Gabrielle Watson
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
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?
"The idea of supporting alternative and home school expenses is worthy, but the program as currently designed has been far more expensive than anticipated, is going mostly to private religious education, and is draining public schools of resources, hurting the students who are still there."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?
"The legislature should not insert itself into personal medical decisions that are rightly between a woman, her health care provider, and her loved ones. Every decision about when to start a family, or how to deal with a rape or incest, or the threat to a mother's life, or the viability of a growing embryo is inherently difficult and deeply personal. It is not the role of government to interfere in this kind of decision."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"The legislature should not insert itself into personal medical decisions that are rightly between a woman, her health care provider, and her loved ones. Every decision about when to start a family, or how to deal with a rape or incest, or the threat to a mother's life, or the viability of a growing embryo is inherently difficult and deeply personal. It is not the role of government to interfere in this kind of decision."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire ban discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3?
"We entrust teachers to tailor lesson plans and discussions to be age appropriate. Children should be free to ask questions that arise for them and teachers should not be afraid to give them honest, age-appropriate answers."
Against| Read My Position
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"?
"The way this question is written is misleading and frankly offensive. Teaching about our country's history has to include talking about both the amazing achievements of our democracy and the aspects that may be painful but are part of who we are as a nation. This includes race and gender discrimination, slavery, and the oppression of native peoples. In no way does learning about that mean any of us are inherently good, bad, or anything else. Teachers and students should be able to explore our country's history in the depth and breadth that is appropriate for the age group."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add an income tax on earned income?
"Every Granite Stater should have access to the same level of public services like a high-quality education and excellent healthcare, no matter their zip code or income. A family in a small rural community can access the same quality services as a family in a wealthy community. As it stands now, the burden for funding services is pushed to local property taxes, which are some of the highest in the nation. There are many ways to achieve greater fairness in how we fund education, healthcare and other public services. I will be open to exploring multiple ways of doing that."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?
"Every Granite Stater should have access to the same level of public services like a high-quality education and excellent healthcare, no matter their zip code or income. A family in a small rural community can access the same quality services as a family in a wealthy community. As it stands now, the burden for funding services is pushed to local property taxes, which are some of the highest in the nation. There are many ways to achieve greater fairness in how we fund education, healthcare and other public services. I will be open to exploring multiple ways of doing that."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire add a tax credit for businesses that contribute to student loan repayment for employees?
"I would need to know more about the benefits and revenue impacts of this scheme, over paying higher wages, for example."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?
"Businesses are the engine of economic vitality in our communities. We should support them through quality municipal and state services that enable them to thrive, such as well-maintained roads & bridges, access to broadband, attractive urban centers with adequate street lighting, and quality public safety, water and sanitation services. Businesses should pay their fair share of the costs of the services that help them operate successfully."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Yes, there are many things we can do to put us on a path to a clean energy future that will save us money, bring energy jobs home to New Hampshire, and be good for the environment. Renewables are now cheaper than coal, oil or gas in most cases. Electric vehicles are already cheaper to own than gas cars. Heating and cooling our homes with mini-split heat pumps is cheaper and cleaner than the old oil furnaces most of us use. But utilities and big oil and gas companies don't want us to go that way. So our elected officials have slow-walked the transition. It's time to break free of dirty fuels and get the energy savings the rest of the country is starting to enjoy."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
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?
"Same day voter registration helps lawful voters cast their votes, which is good for democracy. But we do need to ensure that the votes are lawful, or the process won't be trusted. Yes, we should make lawful voting easier, not harder. But we should ask same-day voters to come back and bring the same documentation everyone else provides, in order to show they are a lawful voter."
For| Read My Position
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?
"Every user of public roads and other public infrastructure should contribute their fair share to their upkeep. As an electric vehicle driver, I would be open to exploring options that level the playing field for everyone. As more and more people own electric cars, New Hampshire will need to build out its EV charging network, and we should find ways to do this that benefits businesses, tourist attractions, and large and small communities alike."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"I would need to see specific provisions of any bill, but there is a lot that municipalities could do to support the development of more housing in areas with good municipal services. Policies supporting accessory dwelling units and apartment buildings with more units could help address our housing shortage. We need more housing units at all price levels to help Granite Staters afford to stay here."
