For Immediate Release:                                             

Monday, May 12, 2008

McLeod to Run for State Senate:

Pledges Strong Voice for North Country

FRANCONIA – Martha Stroup McLeod, a North Country native from Franconia, announced today that she is running for the District 1 Senate seat, promising to be a strong and energetic voice for the North Country on issues like jobs, affordable health, jobs, and support for small businesses and the environment.

District 1 stretches from Lisbon to Jackson and from Pittsburg to Waterville Valley. 

“The past few years have been challenging ones in the North Country,” said McLeod. “As our communities steer through this transition in the North Country’s economy, I believe we need an energetic and effective voice representing us.  I am running for the State Senate to give a strong voice to the North Country – particularly on issues that are so important to us here, like affordable health care, jobs, and support for small businesses and the environment. ”

 McLeod is a resident of Franconia and is the executive director of the North Country Health Consortium, a rural health network located in Whitefield.  As executive director of the organization, McLeod has focused on finding and developing healthcare resources for the region, including the Molar Express mobile dental clinic.   Since 2004, McLeod has served as a State Representative for Franconia and Bethlehem. She worked across party lines to successfully repeal the law that doubled and tripled health insurance premiums for small businesses in the North Country and she sponsored successful legislation that expanded health coverage to young adults and children. “The people of the North Country expect their leaders to set aside their differences and work together for the best interests of the people.  As your State Senator, I will work hard every day with Democrats and Republicans to get things done to improve the lives of people in the North Country. I want the North Country to be a place of opportunity, where all of our citizens have the chance to succeed and have a better future.” 

McLeod has also worked on expanding broadband access to the area as a member of the Technology Advisory Board at the state’s Department of Resources and Economic Development, and worked with Governor John Lynch to provide a Coos County tax credit to create good paying jobs in the North Country.  This year she sponsored legislation to give the people of Bethlehem a voice in the landfill permitting process; co-sponsored consumer protection legislation to cap interest rates on payday loans; and worked successfully to protect our public recreation resources from privatization.

McLeod is a graduate of Littleton High School and the University of New Hampshire where she received a B.S. in Nutrition and a Masters Degree in Adult Education.