Justin Heather '96 officially announced yesterday that he will run for a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives in next fall's state elections.
By drumming up support among Dartmouth students and encouraging them to vote, Heather, a Republican, said he believes he can win one of the four seats up for grabs on November 8.
"I feel that enough students are interested in politics that I will have a good chance at winning," Heather said. "I hope that students will register at City Hall and vote."
Heather said he favored the conservative bent of New Hampshire state politics.
"New Hampshire is probably one of the most conservative states. It survives very well. It prospers," Heather said. "It's a very good example of how we can provide services without taxing people out of their homes and without taxing people out of their jobs."
Heather's platform calls for continued freedom from state income tax, non-interference in school curriculum and lessening property taxes by reducing excessive educational bureaucracy.
For example, Heather said he favored getting rid of New Hampshire School Administrative Units, which a General Court report last year said cost the state $27.1 million without improving education.
Originally from Independence, Miss., Heather is now a registered resident of Hanover and said he does not believe his birthplace will factor into voters' decisions.
"It may hurt, but it won't matter for those voters who agree with my platform on the issues," he said. "My place of birth is personally irrelevant to any of the issues confronting this state."
Heather, a writer for The Dartmouth Review, said his campaign will focus on convincing Dartmouth students to register to vote so they can elect him.
He said his involvement with The Review will not necessarily hinder his campaign.
