Thank you, thank you all so much.
Together, we've made history - AGAIN!
I want to thank the people of New Hampshire for once again placing your trust me. I will not let you down.
I will work as hard as I can every day to keep moving New Hampshire forward: maintaining a balanced budget; helping every child graduate from high school; improving health care for all our people; and most importantly, continuing to put people back to work.
I believe New Hampshire is the greatest state in the greatest country in the world. And over the next two years, we will make it even better.
Let me start by thanking my wife Susan, who has been with me every step of the way, and our children Jacqueline, Julia and Hayden. For the past six years, Susan has served as a willing sounding board, dedicated her time to serving the people of New Hampshire, and has given me unwavering love and support.
I spoke to John Stephen a short while ago, and let us all congratulate him on his campaign.
Here tonight, we have Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Police officers and teachers. Firefighters, mayors and school board members. Business owners and workers. People from every walk of life and from every part of our great state of New Hampshire.
We came together for this campaign, just as we first came together six years ago, because we believe the future of our state is more important than political labels. Because we believe good government is not a partisan issue, but a shared responsibility. Because we share a common commitment to putting the needs of the people of New Hampshire first.
And that is how we will keep moving New Hampshire forward.
The composition of the legislature appears to have changed. I regret the losses of individuals who have worked so hard for the people of New Hampshire. But I am committed to working with the members of the next legislature, regardless of party, to get results for the people of New Hampshire.
Our state faces challenges over the next two years. But with good New Hampshire common-sense, hard work and cooperation, we will conquer those challenges. And we will find new opportunities to help the people of New Hampshire compete and succeed.
Our state faces challenges over the next two years. But with good New Hampshire common-sense, hard work and cooperation, we will conquer those challenges. And we will find new opportunities to help the people of New Hampshire compete and succeed.
We will keep putting people back to work. Our plan is using tax credits to help companies grow and create jobs here in New Hampshire. It is training thousands of workers across New Hampshire for the new jobs of today. It is making easier for companies to bring people back to work. And it is nurturing the growth of new green businesses.
We will keep helping our businesses grow so they can create jobs. And we will not stop until every person in New Hampshire who wants a job can get a job.
We will keep the budget balanced by continuing to make state government more efficient, so we can focus our resources on our priorities, including education, public safety and health care for our seniors and children.
And we will balance the budget without an income or a sales tax.
Education is the key to our children - and our state's economic future. We will maintain our state's commitment to education. We will continue to partner with our teachers and our schools to make sure every child in New Hampshire has the opportunity for a great education. And we are going to make sure every child in New Hampshire finishes high school.
Every person in New Hampshire deserves access to quality, affordable health care. We will continue to reinvent our health care system to control costs by focusing on results for patients.
New Hampshire's beautiful natural environment is one of the many reasons we all choose to live here. We will continue to protect our open spaces, our lakes, our rivers and air so that we can leave our children a New Hampshire that is even better than we found it.
And a key part of that plan is building a new energy future for our state. We are already putting people to work helping families and businesses cut their energy use and building new renewable energy plants. And we will meet our goal of getting 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2025.
You know outside groups spent more than $4 million against us in this campaign. They said they wanted to use New Hampshire to send a message to the rest of the nation.
Well tonight, the people of New Hampshire did send a message, a strong message, about who we are and what we value.
New Hampshire values are standing up for all our citizens.
New Hampshire values are about putting people back to work. Smart budgets that protect people. Making sure our seniors and children have access to health care. An ethical state government that puts people first. Standing up for workers. Preserving our natural resources and environment. A strong education for all our children.
Those are New Hampshire values. That is what this campaign was about. And that is what we will keep fighting to protect and improve for the next two years.
And that is only possible with the support of so many people.
Bill Steele and Debby Butler, my campaign co-chairs; Kate Hanna, our treasurer, and Alan Reische, our finance chair, and all the members of the finance committee.
The members of New Hampshire law enforcement and firefighting community who have worked with me and stood with me; New Hampshire's teachers; organized labor; and the thousands of people across New Hampshire who have contribution to this campaign; volunteered for this campaign; and helped me over the years.
Finally, the staff of my campaign, who worked countless hours on this effort. And the staff of the Governor's office, who have worked hard with me to steer this state through difficult times.
Together, we've made New Hampshire the safest state in the nation. The best state to raise a child. The most livable state. One of the best run states.
Together, we're going to keep it that way. Together, we're going to keep New Hampshire moving forward.
Thank you so much.
