SOLOMON FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE UNION LEADER.
OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM JOHN DISTASO TO MOLLY KELLY.
JOHN: UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS LOW.
THE STATE’S MEDIAN INCOME IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.
WHY SHOULD GRANITE STATERS WANT TO FIRE GOVERNOR SUNUNU WHEN THINGS APPEAR TO BE GOING QUITE WELL?
MS. KELLY: THE ECONOMY IS NOT WORKING FOR EVERYONE.
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS MAY BE GOING DOWN, BUT WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
THINK ABOUT OUR COLLEGES -- WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR A STUDENT’S TUITION TO GO TO COLLEGE.
WE ARE ALSO NUMBER ONE FOR STUDENTS INDENT FOR COLLEGES.
-- IN DEBT FOR COLLEGES.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS JUST TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND PAY THE BILLS.
WE HAVE FAMILIES LOOKING FOR A FORMAL HOUSING, AND PROPERTY TAXES. KEEP GOING UP THE ECONOMY IS NOT WORKING FOR EVERYONE.
THERE ARE 44,000 PEOPLE IN OUR STATE THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE.
AS GOVERNOR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY START SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO BUILD A NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST A FEW.
ADAM: WHILE THE ECONOMY APPEARS TO BE STRONG, IT IS NOT PERFECT.
ACCORDING TO RECENT NUMBERS, ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE QUALIFIES TO GET FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.
HOW IS THERE THAT MUCH ECONOMIC DISPARITY IN THE STATE?
GOV. SUNUNU: WE ARE IN ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST ECONOMIC TIMES.
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
WAGES ARE HIGHER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.
WAGE GROWTH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS HIGHER THAN THE EAST COAST.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE CREATED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY NOT JUST FOR BUSINESSES, BUT THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO INDIVIDUALS, A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEM.
WE HAVE SEEN INVESTMENTS FROM EVERYTHING FROM NONPROFITS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
THE ECONOMY IS REALLY COOKING.
MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE TODAY MORE ARE WORKING MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE 20,000 AVAILABLE JOBS, HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
YOU DON’T JUST TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
WE HAVE A DYNAMIC THAT IS MORE CUSTOMER SERVICE FRIENDLY THAT’S PUTS INDIVIDUALS FIRST AND ALLOWS THEM TO THRIVE.
JOHN: LAST WEEK WE SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF A RESTAURANT CALLED 900 DEGREES PIZZA.
THE OWNER SAYS THEY CLOSED THEIR PORTSMOUTH RESTAURANT AFTER SIX MONTHS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND PEOPLE TO WORK THERE.
WE HEAR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO CAN’T FIND BUS DRIVERS FOR SUBSTITUTES.
A COMPANY IN CHESHIRE COUNTY IS STILL LOOKING FOR ENGINEERS, TECHNICAL OPERATORS, AND ARTISTIC WAREHOUSE MANAGERS.
-- LOGISTIC WAREHOUSE MANAGERS.
WHAT STEPS ARE YOU TAKING IN THE STATE?
GOV. SUNUNU: WE HAVE TAKEN MORE SIGNIFICANT STEPS THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR IN HISTORY.
AN INVESTMENT INTO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THAT WILL DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
THAT IS WHERE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHORTAGES ARE, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
AGAIN, IT IS A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT THAT PAYS OFF FOR TOMORROW.
WE HAVE INVESTED IN STUDENT REPAYMENT LOAN PROGRAMS, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND GIVING THEM INCENTIVE TO WORK HERE, WHETHER IT BE IN HIGH TECH OR PERSON.
-- OR NURSING.
I CREATED THE GOVERNORS SCHOLARSHIP.
WE NEED WORKFORCE READY SKILLS ON DAY ONE.
OR THEY CAN GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR THE FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.
WE HAVE TO LET STUDENTS DESIGN THEIR PATH FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.
$30 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AT AGE 18, THE CHOICES ARE THERE AND REMAIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
JOHN: WHAT STEPS DO YOU FEEL ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED AT THIS TIME?
MS. KELLY: THE WORKFORCE ISSUE IS AN ISSUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING THE STATE BECAUSE THEY DON’T SEE OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES CRYING OUT FOR A WORKFORCE.
EDUCATION IS WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON.
IT IS MY PRIORITY AS A SENATOR AND WILL BE AS GOVERNOR.
EDUCATION IS PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL.
AT ONE TIME IN MY LIFE I WAS A YOUNG SINGLE MOM WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN WORKING MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, THAT I WOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO OPEN UP DOORS FOR POSSIBILITIES.
I KNOW THE CHALLENGES WORKING FAMILIES FACE, AND KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WE DON’T GET TAX BREA