John Patrick Carty

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?

"No. "Education Freedom Account" is a deliberately misleading label. It is actually a private school voucher program. This program diverts funding away from our public schools, where there is full transparency and accountability, to private and religious schools, with zero transparency and accountability. The State of NH has one of the lowest contributions to public education of any state in the nation. The rest of that cost is shifted onto local property taxpayers. The 'Education Freedom Account' program takes even more funding out of public schools. This is a disservice to both the public schools, and to local taxpayers. Public education is a critical public service, like public safety and roads. It gives our children their best shot at future success and independence. It's a cost we all should share. Private and religious education is already an option for NH parents. We should not use funds meant for public schools, to subsidize them."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

"Abortion, along with other reproductive issues, is a private matter to be decided between a woman and her doctor. Government has no place in this decision. Attempts to legislate these bans in other states have led to maternal death and other tragic outcomes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?

"Abortion, along with other reproductive issues, is a private matter to be decided between a woman and her doctor. Government has no place in this decision. Attempts to legislate these bans in other states have led to maternal death and other tragic outcomes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the state law that bans teaching certain concepts, such as the idea that people may be "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously"?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"No. Like a sales tax, income taxes on earned income tend to hurt our middle class most. Again, there are better and more fair ways to raise state revenue. NH should retain the current situation of no state income tax on earned income."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"No. Sales taxes tend to land more heavily on lower and middle income individuals and families. Many of our fellow Granite Staters are already struggling with high local property taxes and other daily expenses. There are better ways to raise tax income. NH should retain the current situation of no broad-based sales tax."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"Yes, for small local businesses and startups. No, for larger businesses, particularly those based out of state and / or requiring significant local infrastructure support (water, traffic, public safety, etc)"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?

"No, for earners below a certain income level. Also possibly not for major life events, such as selling a primary residence. Possibly yes, for higher net-worth individuals. Capital gains tax can be a valid revenue source for NH, but it should be imposed fairly, on those most able to afford it."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?

"Yes. Hampton and Seabrook share a coastline, an active fishing community, a working harbor, a bridge, and extensive marshland. NH is also home to over 4,000 small farms. As such, we are on the front lines of climate-induced events like larger storms, flooding, and heat. I helped the City of Portsmouth develop its approach to a Climate Action Plan. There are many areas where the state of NH can take steps to address the causes and effects of climate change. It is good business, good stewardship of our state, and the right thing to do for our children and grandchildren."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?

"Yes. Access to voting for legal voters is essential to our democracy. Voter access needs to be expanded, not suppressed. There may be cases where some voters, particularly first-time voters, may not have proper identifying documents on Election Day. It is reasonable to expect that these voters can return with the proper identifying documents within a reasonable deadline."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire add a fee or mileage charge for electric vehicle owners to help pay for transportation and/or electric infrastructure?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?

"Yes. It is important to balance the need for housing development, especially for first-time homeowners and workforce housing, with the local needs for reasonable zoning. The state can play a role in encouraging municipalities to update zoning regulations to help address these needs. However, actual final decisions should be left in the hands of municipal governments and the voters who elect them."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?

"Yes. Increasing the net energy metering caps is one way that NH can encourage the generation and consumption of locally produced clean energy for residences and businesses. This has several benefits, including reducing carbon emissions, reducing energy costs, reducing the demand and reliance on power generation companies, and greater resilience against storm damage to transmission infrastructure"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should New Hampshire extend the renewable portfolio standard past 2025, requiring public utilities to obtain more than 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

"Abortion, along with other reproductive issues, is a private matter to be decided between a woman and her doctor. Government has no place in this decision. Attempts to legislate these bans in other states have led to maternal death and other tragic outcomes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state increase funding for child care providers?

