CONWAY — A total of 21 candidates for state and local office took part in last Thursday’s Five-Minute Forum at the Gibson Center for Senior Services in North Conway, and several opened up their private lives with surprisingly touching stories of what led them to seek public office. For Luz Bay, it was beating cancer three times. For Joe Kenney, it was using his Marine background to help veterans.
Below is a sampling of the candidates’ stories.
kAm#6AF3=:42? q@3 }6=D@?[ D66<:?8 2 DE2E6 9@FD6 D62E :? r@?H2J’D s:DEC:4E `[ 25>:EE65 96 H2D C64CF:E65 E@ CF?[ D2J:?8[ “x H2D 4@?G:?465 E92E x 4@F=5 >2<6 >@C6 @7 2 5:776C6?46 2E E96 DE2E6 =6G6=[ 2?5 x 5@ 36=:6G6 E92E E92E :D A@DD:3=6]” ~7 9:D 324<8C@F?5[ 96 D2:5i “|J A2C6?ED >@G65 96C6 E@ E96 G2==6J H96? x H2D b J62CD @=5] %96J DE2CE65 E96 #65 !2C<2 !F3 2?5 =2E6C >@G65 E@ E96 qC:2C4=:77 |@E6=]k^Am
kAm“|J >@E96C[ {@:D w2E49[ H2D E96 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 q@2C5 @7 #62=E@CD[ >J 72E96C[ p= }6=D@?[ 3642>6 2 92?5J>2?[ H6== <?@H? E9C@F89@FE E96 E@H?] vC@H:?8 FA 96C6[ :E’D 5:77:4F=E E@ D66 E96 >2DD:G6 2>@F?E @7 492?86 E92E 92D E2<6? A=246[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(96? x H2D 2 J@F?8 3@J[ x FD65 E@ 5C:G6 >J D?@H >249:?6 FA 2?5 5@H? #@FE6 `e H96? :E D?@H65] %92E’D 9@H E92E’D 9@H =@?8 x’G6 366? 96C6] x 92G6 2 AC@A6CEJ D6CG:46 4@>A2?J[ D@ x’> C:89E :? E96 >:5DE @7 2 =@E @7 E96 AC@3=6>D E92E x D66 4@>:?8 FA :? E9:D 2C62] x’5 =:<6 E@ D66 4FE E@ >2<6 3F:=5:?8 2EE2:?23=6 9@>6D 62D:6C[ >@C6 277@C523=6[” }6=D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2E s2G:5 !2:86[ CF??:?8 7@C 2 E9:C5 E6C> :? E96 }]w] w@FD6’D s:DEC:4E `[ H9:49 4@G6CD @?=J r@?H2J[ 2=D@ E2=<65 @7 8C@H:?8 FA :? E@H?]k^Am
kAm“x =:G6 :? H92E H2D >J 8C2?5A2C6?ED’ 9@FD6 H96? x H2D 8C@H:?8 FA[ uC2?< 2?5 r2C@= z6??6EE[ 2?5 :? E96 @=5 9@>6DE625 @G6C @? E96 H6DE D:56] |J <:5D 2C6 E96 `_E9 86?6C2E:@? @7 >J 72>:=J :? E92E 9@FD6]” qFE[ 96 D2:5[ :? r@?H2J[ “(6’C6 2 >:I @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 566A C@@ED 2?5 A6@A=6 H9@ ;FDE 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 E9:D A=246]”k^Am
kAm!2:86 D2:5 96 7:CDE C2? “3642FD6 x 76=E =:<6 2 =@E @7 7@=<D :? E9:D G2==6J 5:5?’E 92G6 2 G@:46 2?5 H6C6?’E 36:?8 962C5[ 2?5 :? A2CE:4F=2C[ x 76=E =:<6 7@=<D >J 286[ J@F?8 7@=<D H9@ H6C6 DE2CE:?8 72>:=:6D] w@FD:?8 2?5 49:=5 42C6 92G6 C62==J 366? E96 EH@ :DDF6D E92E 92G6 >@E:G2E65 >J H@C< 5FC:?8 >J 7@FC J62CD :? r@?4@C5]”k^Am
