Bruce enters state rep race; lone Democrat so far

There's a Democrat in the state representative race. Susan Bruce was true to her word on Thursday, filing papers for the two-year seat. She's already a step farther along in her political career than back in June when her initial candidate filing was rejected.The often controversial columnist for The Conway Daily Sun tried to file for office after moving to Jackson, but learned she must be a registered voter first. She's taken care of that with the supervisors of the checklist and is now the lone Democrat on the ticket. Three Republicans, incumbents Gene Chandler and Crow Dickinson along with Mount Washington Valley Republican Committee Chairman Carolyn Brown, have already filed while incumbent Henry Mock and Conway's Frank McCarthy have said they intend to file by next Friday's deadline.There are four seats in the newly-formed District 4, which is comprised of Conway, Bartlett, Jackson, Chatham and Hale's and Harts locations). The primary is next month.Bruce, a single mother of a grown daughter, said it's her first step into the political arena, "The Carroll County Democrats actually encouraged me to run," she said. "I've talked to a few people who thought it might be a great thing to do. New Hampshire has been good to me and I want to give something back and this is the right time for me to do that... I think I have the sort of flexible schedule to do a good job. I have three jobs, but from January to June when the House is in session, that's really a slow time for me. "Bruce hopes to offer a fresh voice in Concord. "There are many family issues that do not seem to appear on their radar screen," she said. "Health care, the cost of prescription drugs, education, women's reproductive rights, the cost of housing and environmental issues-these are the issues that concern families. It's more than just saying I'll cut taxes... I'd characterize myself as a hardworking taxpayer whose not afraid to speak out and say what I think."