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Former Hudson rep files for Congress

By Staff | Jun 8, 2016

CONCORD – Former three-term representative Jim Lawrence filed his declaration of candidacy on Wednesday, seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat for the second straight election cycle.

Lawrence, a Hudson Republican, said the federal government is strangling small businesses with overregulation and too many taxes, calling it big, bloated and unable to perform simple tasks like providing veterans with VA benefits or providing adequate security at airports nationwide.

“So today is one step toward us returning strong leadership from New Hampshire to Washington,” he said. “I would certainly focus on making sure that we do something to finally resolve the issue with them getting the VA benefits that they deserve; we’ve been kicking the can down the road too long.

“I would bring my experience from business in making recommendations to streamline federal government to slow and stop the growth of government to deal with our national debt crisis,” Lawrence said. “I’d also look to lighten the burden on our small businesses – that’s our economic engine, (and) we can’t afford for government to choke them off and not allow our economy to grow and prosper.”

In about a 15-minute appearance in the secretary of state’s Concord office, Lawrence chatted with supporters and answered press questions after filing his paperwork. He handed Secretary of State Bill Gardner a $50 bill for the filing fee.

The Air Force veteran and contractor blasted incumbent Annie McLane Kuster, a Democrat, for failing to provide solutions.

Instead, he asserts that Kuster “went down to Washington and did something else: She supported the Washington party bosses, not the voters of the great state of New Hampshire.”

Lawrence said he was the first African-American to run for Congress in New Hampshire history in 2014.

He finished a distant third in the GOP primary two years ago behind fellow state Rep. Marilinda Garcia, of Salem, and onetime state Sen. Gary Lambert, of Nashua.

This election cycle, he said the mounting national debt – he mentioned it was up to $60,000 for every American – was a factor in entering the race.

“I can’t look my children in the eye and tell them I stood idly by while our government spends their future prosperity away,” he said.

When asked about the opioid crisis in New Hampshire, he said “that is a fight where the front line needs to be fought locally” and that he would continue efforts to have Washington help in the ongoing epidemic.

“Federal government in Washington, D.C., can assist, but the heavy lifting has to go on right here. So if I’m elected to Congress, I will continue to support those efforts, but I recognize that the local authorities need to take the lead in terms of solving this problem,” he said.

Lawrence becomes the sixth Republican to file for Kuster’s seat, along with Walter Kelly, of Lancaster; Andy Martin, of Manchester; Jay Mercer, of Nashua; and Casey Newell, of Danville. Former House Majority Leader Jack Flanagan, a Brookline Republican, made his candidacy official June 1.

The statewide primary is slated for Sept. 13

Kuster, who is seeking her third term on Capitol Hill, filed for re-election last week, as well. She has more than $1.6 million cash on hand heading into November.

“I am incredibly proud of my work with Democrats and Republicans to curb the opioid epidemic and prevent future tragedies, provide veterans and seniors with the support and care they deserve, and improve college affordability and job training opportunities for young people,” Kuster said in a press statement. “We have made great strides, but I’m running for re-election so that I can continue to put New Hampshire first in Congress.”

Chris Garofolo can be reached at 594-6465, cgarofolo@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_Chris.

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