kAmqFE !2:86 D2:5 2E E:>6D :E 92D 366? 2 DECF88=6] “x’G6 8@E 2 7@FC\9@FC 4@>>FE6 E96C6 2?5 324<[ C:89En p?5 x’G6 366? D6CG:?8 :? E96 >:?@C:EJ 2D 2 s6>@4C2E 7@C 2== 7@FC J62CD[ 2?5 x’> ?@E 8@:?8 5@H? E96C6 E@ 32?8 >J 9625 282:?DE E96 H2== @C 8C2?5DE2?5 @C ;FDE ECJ E@ >2<6 2 A@:?E] x7 x’> 8@:?8 E@ D24C:7:46 E9:D E:>6 2H2J 7C@> >J =:EE=6 <:5D[ :E’D 3642FD6 x 24EF2==J H2?E E@ >2<6 2 492?86] v:G:?8 E6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD @7 E2I 3C62<D E@ E96 H62=E9:6DE ` A6C46?E @7 vC2?:E6 $E2E6CD] (6 ?665 E@ DE@A 8:G:?8 2H2J E96D6 3FD:?6DD AC@7:ED E2I 4FED 282:? 2?5 282:? H96? D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 D2J:?8 E@ FD[ ‘(92E H6 ?665 :D 9@FD:?8 2?5 49:=5 42C6 7@C @FC H@C<6CD]’”k^Am
kAmp=D@ CF??:?8 7@C C6\6=64E:@? :D tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=@C y@6 z6??6J W#\(2<67:6=5X[ H9@ D2:5i “x 8C6H FA :? (2<67:6=5[ H6?E E@ 2 =:EE=6 D49@@= 42==65 !2F= t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=[ H6?E E@ $A2F=5:?8 w:89 $49@@=] x H2D E96 >@DE G2=F23=6 A=2J6C @? >J 32D<6E32== E62>[ 3FE x 925 E@ 9:E499:<6 324< 2?5 7@CE9 E@ AC24E:46[ @G6C a_ >:=6D 6249 H2J] %92E’D E96 <:?5 @7 56E6C>:?2E:@? x 2=H2JD 925]k^Am
kAm“x H6?E E@ &}w[ 9:DE@CJ 3FD:?6DD >2;@C[ 2?5 C6E:C65 7C@> E96 &]$] |2C:?6 r@CAD] x’> G6CJ DFAA@CE:G6 @7 @FC G6E6C2?D] x’> 2 C6E:C65 bf\J62C |2C:?6] x D6CG65 :? E96 p7892? (2C[ E96 !6CD:2? vF=7 (2C[ 2?5 x D6CG65 :? xC2B] x 5@?’E H2?E E@ 8@ E@ H2C 2?J>@C6] x7 x 4@>6 324< :? =:76 282:? 2?5 C64@??2:DD2?46 E96 |2C:?6 282:?[ x H2?E E@ :?G256 %29:E: 2?5 D@FE96C? uC2?46] %92E’D 2==] x 5@?’E H2?E E@ 8@ E@ E96 |:55=6 t2DE] qFE E96 A@:?E @7 :E :D[ :D E92E >J 324<8C@F?5 2?5 F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 G6E6C2?D’ :DDF6D 92G6 96=A65 @FE 2 =@E @7 G6E6C2?D @G6C E96 J62CD]”k^Am
kAmw:D s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C 7@C s:DEC:4E ` tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=@C :D 7@C>6C DE2E6 #6A] {FK q2J @7 s@G6C] $96 D2:5i “~3G:@FD=J x’> 2? :>>:8C2?E 32D65 @? E96 724E x 5@?’E 92G6 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 2446?E] x H2D 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 :? E96 !9:=:AA:?6D[ D6G6? @7 `c 49:=5C6?] x 42>6 E@ E9:D 4@F?ECJ ab J62CD 28@ E@ 8@ E@ D49@@=] x 92G6 2 >2DE6C’D :? >2E96>2E:4D 7C@> $@FE96C? x==:?@:D &?:G6CD:EJ[ H96C6 x 2=D@ 8@E >J 5@4E@C2E6 :? 65F42E:@?2= >62DFC6>6?E 2?5 DE2E:DE:4D]”k^Am
kAmq2J D2:5 D96 C646?E=J C6E:C65 7C@> 2 ba\J62C 42C66C 4CF?49:?8 D49@@= 52E2 2?5 >256 E96 564:D:@? E@ C6E:C6 “A2CE=J 3642FD6 x 92G6 366? 2 D64@?5\E6C> DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6[ 2?5 x 92G6 564:565 E92E H9:=6 x 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ 2?5 42A23:=:E:6D[ x H:== 56G@E6 E96 C6DE @7 >J E:>6 E@ AF3=:4 D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm“x 2> 2 >2C2E9@?6C] x’G6 CF? `g >2C2E9@?D] x 2> 2 E9C66\E:>6 3C62DE 42?46C DFCG:G@C] $@[ 2?5 x’5 36 C6>:DD :7 x 5@?’E C6>:?5 6G6CJ@?6[ 86E J@FC >2>>@8C2>D @C C6>:?5 J@FC =@G65 @?6D E@ 86E J@FC >2>>@8C2>D] xE’D DE:== ~4E@36C] x’> DE:== H62C:?8 A:?<]k^Am
