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Karen Umberger

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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • MA, International Relations, University of Arkansas, 1974
  • BA, Political Science and Government, State University of New York, New Paltz, 1966

Professional Experience

  • MA, International Relations, University of Arkansas, 1974
  • BA, Political Science and Government, State University of New York, New Paltz, 1966
  • Clerk, North Conway Water Precinct, 2008-present
  • Colonel, United States Air Force, 1970-1998

Political Experience

  • MA, International Relations, University of Arkansas, 1974
  • BA, Political Science and Government, State University of New York, New Paltz, 1966
  • Clerk, North Conway Water Precinct, 2008-present
  • Colonel, United States Air Force, 1970-1998
  • Candidate, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2020
  • Representative, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2008-2018
  • Candidate, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2018
  • Selectman, Town of Conway, 2001-2007

Former Committees/Caucuses

Budget Committee, Town of Conway, 2000-2001, 2007-present

Former Member, Finance Committee, New Hampshire State House of Representatives

Former Chair, Finance - Division II Committee, New Hampshire State House of Representatives

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • MA, International Relations, University of Arkansas, 1974
  • BA, Political Science and Government, State University of New York, New Paltz, 1966
  • Clerk, North Conway Water Precinct, 2008-present
  • Colonel, United States Air Force, 1970-1998
  • Candidate, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2020
  • Representative, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2008-2018
  • Candidate, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Carroll 2, 2018
  • Selectman, Town of Conway, 2001-2007
  • Secretary, Vaughan Community Service Incorporated, 2008-present
  • Treasurer, Rotary Club of North Conway, 2000-present
Policy Positions

New Hampshire State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- Yes

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing New Hampshire's budget.

1. Tapping into New Hampshire's "rainy day" fund
- No Answer

2. Decreasing funding for public universities
- No Answer

3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No Answer

4. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No Answer

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- The revenues available should be the basis for the budget. Living within the means of the state is appropriate. I do not concur with any of the suggest areas to balance the budget in NH.

State Spending:

Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Maintain Status

2. Education (K-12)
- Maintain Status

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Maintain Status

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Decrease

3. Small business taxes
- Slightly Decrease

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Income taxes (low-income families)
- No Answer

7. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- No Answer

8. Income taxes (high-income families)
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- NH does not have an income tax on earned income

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- No

7. Do you support additional funding for programs intended to reduce drug addiction in New Hampshire?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

5. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

6. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

7. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

8. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No

9. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- No

10. Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
- Yes

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- Yes

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- No Answer

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from New Hampshire high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- I do not agree with the state directly providing money to students. I do support money going to the University System to help needy students

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to New Hampshire's energy infrastructure?
- No

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- I believe the private sector should be responsible for development of energy resources. As for green house gas emissions this is a federal issue and the state should not impose additional regulations

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- I am not familiar with interstate health insurance compacts. I believe that there needs to be significant changes to the ACA but this is not a function of state government

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in New Hampshire's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Hampshire's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My first priority is to insure there are sufficient dollars to fight the opiate crisis in New Hampshire. I believe the funding that is available will solve the problem. The second area is school building aid. We have not funded this area for several years and we need to do something this year. I believe revenues will continue to hold steady for the next two years so there should be sufficient dollars available to fund school construction within the revenue available to be spent.