Two incumbent Republicans are among six candidates vying for four seats in state House District 14, serving Plaistow and Atkinson.
Incumbents are Norman Major of Plaistow and Debra DeSimone of Atkinson.
Republicans Jack Hayes and Bill Friel, both from Atkinson, are seeking their first terms in the state Legislature. Democrats Kay Galloway and Jean Sanders, both of Atkinson, are taking their first shots at state-level politics.
Name: Debra DeSimone
Incumbent: Yes
Party: Republican
Age: 58
Occupation: Tax collector for Atkinson
Elective office experience: Tax collector, state representative
What would you do if elected to office?: I will continue to fight for the rights of the children and families, family values and strengthening our communities.
Name: Bill Friel
Incumbent: No
Party: Republican
Age: 51
Occupation: Vice president of global construction company
Elective office experience: Selectman
What would you do if elected to office?: To represent the residents of Atkinson and Plaistow in Concord to the best of my ability.
Name: Kay Galloway
Incumbent: No
Party: Democratic
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired school principal
Elective office experience: None
What would you do if elected to office?: I would like to zero in on restoring money to the university education system. Without an educated workforce, we’re going nowhere.
Names: Jack Hayes
Incumbent: No
Party: Republican
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired, was middle school teacher
Elective office experience: None
What would you do if elected to office?: To serve, to the best of my ability, the town I lived in for 38 years, and Plaistow, and to help balance the budget.
Name: Norman Major
Incumbent: Yes
Party: Republican
Age: 78
Occuption: Retired engineering manager
Elective office experience: State representative, assistant town moderator, selectman, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment
What would you do if elected to office?: My goal is to work and maintain reasonable revenue estimates and ensure that the state comes up with a balanced budget that’s doable.
Name: Jean Sanders
Incumbent: No
Party: Democratic
Age: 69
Occupation: Occupational therapist
Elective experience: None
What would you do if elected to office?: Be sure we’re working to maintain high quality, public education K-12 and affordable higher education, supporting small businesses, affordable health care and budgets that balance.
