Telegraph Endorses Stephen for Governor

Today, the Nashua Telegraph formally endorsed John Stephen for Governor in the Republican Primary.  Here is what the Telegraph had to offer in their endorsement of Stephen for the Republican nomination:

Four Republican candidates are running in next week’s primary election to earn the right to challenge Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who is seeking an historic fourth term in the corner office, in the November general election.

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Of those candidates, we believe John Stephen, the former assistant AG and HHS secretary, is the most qualified to represent his party and engage in a serious debate with the incumbent governor on spending and taxes – among other pressing issues – during the seven-week period leading up to the Nov. 2 general election.

Yes, we understand there is a strong outpouring of support across the country for new faces with no strong ties to government service, but in this race Stephen earns our endorsement over state Rep. Frank Emiro Sr., of Londonderry, businessman Jack Kimball, of Dover, or Cornerstone Policy Research co-founder Karen Testerman, of Franklin.

During his Aug. 24 meeting with our editorial board, the Manchester resident was clear on his top priority: reduce spending in the final six months of the existing state budget and then tackle what is expected to be at least a $600 million shortfall in the next two-year budget cycle that begins July 1, 2011, because of the anticipated loss of federal stimulus money.

While Stephen refrained from citing exactly where the state budget should be reduced, he did say he would instruct all department heads to reduce spending by 10 percent next year without eroding essential state services – no easy feat, to be sure, assuming it’s even possible.

Still, if any of the four Republican candidates can come close to achieving that goal, it would appear be Stephen, who can boast of more than 20 years of experience and familiarity with the executive branch of state government.

Following the endorsement, the Stephen campaign offered the following:

Nashua Telegraph Endorses John Stephen For Governor

MANCHESTER, NH- John Stephen, Republican candidate for Governor, today received the endorsement of The Telegraph of Nashua for the Republican nomination. In today’s edition, the editorial states that Stephen “is the most qualified to represent his party and engage in a serious debate with the incumbent governor on spending and taxes.”  The paper also said Stephen “was clear on his top priority: reduce spending in the final six months of the existing state budget and then tackle what is expected to be at least a $600 million shortfall in the next two-year budget.”

“The Telegraph of Nashua has long prided itself as a clear voice of common sense in New Hampshire,” Stephen said.  “They clearly understand, as I do, that we are facing a huge problem both in the current and the next budget as a result of Governor Lynch’s overspending.  That’s why this endorsement means so much to me.”

The editorial went on to say that, “if any of the four Republican candidates can come close to achieving that goal [of cutting state spending without eroding services], it would appear be Stephen, who can boast of more than 20 years of experience and familiarity with the executive branch of state government.”

“There is no question that New Hampshire needs a leader who will make the tough decisions to balance the state budget, and I look forward to the challenge,” Stephen added.  “We need a leader who will stand up and push back against John Lynch’s policies that have led to 84 taxes and fees over the past two budgets to pay for a 24% increase in spending.  Our business community now has the highest business tax rates in the nation – and that was before Governor Lynch’s ill-advised job-killing LLC tax on small businesses and the 71% increase in unemployment taxes.  We need to balance on budget, while at the same time becoming competitive again.”

In recent weeks, Stephen has also been endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Leader, Foster’s Daily Democrat and the Concord Monitor and The Citizen of Laconia.