgets, expenses, setting priorities and using taxpayer money wisely.

My greatest achievement has been being a wife and mother. I’ve been married for 40 years and have raised and homeschooled our three children. They are all successful, well adjusted and happy adults pursuing their dreams.    

ET: What challenges are facing the house of representatives in New Hampshire in the upcoming term? 

JA: I think the greatest challenge will be to keep the momentum going on all of the positive achievements that the state’s Republican leadership has already delivered. We have, among other things, very low unemployment (2.7 percent), a robust business climate, more personal liberty, $100 million in our rainy day fund, and a budget that was balanced without raising taxes.  I plan to support policies that will help our businesses and continue to grow our economy, protect gun rights, support our farmers and first responders in our towns, support a clean environment, bring about more choices in education and healthcare, and to continue job growth and prosperity.  

  

Claudia Istel

(D)

Hometown: Acworth

 

Eagle Times: What particular skills or experience do you have that make you the best candidate for Sullivan County, District 7 in the state legislature?

Claudia Istel: I have lived in Acworth for 37 years and worked with teaching adolescents in the area, including 30 years as a math teacher at Fall Mountain Regional High School. Living in the community where I taught gave me an opportunity for closer connection with my students and their families, so it was not unusual for me to know three generations, sometimes more. School budgets and policies, and how the public viewed our schools, affected not only my community, but our family personally through the wages I received, the morale at school, and the educational impact on our daughters. Now that I’m “retired,” I also feel the stress of property taxes on a fixed income. This led to my part-time teaching as an adjunct at River Valley Community College where I enjoy serving a new population of students. 

My lifelong experience in the community with skills in organization and working with people of all ages and backgrounds has prepared me to represent the interests of everyone in the Sullivan, District 7.

ET: Is there a particular issue you are focused on for the upcoming term?

CI: Making the world a better place has always guided my actions, leading me to a career of service and to being an active volunteer in our community. Now I’d like to expand that service from Acworth and the Fall Mountain district to include the five towns of Sullivan 7 and represent you in Concord.  

As for my particular issue, refocusing New Hampshire’s priorities towards workforce development and education opportunity will be my number one goal. We need more ways for students to learn skills that will help them succeed after high school, to become independent and contributing members of our communities, whether that’s a certificate for a vocation, two-year degree, or four-year degree. Making sure these resources are accessible and affordable to people who want to retrain in another field or learn a new skill should be a priority as well.

Improving wages for working families, giving seniors affordable housing options, and protecting our natural resources are high on my list of priorities.

ET: What achievements have you made in the past that are relevant to what you want to achieve in the legislature?

CI: In the legislature, I hope to bring these same skills as a collaborator and passionate advocate to make sure our communities are heard in Concord.

ET: What challenges are facing the House of Representatives in NH in the upcoming term? 

CI: A new state budget will be developed. Funding of public schools is always an issue because our state relies for 72 percent of school funding on local property taxes and the state is decreasing its aid to schools each year. Property owners and towns struggle to pay for schools.  As your representative I will fight to end the property tax inequity between property rich and poor communities and help our towns thrive.

Health care is another huge issue. Mental and physical health care needs to be both accessible and affordable for everyone. Fighting the opioid epidemic by holding people accountable for distributing drugs and providing services for prevention, treatment, and recovering in a way that helps those affected to be able to overcome their dependence and return to society as contributing members are important issues facing the legislature.