kAm“}@H[ 92G:?8 DFCG:G65 3C62DE 42?46C E9C66 E:>6D 24EF2==J E6DED J@F :? H2JD E92E ?@ D49@@=:?8 @C 42C66C 42? 6G6C E6DE J@F[ D@ 564:565 E@ 7@4FD @? D@>6E9:?8 E92E x 92G6 4@?EC@= @G6Ci >J 7:E?6DD] %92E’D H96? x DE2CE65 CF??:?8 d<[ `_<[ 92=7 >2C2E9@?D[ 2?5 >2C2E9@?D] (9J 2> x E6==:?8 J@F E9:Dn q642FD6 H:E9 E92E >:?5D6E[ E96 E6?24:EJ[ A6CD6G6C2?46[ 8C:E[ @?6 7@@E :? 7C@?E @7 E96 @E96C[ E92E :D H92E x 3C:?8 E@ E96 6I64FE:G6 4@F?4:=[” q2J D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 @?6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E96 4@F?4:= 92D :D 2AAC@G:?8 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD’ H@CE9 @7 4@?EC24ED] p?@E96C A@H6C :D 4@?7:C>2E:@?] “x H:== ?@E 4@?7:C> 2?J@?6 H:E9 ?@ BF2=:7:42E:@?D[ D@ E92E H6 5@?’E 6?5 FA H:E9 E96 t5F42E:@? uC665@> p44@F?ED[ 2?5 H6 5@?’E 6?5 FA H:E9 ;FDE:46D H9@ 2C6 24EF2==J ?@E BF2=:7:65 2?5 H:== 92G6 AC@3=6>D 4@?E:?F:?8 E96:C E6C>D]”k^Am
kAm#F??:?8 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :D s6>@4C2E q6? r@=32E9[ H9@ :D D66<:?8 2 }]w] w@FD6 D62E :? r@?H2J’D s:DEC:4E `] w6 D2:5i “x’> 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 96C6 2?5 4@>6 7C@> 2 =@?8 =:?6 @7 r@?H2J C6D:56?ED] |J 72E96C 2?5 9:D 72E96C H6C6 2== 366? C6D:56?ED @7 r@?H2J[ 2?5 >J 49:=5C6? H6C6 3@C? 2?5 C2:D65 96C6 2D H6==] x 4FCC6?E=J D6CG6 2D E96 492:C>2? 7@C E96 A=2??:?8 3@2C5 96C6 :? r@?H2J]”k^Am
kAmr@=32E9 D2:5i “x 8@E :?G@=G65 3642FD6 x 42C6] x 42C6 23@FE >J E@H?] x 42C6 23@FE A6@A=6 :? >J E@H?] *@F 6?5 FA <:?5 @7 86EE:?8 :?G@=G65[ 2?5 E96? 7C@> E96C6 J@F 6?5 FA @? 2 3@2C5[ 2?5 E96? 7C@> E96C6 J@F 6?5 FA FA 96C6 DA62<:?8 E@ 6G6CJ3@5J E@52J] $@ J@F <?@H[ x’== 36 8@:?8 :? 2D 2 7C6D9>2? =68:D=2E@C] x’> A=2??:?8 @? ECJ:?8 E@ =62C? E96 C@A6D 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 36 2D :?G@=G65 2D A@DD:3=6] xE :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 E:>6 4@?DEC2:?E] xE :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 7:?2?4:2= 4@?DEC2:?E] qFE H96? J@F 42C6[ J@F >2<6 E9@D6 D24C:7:46D] *@F <?@H H92En xE’D =:<6 H96? A6@A=6 D2J E96J’C6 ?@E C625J E@ 92G6 <:5D] {:<6 J@F’C6 ?6G6C C625J E@ 92G6 <:5D] *@F 92G6 <:5D[ 2?5 E96? J@F >2<6 :E H@C<] p?5 x <:?5 @7 766= =:<6 E9:D D@CE @7 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 :D E96 D2>6 E9:?8]”k^Am
