Tom Ploszaj

Tom Ploszaj was born in Terryville, Connecticut. Ploszaj earned an associate degree from WSTC-UConn in 1990. His career experience includes working as an emergency medical technician, in analytic research science, in agriculture and animal husbandry, and with General Motors and Crompton Corp. Ploszaj has served with the Civil Air Patrol, Lions Club, Plymouth Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Winsted Volunteer Ambulance, Town of Grafton Volunteer Ambulance, and Town of Grafton Volunteer Fire Department.[1][2][3]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Retired, Widowed. 4 children 3 grandchildren Chem Eng Deg.from WSTC/UConn 1990.

Analytic research scientist - Uniroyal Chemical/Crompton Corp.

UAW & union member - Gen. Motors United Steelworkers union member - OZ Gedney

Community volunteer 40+ yr volunteer EMT PVAC/Winsted /Grafton Vol Amb./Fire Dept. Civil Air Patrol, Lions Club.

Town communication committee, Cemetery Trustee, and Planning Board (alt).

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Promise #1 kept!: Listened to and represented the residents. Not an agenda of either a political party's nor my ownPromise #2 kept!: Communicated with and provided residents and town officials with updates to my voting thoughts and plans for their input prior to casting their District's votesPromise #3 kept!: Refrained from political rhetoric, treated and interacted with each resident as an individual with their own unique beliefs, not as a political subset

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Another promise kept, as pledged in 2020 , I do not use the District's seat for any personal agenda nor policy. I believe in individual rights and responsibility. I am passionate about being a fiduciary for our District, up holding the NH Constitution, and preventing new taxes and wasteful spending.

There are multiple NH RSAs not in accordance with the NH Constitution that the citizens, by not knowing and comprehending our Constitution, allow to remain law.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Our extended family.

My parents and uncles.

They were hard working, honest, family oriented fun people. By being at their sides and watching I learned the basics of ethics and responsibility along with being allow to have fun as a boy.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to be honest and concise in their plans and actions.

The fortitude to respond their constituents, discuss their concerns and issues and in forthright in adhering to the constitution of how decisions are made on their behalf.

The elected official's understanding that they are a public servant.

A public servant is to listen to and be responsible to each individual and not isolate the individual within a subjective subgroup, an arbitrary "one fits all" demographic, or a political ideology.

The ability to be honest and concise in their plans and actions.

The fortitude to respond their constituents, discuss their concerns and issues and in forthright in adhering to the constitution of how decisions are made on their behalf.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I kept the 2020 promises I ran on and the history of two years as a freshman house legislator and as a public servant.

I had put the district first and did not become involved in the political rhetoric.

I had maintained district interactions by keeping residents and town officials informed of legislation and my thoughts and plans as legislation progressed .

I shared and posted decision making concerning legislation prior to voting including requesting residents' for their last minute comments, instructions, and if my decisions where within the constraints of the constitution and a fiduciary.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To listen to each individual and respect their view of how they wish to be represented.

Elected official's must understanding that they are a public servant and responsive to their constituents.

A public servant is to listen to and be responsible to each individual and not isolate the individual within a subjective subgroup, an arbitrary "one fits all" demographic, or a political ideology.

An elected official needs to understand that it is their district's seat they represent. It is not the elected official's seat, not their political party's seat nor should it be used to pit one ideology against another but for what is best for future generations while adhering to the constitution.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The opportunity for every residents to be able to contact, meet, speak, and work with their representative on concerns and legislation without the historical ideological barriers.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Word about President Kennedy's assassination.

9 years old while at school in class.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My my first jobs were working with family members helping with uncles' and parents' businesses and farm work with little financial reimbursement.

First employment. Dug and laid drainage pipes to carry downspout rainwater away from neighbor's house.

One week during the summer of 1965. I was 11 years old and made my first real wage, a $20 bill , double what I had hoped for. The memory and details of that job, done well, is still with me today as I just refolded and placed that same $20 bill back into my wallet.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Any of Michener's novels.

I enjoy his in depth historical and geographic research of the settings and the incorporation of the characters as he ties generations together.

Though I only have four generations linking my family from when my ancestors came to America, I still relate who I am today as part of the lineage of my grandparents.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The ABBA song heard at Jean's Playhouse's August 2022 , rendition of Mamma Mia ; Take a Chance on Me

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Due to a childhood set back with speech/pronunciation limitation, I still struggle with finding the words and pronouncing them correctly to verbally communicate my thoughts.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

In that all of life's experiences is beneficial, a legislator who has a balance of knowledge and experiences can better interact with their constituents.

Previous political experience does help with the parliamentary actions of the legislature but understanding the constitutional responsibilities and of a legislator is paramount to be removed from the control of one's political party.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Due to my life-long community volunteerism, personal, and industry experiences it was requested that I consider changing my previous committee request and become part of the House Science Technology & Energy Committee.

I am capable of being a productive member of many committees and agreed to change my choice to accommodate the belief that I would be the most helpful as part of the ST&E Committee.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Yes.

There are many people well versed in NH legislation and procedures whose guidance I sought.

As a freshman legislator I had requested of learned individuals to better assist the citizens and had the honor of discussions receiving legislative council, knowledge, reasoning, from many such persons as the former NH Representatives Paul Mirski and Dan Itse.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I have no interest in any other NH or federal elective office.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The NH Legislature should uphold the NH Constitution by the overseeing the use of emergency powers

Constitutionally the:

NH Legislature makes and suspends laws in an emergency NH Art. 29 [Suspension of Laws by Legislature Only.], NH Governor may Art. 43 [...May Convene Them Elsewhere.] and Art. 50 [... Call Extra Sessions.]

