Student Running for the NH State House of Representatives

At eighteen years old with lots of determination, one Anselmian student has decided to
take on a task with responsibility, dedication, and hopeful change in the State of New
Hampshire.
Meet James Thibault, a New Hampshire native, first-year student at Saint Anselm
College (SAC) who is running for the State House of Representatives at eighteen years
of age alongside his passion for politics and the beliefs of making changes through
school choice, education, and school rights. Currently he serves as the Chairman of
the New Hampshire Legislative Youth Advisory Council while also being involved in
politics for about a few years.

The NH Legislative Youth Advisory Council is a committee of the state’s legislature that advises the members on policy from a youth perspective. He is a huge fan of Senator Mike Lee (Utah) who has been a great role model for him all along since the senator is known for being a Constitutionalist (one
who strongly believes/advocates for the Constitution’s laws to always stay in place).

Thibault attended a program at Saint Anselm (NHIOP) in June known as Boys State, run
by the American Legion, which is a weeklong simulated form of the New Hampshire government. During the program, those who attended the program drafted legislation, debated, had elections, and it led up to a national program called Boys Nation, in which Thibault was selected to fly down to Washington D.C. to meet many politicians. He also participated in the United States Senate Youth Program as well which truly helped him build his experience for now trying to run for the state House of Representatives.

Some of the things that Thibault is advocating for are Pro-School Choice, Pro-Education Freedom, and lowering property taxes on people. During an interview here is what he had to say about Pro-Education and Pro-School Choice: “I’ve seen how the lack of school choice really is a detriment to a lot of students. Every student learns differently and needs a different learning environment to get what they need. I have two special needs sisters , they’re special needs in two very different ways, one is more social and the one is far more academic and they need different resources. Education is not a one-size
fits all industry.” He believes that all people deserve the right to go to whatever school of their choosing and one that fits every person’s needs/accommodations.

Many of Thibault’s constituents have complained about the rising property tax level rates since
it is not as affordable to pay for anymore like it used to be. Some people are being forced out of their homes that they have settled in for many years due to not paying property taxes that have unaffordable rates even though they have paid off their houses many years ago. It is a scenario of the government taking away a person’s house even though they have paid it all in their life yet due to the unaffordable tax payments, their home gets taken away.

While being a college student, specifically an Anselmian, he plans to make sure that if
he were to be elected, he would try to not schedule any classes on Thursdays to balance out his duties as a State Rep. and a first-year student as well. The session (for the House of Reps.) runs from Jan-Jun which takes up a lot of the spring semester. Thibault is very available and open to all constituents through email and his phone number and will usually reply as soon as he possibly can as well for if anyone has any questions or concerns. A good campaign strategy that he is using is by going over to
people’s houses to talk to voters to help them get to know him better and what he supports as a candidate. He has also been leaving people with a pamphlet as well to help with reaching out to people in case he has missed some people’s houses.

The policies that Thibault wants to put into power are a Universal Freedom of Education Bill, Parental Bill of Rights, Lowering Property, and bringing a Strong Form of Civic Education. He believes that every student within this state deserves to go to their desired school of their choice. While also letting parents know what happens with their children within schools such as treatment, environment, and what goes on in the classrooms as well. Within the Parental Bill of Rights, it should be that teachers and
parents work together rather than to have an adversarial relationship with their children. In terms of Civic Education, he believes that many high school students should visit the State House to learn more about the state’s government and its history. In terms of the future, Thibault is unsure about if he is willing to run for a much higher position than what he is currently running for. He says that he will think about it when he is older enough to run for such positions such as a State Senator, US Senator, and beyond. His plan is to take it all one step at a time, and he believes that if he deserves to
be in a higher position, it is because people would believe that he is very worthy of it
due to his strong efforts of community service within the state of New Hampshire.