Here is some info about me:

• West Point graduate, class of 1979

• Retired Army officer with 23+ years of service. Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces (Green Beret) qualified who served in Infantry & Special Forces units and had 2 tours teaching at West Point

• Volunteered to go back on active duty after 9/11 and served in Iraq in '05 advising the Iraqi Army

• Professor at Lakes Region Community College and New Hampshire Technical Institute from '01 to '17 (with a "sabbatical" in '05 when I went to Iraq)

• Eagle Scout with almost 25 years as an adult Scout leader (and still active as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 243 in Gilford)

• One of the founders and President of the Board of Directors of the Patriot Resilient Leader Institute, which runs the Camp Resilience program that has hosted 89 therapeutic retreats for military, veterans, first responders and their loved ones since 2014 that have served over 840 participants.

• Served on the Gilford School Board from '06 to '15 to include 2 years as chair

• Member of the Gilford Rotary since '02 and President in '12-'13

• NH State Coordinator for West Point Admissions and supervise a network of West Point Admission Reps who assist candidates applying to West Point

• Volunteer coach for the Gilford High School football team from '04 - '11

• On the Gunstock Ski Patrol from '01 to '21

• Married to Elisabeth for almost 37 years with 2 sons, also Eagle Scouts and West Point graduates

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I think the list above shows that I am dedicated to serving our nation and community and I can continue this by serving in the NH House. I am a moderate who believes in fiscal responsibility and that the most important things for any member of any legislature are integrity and a willingness to compromise. Without compromise, democracy doesn't work.

 

I know it sounds corny but I truly believe in and try to live up to the West Point motto of "Duty, Honor, Country", the ideals of Scouting and the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self". I also understand, and in many cases sympathize with, the valid concerns of folks at both ends of the political spectrum but don't agree with the more extreme positions on either side. Unfortunately, politicians in both parties feel they must appeal to their respective party bases to win their primaries and thus we end up being represented by folks who advocate for much more extreme policies than I think the majority of the population agrees with. I also don't like either party because they are both focused on winning at all costs and are willing to cheat to win (e.g. gerrymandering) and demand complete loyalty to the party and its candidates regardless of any wrongdoing or corruption (e.g. Liz Cheney). This is why I am an Independent. I believe that integrity and doing what's best for the country/state/community is more important than loyalty to either party.

 

I am confident that I can be a very effective representative for District 6 in the State House because of my integrity, willingness to work with folks from both sides of the aisle, and ability to compromise.

 

Kurt

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