MATT CENTER
Candidate for State
Representative
MATT CENTER
Candidate for New Hampshire
State Representative
Merrimack County - District 8
Henniker, Bradford, & Warner
MEET MATT
Learn about Matt, his background, and issues and causes he is passionate about
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MEET MATT CENTER
Candidate for New Hampshire State Representative
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Resident of NH for 60+ years and resident of Henniker for 32+ years
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Owner/operator of a small private sector business providing hospitals across New England with ergonomic and safe patient handling solutions since 2013
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Elected member of the Henniker School Board since March 2024
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Graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in Business
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Member of Grace New England Church in Weare, NH
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Advocate for strong local schools and keeping local control of these schools
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Active hiker and skier and lover of the natural beauty NH offers
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God, Family, and Country……
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
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Keep the New Hampshire advantage which means no sales or state income tax
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Support policies that will keep and attract more private sector businesses to NH
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Preserve local control of curriculum and funding of schools
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Continue the fight to protect girl’s and women’s spaces from biological men
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Promote the implementation of proven and affordable dense energy sources which are not subsidized by the taxpayer
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Uphold and cooperate with immigration laws and support legal immigration to help spur business growth in NH
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District Map of Merrimack County - District 8
Towns of Henniker, Bradford, and Warner
Why Am I running for a NH House Seat from Merrimack County – District 8? I have always been politically active and interested and was elected to the local Henniker School Board three years ago. It has been a wonderful experience, and I hope to continue on the board, if elected next year, while being a New Hampshire House member. I will remain a strong advocate for continued local control of school budgets, curriculums, and policies.
How long have you lived in New Hampshire and in the district? I have lived in New Hampshire since 1964, when my parents moved here. I attended college and lived in Massachusetts for a few years and worked and resided in Vermont for one year following my college graduation. I have been a New Hampshire resident nearly my entire life. I have been living in Henniker in the same house that I had built since 1994.
What have you done for work over your career? I have always worked in the private sector and was employed in a number of different industries including: radio broadcasting, printing sales and management, and health care product sales and management. Beginning January 2013 to present, I have owned and operated my own healthcare distribution sales company, working with acute care hospitals, primarily in New England. My products and training help these institutions implement safe patient handling and ergonomic solutions in an effort to keep staff and patients safe and free from injury.
What is your stance on gender ideology? Science has always proven that there are only two genders: male and female. Much of the confusion comes from equating gender with one’s personal sexual preference. They are not the same. I believe you should love who you want to love and be who you want to be. That is none of anyone's business but yours; however, it does not give you special status, and minor children should not be indoctrinated into this ideology.
What is your stance on state sales tax or state income tax? When you look at the six state New England region, New Hampshire remains a strong example of the success of limited government and taxation. People do not move from New Hampshire to other New England states, but rather they come to NH to escape high taxation and fees. I will never support a state sales tax or state income tax. Looking at how we allocate tax revenue and having discussions over where and how much money should be distributed is important dialogue. Always asking, “who else and what else can we tax?”, is not a successful or sustainable strategy.
Do you feel businesses pay their fair share of taxes? Private sector businesses are an easy target for people who want to increase taxes in our state. The irony is that over the last decade, despite decreases in the business tax rate, overall revenue received has increased. Without a strong private sector made-up of small businesses like mine, along with medium to large businesses, we do not have revenue coming into our state. We need to do everything possible to attract more private sector business. This will ensure we keep our New Hampshire advantage.
What role do you feel God and religion play in our world? The foundational documents of our Nation and State clearly speak to the influence of God, with respect to our fundamental ideals. Having a commitment to God in one’s life provides a strong moral and ethical set of standards that produce strong citizens in our state and country. People may confuse this viewpoint with claims that this will result in a theocracy. This is far from the truth, and we can clearly see the differences, historically, as we have moved away from God in our homes, our schools, and our daily lives.
What does your family life look like? I was previously married and am currently in a long-term relationship with the love of my life, Susan Conte. I am a stepparent, and a grandparent. It causes me to reflect daily, with thankfulness and gratefulness.
How do you feel about legalized gambling in NH? It is concerning to me that New Hampshire has taken an archaic view of gambling, yet has allowed “mini casinos” to start dotting our communities. Other New England states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine have successfully established businesses in this industry. The industry of legalized gambling provides significant revenue and opens the door for ancillary business development, such as restaurants and performance centers. I would have been much happier if years ago, the state looked at the former Rockingham Racetrack property and had entered into discussions with casino companies, as opposed to the current implementation.
How do you feel about school funding and school costs? I have seen my property tax bill increase significantly each year over the last 30 years to meet the demands of school funding. Despite this fact, it is better to have local control over those expenditures, as opposed to transferring them to the state, such as groups like Fair Funding of New Hampshire are constantly promoting. By keeping these costs in the purview of the taxpayer, local school boards, school administrators, and town residents, all active participants can be involved in these financial decisions.
If you are elected to the NH House in this district, will you only support or listen to voters who agree with you? Just as you should never turn your back on the voters who elected you, an elected official must realize that they are also responsible for all constituents in their district. You can still have strong views on subjects and be clear about where you stand, but you must engage in dialogue with the other side. No one person has all the answers or only the correct methodology of dealing with an issue. One guarantee is that consensus will never happen if we do not talk with one another. It is my personal experience in this district that the current elected trio of State Reps has no interest in any type of discussion or listening to opinions that differ from theirs. This is an unacceptable way to be a representative in any office. Progress and growth for our state can only happen if we stop repeating the established narratives and directly speak with one another. You cannot expect to be 100% in agreement with anyone on all issues. We have lost that perspective in our governing bodies.
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No sales or income tax
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Support private sector business growth
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Preserve local school control
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Protect women's and girls' spaces
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Promote affordable, unsubsidized energy
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Enforce immigration laws and support legal immigration
