Carlos GonzalezPrimary Election 2022 Winner

If elected or re-elected, please describe legislation you expect to sponsor or co-sponsor.

1. Affordable housing needs to be somehow accessible across all towns and cities in New Hampshire.
2. Continue increasing support for law enforcement, particularly in Manchester. We need to tackle the crime wave that has unfortunately increased not just in Manchester, but in Nashua and Salem. Increase funding and police officers.
3. Focus on fair funding of education once and for all. That issue has been lingering since 2000 when I was first elected. We have not met our obligations from the Claremont case, we need to fairly allocate educational funds in New Hampshire.
4. Energy assistance needs to be provided. The economy has disproportionately impacted the disadvantaged population and we need to provide support to tackle the energy crisis we face.

What are the most important concerns you’ve heard from Manchester residents and how can you address those concerns if elected or re-elected?

Affordable housing, crime, energy assistance. Those three the key things that need to be addressed. Rental housing prices increased more than 15 percent, energy assistance needs to be more readily available and increased to residents that are disadvantaged and we need to need to increase the number of police officers in Manchester and fund any assistance and/or non-profit organizations that could be working with law enforcement officers. Also, property taxes have increased and we need to focus on decreasing and/or stopping increases because that is also what leads to rental price increases for tenants here in the city. That creates an untenable burden for tenants and for the property owners.

New Hampshire legislators are citizen legislators and being a legislator is a significant time commitment. How much time per week can you spend on legislative duties while the Senate/House is in session?

As much as needed for the particular committee that I may be assigned. Each one of the committees have different time requirements. They need to be met and I intend to do so.

How do you feel the current divisive political climate in the United States will impact the New Hampshire General Court over the next two years and how would you navigate that divisiveness in your duties?

The divisiveness is very discouraging. From Day 1 I got elected in 2000, it has increased. I am a community builder, we need to do community building in the state house chamber and reach out to both sides, Republicans, Independents and Democrats, to work for the common good for the constituents we represent.

Divisiveness is something that is disliked by the general population and that’s why there are more Independents than Republicans or Democrats. That’s because they want the divisiveness to stop and more commonality like there was in the past.

What is the most significant issue facing Manchester residents at the municipal level and how can you, as a legislator aid the city government on that issue?

Crime connected with drug usage. How you go about fixing that is working with the state’s congressional delegation and the governor in allocating as many tools be it financial or technological to try and prevent and stop the increased drug usage which leads to increase of crime in Manchester. We need to focus on resources and grants and reaching out to non-profits that can help drug users and stop drugs in Manchester together with the police force.

In your conversations with voters, what is the most significant issue to them right now? How would you address that if elected or re-elected?

Crime and drug usage with the lack of affordable housing are extremely important and they need to be tackled. Lower property taxes will emphatically help and decrease rental prices for tenements and it will alleviate the crisis that the country is undergoing, which is making life very difficult for New Hampshire residents.

Energy costs are also a main concern, and we need to reach help the city with federal and state assistance.

In your opinion, what were the five most significant pieces of legislation introduced over the last two years? Please explain what made them significant.

HB 6058 – Educational funding, child care funds and grants. That was something that was and is needed and we need to continue to support and enhance that. Workforce and educational field is very important. We need to provide incentives so we can retain staff in the educational field.

HB  1388 – Distribution of sensitive images – in the digital age, this is very important. Images that are sent, particularly to younger generations, needs to be stopped and it needs to be criminalized. It can be abused and has abused.