TRAVIS TONER
District 4 - Belmont
Mr. Toner is a candidate for State Rep.
NOT Recommended
Mr. Toner does not have our support, as he does not pass our test of being Reasonable and Responsible.
Learn more below.
A relative newcomer to state-level politics, Travis Toner operates Toner’s Total Home Solutions, a furniture assembly and handyman business serving the Lakes Region. He served as a delegate to the NH GOP Convention in 2022 from Belmont. He was a 16-year employee for the State of New Hampshire, working as a state corrections officer and grant and budget funding monitor.
Thanks to his website, featuring a libertarian-icon “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, Mr. Toner makes it very clear where he stands, for which the voters of Belmont should be grateful. Those positions, however, are fringe at best. Among them are:
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“My mission is to serve as the bridge between the residents of Belmont and the New Hampshire state legislature. With a deep belief in public service, we are dedicated to advocating for policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of our community by means of constitutional conservatism.”
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“My goal is to spread freedom by using the Bible and its teachings along with common sense, to do my small part in bringing us to a time in this country where most people were proud to be god fearing and truly American.”
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“The government does not help people, it needs to get out of our way.”
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“It is clear that there are problems with all voting machines all over the country new or old. I will push to go back to true hand count ballots.” (Citizens for Belknap note: Such accusations have been debunked throughout the United States, including here in NH. Hand counting is notoriously LESS accurate than machine counting, takes longer and is more expensive.)
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“We aim to create a brighter future for all Belmont residents by adhering to the state and federal constitution as it was originally founded.”
In His Own Words . . .
Mr. Toner returned his Citizens for Belknap Questionnaire with these responses:
1. Why are you running, and what do you hope to achieve in the next legislative term?
My goal is Simple. to lower taxes in a time where cost of living is going up every day. to find ways to get fuel in this state that is cheaper to lower cost. bring in business and MFG to create jobs of substance. to reduce the burdonsome regulation on trades to make it easier to perform and provide to ones family. and to block any and all gun legislation since it cleary violates the second ammendment of NH Constitution.
2. Assess the recent performance of Gunstock. If elected, would you keep it in the same direction or change course? Based on my limited understanding, My stance is to keep Gunstock run as it is by county, there is no need to change anything as long as it is solvant and has no problems. also even if there are any issues I believe having it run by county is a good model as it should keep ticket prices down which allows lower income people also enjoy. I disagree with why everthing was turned upside down. It appears that there were bad players with personal interest on either side that did not do things logically.
3. Given budget constraints for the Belknap County Nursing Home, how would you stretch county taxpayer dollars and still meet our high standards of care?
I am sure that there are things that could be done, however without information and knowledge on this issue I can not answer this question.
4. As a member of the Belknap County Delegation, how would you improve county hiring practices to attract the highest quality candidates for our nursing home, public safety and administrative positions?
Just that hire well qualified people not based on DEI but based on who is most qualified. also working with local NHES offices closely to find applicants. Government jobs are attractive based on benefits. one thing is to make sure that the benefits still stay competitive. Latley unions and other officials have been undermining those benefits that make government work attractive. there are better ways to negotiate new contracts, unions are causing these issues.
5. Should Belknap County manage its own nursing home and county corrections departments, or privatize them? What about Gunstock Recreation Area/Gunstock Mountain Ski Area? It should not be privatized, especially the county Jail system. I was a correction officer for several years, and i am somewhat familiar with private systems. having "public pivate" parternships are bad on so many levels. accountability is almost impossible more so than when run by the government.
6. What are your ideas for the former 220-acre Laconia State School property?
Sell it and use money to offsett taxes. I would be open to suggestions.
7. What would you do as a State Representative to improve the opioid and drug problem in the region?
Part of the issue of drug use is lack of options and or econmical. the best way to change this is have good paying jobs and opertunities that produce purpose and direction. also introducing religion and morals.
8. What do you think is the most important skill of being a good State Rep, and why.
Knowing the constitution and understanding that certain things are unlawful for you to institute regardless of political pressure. Becuase if we do not honor the cardinal rules as legislators how can the public trust and also be expected to follow laws and rules of society.
9. What do you see are the biggest needs of Belknap County, and what would you do to fill that need?
Making sure that we spend money to operate within the budget that we have and not increase and cause increases in taxes. becuase as we increase taxes and spending, we also see increase in cost of living becuase all business have to increase cost to cover additional tax burdens.
10. What percentage of your campaign funding comes from outside the county? How much from out of state?
11. Do you think our current county government should be smaller, larger, or stay the same?
Smaller. it seems that and no one can argue that gov has gotten bigger, it appears that most of out problems have also gotten larger as well.
12. Should Belknap County manage its own nursing home and county corrections departments, or privatize them? What about the Gunstock Recreation Area?
already answered
13. What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
I have worked in both state and county government for almost 20 years I know how gov operates, I have seen problems and bahaviors. I also know the good it can do but it needs to be rained in both parties need to change thinking.
14. What endorsements have you received?
15, How long have you lived in Belknap County? I have lived in the county since 2018. I am born and raised in NH. I know small business, state government, My mother was a nurse for fourty years and am familiar with most apsects of the state and Government.
