NEWS & NOTES Q&A
No Wrapping Necessary!
Next ag commish From the House to the farm
Shawn Jasper of Hudson recently concluded his two-term tenure as Speaker of the New Hampshire House and he is scheduled to be sworn in as the next commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food on Dec. 11. He replaces Lorraine Merrill, who was featured in the Sept. 21 issue of the Hippo.
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HIPPO | DECEMBER 7 - 13, 2017 | PAGE 8
Can you tell me a bit about servative, certainly yourself and your background? by New Hampshire I was born in New Hampshire, Republican stanlived on the same road all my dards. … I think life. My family was in the poultry just by bringing the business. We’ve been here at the homestead right people into the for about 101 years now. So farming is my team and listening background and both my grandfather and to those who actumy father were involved in local politics, ally had ideas and and so it was a natural fit for me. I served on putting those ideas the budget committee for four years and then Courtesy photo. to work. We saw a I was selectman. And while I was a selectlot of good legislaman, I ran for state rep. It seemed [like] sort tion, particularly in the area of election law of a natural progression for me. reform — we’ve seen a lot of movement there, and certainly that’s popular with most Did you hold down a day job during that? of the people in the state — we were working Certainly. I was in the poultry business hard on the opioid crisis within a budget that and then transitioned to become a landlord, is responsible and provides for the needs of which I still am. So I was doing all my own the state while at the same time cutting taxes roofing and painting and maintenance work, without increasing other taxes. If people want which pretty much is what I’ve … done all to take a look at how we came together and these years. got things done, it’s basically by being traditional New Hampshire Republicans. Let’s talk about your time as speaker. It’s an interesting story how you came to Was it a career goal of yours to become become speaker. Can you remind our read- the commissioner of agriculture? ers how that happened? You know, I had never really thought of I had backed Gene Chandler for speak- it. It’s something very important to me but er in 2014 and he came up short to Bill it wasn’t something that had particularly O’Brien, and we’d all lived through what crossed my mind and it came as a surprise to had happened in 2011 and 2012 and just me when the governor asked me to throw my decided that was probably not a path that name in the mix. I was very pleased about any of us wanted to go down again. So when it and very excited about it but it wasn’t a he was not elected on the first ballot, I threw career goal, if you will. my name in the ring and after a couple more rounds was elected. Now that you have this opportunity, what do you hope to accomplish for the state’s And because of that, and getting elect- agricultural economy? ed with the help of Democrats, you’ve been I think, to a large degree ... it’s about makkind of a divisive figure among some con- ing sure the emerging small farms, which servative lawmakers. How did you square there are many of them — we have about that with keeping a level head and doing 4,000 farms in New Hampshire and most the work of the people? of them are relatively small. … They need Well, certainly, my second term I was to have the markets to support what they’re elected with solely the votes of Republicans, doing and I think we can do a better job of and people keep referring to the people who connecting the producers with the consumers were opposed to me as conservatives, and who are looking for their particular product. I don’t really think that’s a fair description. … I’m hoping that we can develop a website They often refer to themselves as conser- that allows people just to go onto our webvatives, but quite frankly, I think it’s more site, put in the information as to where they people of the libertarian bent trying to coopt live and what product they’re looking for and that phrase. I am and always have been a con- just have the options within a reasonable distance from their location pop up for them so WHAT ARE YOU REALLY they’ll be able to make those connections. … INTERESTED IN RIGHT NOW? My knowledge of the legislative process is going to be invaluable to the department in I’ve always been a history buff, so histomoving forward with initiatives and budgetry and genealogy, for me, are sort of tied together and that’s been my hobby. ing. — Ryan Lessard