Many challenges face the state today: unemployment; regulations and taxes that cripple small businesses; inefficient and costly government; crumbling infrastructure; and a growing number of people in need of critical services. To overcome these challenges, New Hampshire has no choice but to grow its economy and control and prioritize its spending. That is my priority as a candidate for Executive Council in District 4, representing 18 towns and the city of Manchester.

To grow our economy and create greater opportunity, we must keep our tax burden on citizens and businesses low, reduce and insist on sensible regulations and regulators, and decrease the costs of doing business, such as health care. These are barriers to job creation and economic growth. But to do that, we must also insist on a lean government and living within our means.

I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole career. More than anyone else running for Executive Council in District 4, I understand exactly what government can do to help, and harm, the economy and jobs. That is a perspective New Hampshire needs more of in government today, and I believe it’s what distinguishes me from my opponents.

I’ve talked to many small- business owners on the campaign trail, and I understand the challenges they face. They are the job creators and the growth engine of our economy. Like them, I’ve started companies, taken on risk, been forced to work with slow and overreaching government regulators, invested to expand operations, hired workers, fired workers, developed and managed budgets, and met the bottom line. What’s more, I’ve been doing it successfully for 35 years.

It’s not that we need to run government exactly like a business, but our elected leaders must understand the impact of their actions on our economy and employers. If you’ve never felt the burden of one of the highest business tax rates in the nation, then you are less careful in spending taxpayer dollars. If you’ve never had to interact with a regulatory agency on permitting and licensing, then you know not the scrutiny to apply to government bureaucrats.

The lens in which I view government and public policy has been fashioned through my experience in the real world economy and the strenuous competition of the marketplace. I’ve seen politicians fuel the growth of government to where it gets in the way of progress and interferes with prosperity. New Hampshire is slowly becoming a less attractive place to do business, and that’s an economic trend we must reverse.

So what can the Executive Council do to address these issues and strengthen our economy? It starts with first ensuring that we keep our fiscal house in order.

This means determining government’s true role in serving the people and setting clear priorities. Keeping government small, and ensuring that tax dollars are spent wisely on agencies and programs that are effective. It requires the diligent examination of contracts, suppliers and vendors. It demands careful review of the governor’s appointments and the stringent oversight of his or her commissioners to ensure they conduct themselves properly and perform superiorly. And, it calls for transparency and accountability.

As an executive councilor, I will apply a strict standard of scrutiny when it comes to spending the hard-earned dollars of New Hampshire’s working families. I’ll insist on accountability from the governor, commissioners and the many unelected bureaucrats that administer state programs. I’ll look to measure our government’s effectiveness in serving its citizens, and I will push for improvements. I also will apply a common-sense approach to problem solving and policymaking, and always raise the concerns of my constituents above the requests of the special interests.

Electing a Republican to the Executive Council is critical this year, and retiring Councilor Ray Wieczorek is leaving big shoes to fill. Voters consistently tell me the economy and jobs are the most important issues to them. I agree. Thus, electing someone with a long history of being a job creator will ensure that New Hampshire’s working families and small-business owners have a councilor looking out for them.

My focus is clear: I’ll work to limit government’s role and growth, and demand fiscal discipline, efficiency and accountability in order to create opportunity. I offer the leadership, integrity and experience necessary to serve my constituents effectively, and I’ll work to make government serve its citizens better. On Sept. 11, voters choose which Republican they want to represent them on the Executive Council, and I respectfully ask for your consideration and vote.

Chuck Rolecek of Bedford is a Republican Candidate for Executive Council in District 4.