kAm'6E6C2? =68:D=2E@C z2C6? &>36C86C W#\r@?H2JX :D 2=D@ CF??:?8 7@C }]w] w@FD6 s:DEC:4E `] $96 =@DE 96C D62E :? E96 q=F6 (2G6 @7 a_aa 2?5 :D 9@A:?8 7@C DF446DD E9:D E:>6] $96 D2:5i “x DA6?E ag J62CD :? E96 p:C u@C46[ 2?5 H6 >@G65 E@ r@?H2J H96? x C6E:C65[ >J 9FD32?5 y:>[ H9@’D G6CJ 96=A7F= 2?5 E92?<7F= E@ 92G6 9:>[ 2?5 E9C@F89@FE E96 E:>6 E92E H6 92G6 366? 96C6[ 3@E9 @7 FD 92G6 D6CG65 :? 6=64E:G6 @77:46] |JD6=7 2D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 3F586E 4@>>:EE66[ x E9:?< x H2D @? 7@C `_ J62CD] x H2D 2 D6=64E>2? 7@C D:I J62CD[ 2?5 x 2> @C H2D 2 DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C `a J62CD]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C 3@E9 @7 FD E92E H6 7:C>=J 36=:6G6 :? 8:G:?8 324< E@ @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 H6 5@ E92E 6G6CJ 52J[ H96E96C H6’C6 2? 6=64E65 @77:4:2= @C ;FDE D@>6@?6 D:EE:?8 324< 62E:?8 3@?3@?D] (6 2== H2?E E@ D6CG6 2?5 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6 42? 3C:?8 2 36EE6C =:76 E@ E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 G2==6J[k^Am
kAm“x H2?E E@ E2=< 23@FE E9C66 E9:?8Di %96 7:CDE @?6 :D D49@@= 7F?5:?8] %96 D64@?5 @?6 :D 65F42E:@? 7C665@> 244@F?ED[ 2?5 E96 E9:C5 @?6 :D E2I6D[ 3FE x H:== D2J @?6 E9:?8i H6 5@ 28C66 @? 2E =62DE @?6 2C62[ 2?5 E92E :D 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8]k^Am
kAm“%96 AC:>2CJ 5C:G6C @7 D49@@= 7F?5:?8 :D 32D65 @? E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED 2EE6?5:?8 D49@@=] $@ E96 C62D@? J@F =@DE >@?6J :D 3642FD6 J@FC 6?C@==>6?E H6?E 5@H?[ ?@E 3642FD6 E96 DE2E6 E@@< >@?6J 2H2J] p?5 r@?H2J :D @?6 @7 E96 9:896DE 4@DED A6C DEF56?ED :? E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“r9:=5C6? 2EE6?5:?8 492CE6C D49@@=D[ @7 H9:49 H6 92G6 EH@ :? E@H?[ 6249 C646:G6 6249 49:=5 C646:G6D Sh[_ge] %92E’D H96C6 E96:C >@?6J :D[ 2?5 E96 C62D@? E92E E96J C646:G6 >@C6 >@?6J E92? 2 AF3=:4 D49@@= 49:=5 :D 3642FD6 492CE6C D49@@=D 5@ ?@E 86E 2?J E2IA2J6C 5@==2CD 7C@> E96 E@H?[ 7C@> AC@A6CEJ E2I6D] p== @7 E96:C >@?6J 4@>6D 7C@> E96 DE2E6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 H92E E96J 4@F=5 C2:D6] p> x CF??:?8 @FE @7 E:>6n ~z[ 7@FC 2C62D x A=2? E@ H@C< @? @G6C E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CDi 4=62? H2E6C[ 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ 3F586E:?8 H:E9:? @FC >62? 2?5 D49@@= 7F?5:?8] x A=2? E@ 8@ 324< @? E96 7:?2?46 4@>>:EE66[ H96C6 x 42? 27764E E96 5@==2CD 3F586E65 7@C E96D6 AC@8C2>D] u:?2==J[ x H:== ?6G6C DFAA@CE 2? :?4@>6 E2I @C D2=6D E2I]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.