For| Read My Position
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?
"Yes. New Hampshire is woefully behind peer states in the Northeast in addressing the threats of climate change and the opportunities for energy independence and the clean energy transition. Because of this, we are vulnerable to wild price volatility of oil and gas and the price hikes we're seeing now - like the 70% and 100% electricity rate increases across the state and the $5.00 per gallon we're seeing at the gas pump. We can have energy independence from the Saudi Arabia's and the Exxon Mobile's of the world, who are seeing 273% increase in profit, thanks to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The sooner we get our electricity, our cars, and our homes off of oil and gas, the better off we will be."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?
"The legislature should not insert itself into personal medical decisions that are rightly between a woman, her health care provider, and her loved ones. Every decision about when to start a family, or how to deal with a rape or incest, or the threat to a mother's life, or the viability of a growing embryo is inherently difficult and deeply personal. It is not the role of government to interfere in this kind of decision."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the option of mail-in ballots for all voters, not just absentees?
"Yes, mail-in ballots have proven themselves in blue states and red states alike to be a reliable, safe, and equal opportunity way for everyone to vote. In 2020, we saw the benefits of expanded absentee voting opportunities in New Hampshire due to the emergency COVID measures. We saw record voter participation and safe and fair elections we should rightfully be proud of. We should make casting every lawful vote easier, not harder."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?
"Individuals should be able to grow a reasonable amount of marijuana for their personal use. It's akin to brewing beer. If someone is selling cannabis, they are running a business and there is a public interest in the safety of the product, so some form of licensing or regulation would be common sense. I don't see why state liquor stores couldn't be another outlet for qualified vendors, but I don't think a state monopoly on cannabis sales would be a good thing."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?
"Individuals should be able to grow a reasonable amount of marijuana for their personal use. It's akin to brewing beer. If someone is selling cannabis, they are running a business and there is a public interest in the safety of the product, so some form of licensing or regulation would be common sense. I don't see why state liquor stores couldn't be another outlet for qualified vendors, but I don't think a state monopoly on cannabis sales would be a good thing."
Undecided| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Individuals should be able to grow a reasonable amount of marijuana for their personal use. It's akin to brewing beer. If someone is selling cannabis, they are running a business and there is a public interest in the safety of the product, so some form of licensing or regulation would be common sense. I don't see why state liquor stores couldn't be another outlet for qualified vendors, but I don't think a state monopoly on cannabis sales would be a good thing."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?
"Workers should make a livable wage that covers food and housing and basic needs."
Undecided| Read My Position
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?
"I would support any effort to increase tax equity in New Hampshire so families across the state have the same opportunity for an excellent education and quality public services. I would need to look at any specific proposal for increasing revenues sent to cities and towns."
Other| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the gradual phase-out of the Interests and Dividends tax?
"I would need to see the specific provisions in a bill and understand the impact on essential public services. Taxes on interest and dividend taxes are one way to make taxes more fair, since it is the wealthiest 1% who make over $750,000 who pay a significant amount of these kinds of taxes."
Against| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Do you support the state’s current system of public school funding, with each district’s total funding primarily dependent on local property tax revenue?
"As it stands, families' opportunities to get a great education for their kids depends on if they live in a wealthy community or not. New Hampshire's best chance for growing our economy is to grow educational opportunities all around the state. The burden shouldn't be pushed down to local communities, which now have some of the highest property taxes in the country."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?
"The legislature should not insert itself into personal medical decisions that are rightly between a woman, her health care provider, and her loved ones. Every decision about when to start a family, or how to deal with a rape or incest, or the threat to a mother's life, or the viability of a growing embryo is inherently difficult and deeply personal. It is not the role of government to interfere in this kind of decision."
For| Read My Position
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2022
Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?
"New Hampshire has a long tradition of responsible gun ownership. We should support gun safety training and common-sense regulations that keep gun owners and families in the community safe. The vast majority of gun deaths in NH are from suicide and domestic violence. Red Flag laws can help temporarily keep guns away from someone who is a danger to themselves or others. Waiting periods or minimum age requirements for gun purchases can provide a cooling down time for someone at risk of doing harm with a firearm. Weapons of war have no place in our communities. Nobody needs an AR15 to hunt a deer. I would support reinstating a ban on assault rifles."