"Yes. I am very strongly in favor of this. Early childcare and education has been repeatedly shown to be one of the biggest contributors to a child's success when they enter school. It also helps the many NH families where working parents are less able to provide childcare. There is nothing but upside to providing more childcare, at more affordable prices. Currently, the high costs of providing daycare, and low potential income, make it a less than attractive career choice or business opportunity. NH should absolutely increase funding to childcare providers"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

"No. The NH public school system is badly underfunded. The state provides only about one-third of the cost of educating our children, one of the lowest in the nation. The remainder falls on local property taxpayers. Providing a quality public education is one of the best investments we can make in our children and our future. I could not be more proud of the amazing work that our public school teachers do with our kids. I am honored to be endorsed by the National Education Association-NH (NEA-NH) and the American Federation of Teachers-NH (AFT-NH). NH has fantastic public school teachers, and the strong support of communities. They need the proper resources to get the job done. NH should increase the amount of funding provided to local public school systems."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

"Yes, with the proper safeguards and support for those with addictive or substance abuse disorders. Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would have a number of effects. It would significantly reduce the amount of criminal illegal marijuana sales, which put both users and law enforcement at risk. It creates the opportunity to regulate usage, and provide education and counseling to those with substance abuse problems. It also provides an additional tax revenue base."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

"Yes, with the proper safeguards and support for those with addictive or substance abuse disorders. Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would have a number of effects. It would significantly reduce the amount of criminal illegal marijuana sales, which put both users and law enforcement at risk. It creates the opportunity to regulate usage, and provide education and counseling to those with substance abuse problems. It also provides an additional tax revenue base."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?

"Yes, with the proper safeguards and support for those with addictive or substance abuse disorders. Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would have a number of effects. It would significantly reduce the amount of criminal illegal marijuana sales, which put both users and law enforcement at risk. It creates the opportunity to regulate usage, and provide education and counseling to those with substance abuse problems. It also provides an additional tax revenue base."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?

"Yes. A reasonable minimum wage is key to helping the middle class get ahead. NH has the lowest minimum wage of any New England state, at $7.25 / hour. This is a challenge both for wage-earners, and for businesses competing for labor with nearby states."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Should the state permanently increase how much tax revenue it shares with towns and cities every year, beyond public school funding?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022

Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?

"Yes. Both abortion and gender transition are personal healthcare decisions. These decisions are should be made by the individuals and their doctors. They should not be influenced by governmental restriction of access, or threat of legal prosecution. Governments should support all of our citizens, and seek to not interfere with private healthcare decisions."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

"Abortion, along with other reproductive issues, is a private matter to be decided between a woman and her doctor. Government has no place in this decision. Attempts to legislate these bans in other states have led to maternal death and other tragic outcomes."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?

"This topic has been callously used as a political football by some, so I want to be very clear here. Like millions of others, both my parents came to the United States as legal immigrants. They provided a good life for their family, and lifelong contribution to the United States. My siblings and I are forever grateful to them, and to this wonderful country they raised us in. Immigration continues to be a major part of what makes America special. Like any other area of society, existing law should be observed and enforced. In this case, local law enforcement should have the final say in matters within their jurisdiction. We hire our police chiefs and officers to know our communities, and what they need. Given the unfortunate tendency of some to misrepresent this issue, I would strongly urge that the state of NH leave the decisions on how best to cooperate with federal authorities, to local law enforcement."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"As a former gun owner and auxiliary police sergeant, and current sport shooter, I support the rights of responsible persons to own guns. At the same time, I also support reasonable interpretation of the Second Amendment, and reasonable safety considerations for the public and law enforcement. I would support some enhancements to current NH gun laws. These would include the bipartisan effort to add certain mental health records to the gun sales database, and taking input from family or household members when there is a concern about someone who may pose a significant risk to themselves or others. I also support reasonable restrictions on the ownership of high-capacity weapons which can inflict extensive damage with little to no training. These weapons have no hunting or sporting value, and have been shown to be a threat to both law enforcement and the general public, especially schools. They should not be easy to acquire or transfer."