By Kevin Shalvey
Staff Writer

New Hampshire District 9 state Sen. Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, and challenger Peter Flood, D-Merrimack, agree the state shouldn’t impose new taxes.

The two, however, disagree on who should have a say in education.

“I want to keep the courts out of the education funding issue,” Roberge said, who has lived in Bedford for 26 years and has served 11 years as state senator.

Roberge said she is in favor of giving legislators control, rather than the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Flood said taking the Supreme Court out of the education issue is not the answer.

“This is an evisceration of our balance of powers and shouldn’t be tolerated,” he said.

Neither candidate supports broad-based taxes.

“I’m going to hold the line on sales and income tax, as I’ve always done,” Roberge said.

Roberge said finding new public needs sometimes leads to new taxes, which she would be against. The state, she said, has the tough job of deciding how to manage the taxes it already collects.

Flood, a Merrimack resident, agrees.

“Having been living in New Hampshire for the past 42 years, and having seen the way we have lived without a sales or income tax, and having seen the advantages of that, I have promised not to vote for a new broad-based tax,” he said.

The way businesses are taxed is also important to the state, Flood said. If business taxes are higher, the state might not attract new businesses.

“They should be fostered and protected,” he said.

An issue Roberge has been working on and will be working on next sessions, would be penalties for crimes against those who can’t protect themselves, she said.

“If someone gets convicted of a crime and the victim was either elderly or handicapped, the judge would give you a more severe sentence,” Roberge said.

Flood, a real estate developer, said he is interested in the way land is used.

“I have a real deep feeling for land issues and legislation,” he said.

Roberge said next term, she will also focus on reforming health care in New Hampshire. Bringing in more providers would allow for more competition, possibly lowering rates, she said.

If elected, Flood said he hopes he can make concrete changes to the state.

“I hope to be able to look back and see some grass has gotten mowed, some snow has been shoveled, that something has happened,” he said. “I’m realistic that things can’t be done in a day.”