Governor Lynch/Joe Kenney Debate in New Hamspshire

The man who should be governor

Last night was the debate between Governor John Lynch and Republican challenger Joe Kenney. Joe Kenney faces incredible odds on trying to unseat the popular tax and spend, liberal, nanny state governor, but last night he performed well.

 Joe Kenney continually hammered the teflon governor for his irresponsible spending that has led to the budget crisis now facing New Hampshire.

“The reality is that we’re now confronted with a shortfall because of all the spending that went on in Concord last year,” he said. “We’re going to have to make tough decisions in the coming months.”

 This is a subject that I care about very much, the out of control spending has to stop. While New Hampshire avoided a sales or income tax the state did raise 22 separate taxes and fees to pay for Governor Lynch’s irresponsible spending. I have written about it many times, and we have been able to read editorials about it in the paper, but to hear Joe Kenney slam the governor on this issue and to not let up, I found invigorating. It was music to my ears to hear someone stand up face to face with the tax and spender and not back down.

 While both candidates took the pledge ( for out of staters, the pledge is a vow to veto a sales or income tax) Joe Kenney challenged teflon John’s ability to hold off a broad-based tax once the Democrats return and propose more spending.

“I don’t know if the governor’s going to be strong enough to veto an income tax or a sales tax,”

 Joe Kenny performed extremely well, I thought he won the debate. But John Lynch is so popular that I don’t think this will change much. Also I don’t know how many people watched the debate as most residents have already made up their mind to vote for Governor Lynch so they probably didn’t tune in.

 Joe Kenney is an honorable man and he should be the next governor of New Hampshire. As unlikely as it is I am keeping my fingers crossed. As I head to the voting booth on Tuesday and pull the lever for Joe Kenney, I do so realizing that I am just one of a handful of New Hampshirites that will be able to truthfully declare that I have voted against John Lynch three times. Here’s hoping that the third time is a charm.

 You can read more about the debate in this New Hampshire Union Leader article.