State Senator Jeanie Forrester spoke to Plymouth students on Dec. 6, in the HUB’s Student Senate Room. Forrester, who was sworn into the State Senate earlier in the day, was invited to speak by the newly formed PSU Republicans.
Ryan Beirier, the president of PSU Republicans, introduced the senator, excited that the PSU Republicans had their “first major event.”
Forrester said in Concord, “we have to learn to bring different stake holders together, and move forward, instead of being divisive.”
Forrester, who was once the Main Street director of Plymouth, said, “Concord is marching to their own tune and not listening to their districts.”
When asked by an audience member, “what makes you conservative?,” the Senator identified herself with being a fiscal conservative, and not as extreme on social issues as her opponents have depicted her.
“They tried to paint me as very extreme… but I went to Concord to work on jobs and the economy.”
After Forrester’s brief opening remarks, she encouraged the group to tell her, “what is troubling you? What would you like to see?” Questions and comments were raised on green energy, campaign finance reform, conservatism ideologies, and many others.
While not “against wind or green energy,” Forrester does think that, “a lot of outside developers come in and before you know it we’re going to have power lies through NH and wind turbines-you already got them in Durham. That’s going to have an impact on property value and tourism.”
On the prospects of allowing casinos in NH, Forester said, “I don’t support gambling. It would hurt small business. At the end, it’s about what’s right for the State.”
Adding to that, “you only see this idea during tough economic times.”
PSU Republicans are excited to work with Forrester and other Republican in hopes of creating more political discourse on campus.