The NH Constitution gives emergency powers to the legislature to suspend laws,

The NH Legislature, after 9-11, by statute RSA 4: 45 & 4:47 extended their emergency power responsibility to the NH Governor.

The legislature can repeal the emergency statutes, and be in accordance with the NH Constitution, and may extend any powers it may deemed necessary for the NH Executive and the State to function in a emergency on time of need basis.

The 2020 and 2021 NH Legislatures had the constitutional authority to repeal or amend any statute that was in violation by the executive of the legislative mandate.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes.

A NH Representative should listen to their district as a whole and understand that on local and county issues the citizens are concerned first about their family and livelihood which may not be represent by the boiler plate ideology of political parties.

If a representative understands that the district's seat belongs to the citizen and not just those affiliated with a political party then making compromises, within the bounds of the NH Constitution, will be best for the overall of the citizens and by extension, the state.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Married, four children, three grandchildren. I have been a custodial single parent, a certified Emergency Medical Technician volunteer of 44yrs in EMS, and Chemical Engineering degree from WSTC-UCONN, Waterbury. I have worked as a farm laborer, a UAW #626 union member at NDH-General Motors, a small business retail manager-owner and analytic research scientist with Uniroyal Chemical - Crompton Corp.

As an avid backpacker, hiker, outdoor person and one who repurposes used items. I have been raised along side relatives helping with the family farm and having self-employed parents. I am used to hard work, frugality, respect for animals, nature, and the appreciation of natural resources and their protection.

Politically I identify as a fiscal constitutionalist. Understanding that the powers allow to the government are finite and are not to be construed as to infringe on one's individual rights in limiting ot constricting NH Art. 2, 2-a, 5, 28-a, 32, the 1st, and 2nd Amendments with statutes, limits or permits. I am conservative in my lifestyle of self-responsibility, with a belief of a Creator, respect for the family and one's honor.Married, four children, three grandchildren. I have been a custodial single parent, a certified Emergency Medical Technician volunteer of 44yrs in EMS, and Chemical Engineering degree from WSTC-UCONN, Waterbury. I have worked as a farm laborer, a UAW #626 union member at NDH-General Motors, a small business retail manager-owner and analytic research scientist with Uniroyal Chemical - Crompton Corp.

As an avid backpacker, hiker, outdoor person and one who repurposes used items. I have been raised along side relatives helping with the family farm and having self-employed parents. I am used to hard work, frugality, respect for animals, nature, and the appreciation of natural resources and their protection.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The primary responsibilities of a NH Representative is to represent all of our residents and the district while doing business in the NH General Court, regardless of ideologies and to refrain from propagating the Political Party's rhetoric.I will work for a fiscally sound and balance budget to address the COVID-19 deficit without new taxes while maintaining the needed social services New Hampshire bills and statutes must be in compliance with that of the NH Constitution. without limiting individual rights

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have no personal nor political agendas and will be directed by the concerns and needs of our district while improving our Lakes Region and New Hampshire for our families and their future generations.

I am most concerned with preventing infringements on NH residents' individual rights and acting as a fiduciary in understanding the impact on workers' future taxes and not to allocate revenue for ideological or partisan attempts of any political party

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Not only do I look up to my parents and relatives, I honor them for raising me.

This question is not; of whose examples I Would Like to Follow. It is my parents examples I had strived to follow from a young man to today!

Why? One reason is we and our cousins had learned the value of hard work, frugality, honor, respect, and responsibility which were reinforced by the daily interactions between us and our family. From helping my self-employed stone mason father and at the family farm with my first paying job digging and putting in a drainage line at 8yrs old leading to my first employment as a yard and lawn keeper at 10yrs old to 18yrs, along with being a Pequabuck Golf Course groundskeeper prepared me to respect my wages, to save and at 20yrs old I was married buying a 5 acrea farm and new car. This one reason has been dulpicated over 14 times within our family and with the conintuation of the family's 1910 ca. working farm of our illiterate immigrant grandfather.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to listen to another view along with honestly and the courage of conviction.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To be in attendance in the General Court, accessible to the resident and able to communicate to the resident the General Court's actions and the reasoning behind actions taken.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The novels by James Michener.

I liked the way he made historical, geological, political events personal and relitive tough out many generations of characters.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Public speaking, the control of my stammer and the ability to pronounce the word I wish to use.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The NH House is easily attainable by any citizen at little to no cost or prerequisite that provides the opportunity for any citizen to be part of the world's third largest legislature with a diverse segment of the state's residents.

The NH Senate has a higher expectation of age and residency which encourages a higher foundation of experience of the needs and functions of the state to counter the NH House.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, that would encourage a defined class of persons who would gain an office, in turn, would prevent others from acquiring the prerequisite of experience.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The addressing of the cost of the state pension system in the addition of having a sound projection of spending and future budgets for the betterment of NH residents instead of the present political parties power grabs.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

As defined in NH Constitution 2nd Part Art. 41, to enforce the laws and statutes of the General Court. and to counter overspending and out of state legislation presented in a NH bill.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, especially with members of the other parties to work together for the benefit of the residents and NH future. The present political rhetoric and stalemate encourage not working together for the betterment of the State but for a political party's power.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

In accordance with NH Constitution 2nd Part Art. 9 which directs the NH House to preform the redistricting of the voter and towns not to delegate it to appointed bureaucrats.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I believe my experience would suggest being a member of either the Children and Family Law, Environment and Agriculture, or Health, Human Resources and Elderly Affairs

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

No. I have no desire for leadership. My role would be to represent our district

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Rep. Cordelli and Rep. Itse on Constitutional matters.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. I have no future ambitions for other offices/positions.