The New Hampshire State Senator representing district 16 faces a unique challenger if he hopes to be reelected this Tuesday. Senator Cavanaugh won a special election in 2017 and was reelected in 2018 to represent district 16, which includes Dunbarton, Bow, Hooksett, Candia, and wards 1, 2, and 12 in Manchester. While he is not the most radical progressive in the Senate, Cavanaugh generally seems to vote along party lines with the other 13 Democrats. This means that he voted like a progressive socialist during his last term. Perhaps this is what motivated Jason Syversen to challenge him for his seat.
Identifying himself as a non-politician, Syversen tells voters on his website that he founded a cybersecurity company based in New Hampshire, grew the business and created high-quality jobs, worked in partnership with companies and government agencies such as DARPA, and then sold the company and retired early. Now, he spends his time volunteering in his community and coaching a youth basketball team. Among the 7 non-profits that Syversen volunteers for are a food pantry and organizations that combat homelessness and sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Syversen has been endorsed by Governor Sununu, the Bow Times, and The Union Leader. His website displays endorsements by independent and Democratic voters in the district, as well.
On the issues, Jason Syversen believes that he presents a stark contrast from Kevin Cavanaugh.
“No political games – No income tax – REAL SOLUTIONS”, reads the challenger’s campaign website, which highlights some of the votes that Senator Cavanaugh cast during his three years in the Senate:
“What’s worse is that Sen. Cavanaugh refuses to take the Pledge against a broad based sales or income tax. He actually voted for an income tax in the State Senate. The tax he voted for (HB 712) would have taken money right out of workers’ paychecks. Thank goodness we have Gov. Sununu at the helm. He vetoed the Democrats’ income tax.”
Cavanaugh voted against SB741, which would have ensured that babies who have already been born and are alive cannot legally be killed.
Syversen believes that live babies should not be killed.
Cavanaugh voted for HB687 and HB1660, which would have created red flag laws. These laws bypass due process and send police to confiscate firearms and ammunition from innocent citizens – before they are convicted of a crime, and before they even have any chance to defend themselves in court.
Syversen supports the Constitution and property rights, the right to firearm ownership, and the right to self-defense. He will oppose all infringements on our natural rights to self-defense. He is endorsed by the NRA, the GOA, and the FPC.
Cavanaugh sponsored SB540, a bill which would have made it more difficult for paramedics licensed in other states to work in New Hampshire. This author, who is an experienced paramedic with a little knowledge regarding work in various states and labor shortages, tried to contact Senator Cavanaugh via phone and email and received no response.
Cavanaugh supports increasing the minimum wage, according to his website. He believes that the state-mandated minimum wage must be increased in order to have well-paying jobs. However, New Hampshire currently has the lowest minimum wage in the US and the highest actual wages in the US. Only 3% of New Hampshire workers earn only the minimum wage. Cavanaugh voted in favor of HB731, which would have increased the minimum wage by 66%, from $7.25 to $12 per hour.
Syversen told The Liberty Block that he supports economic freedom and respects the agreements made between two consenting adults. He does not believe that the government should get in between two consenting parties by criminalizing victimless agreements.
On Tuesday, November 3rd, voters in Dunbarton, Bow, Hooksett, Candia, and wards 1, 2, and 12 in Manchester will vote for their next state senator. They will have an opportunity to reelect the Democrat who supports a powerful government involvement in the everyday lives of Granite Staters, or they can vote for a businessman who is “…running to use my technology and charity experience to help rebuild New Hampshire in the post COVID era.”
