GOOD MORNING. I’M ADAM SEXTON. DEMOCRATS DECIDED NOT TO DUKE IT OUT IN A PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR, AND THAT MEANS DR. TOM SHERMAN, A PHYSICIAN AND STATE SENATOR, HAS SECURED THE NOMINATION AND A CLEAR PATH TO FOCUS ON THE INCUMBENT, GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU, FROM NOW UNTIL NOVEMBER. DR. SHERMAN IS OUR GUEST THIS MORNING, IN STUDIO. THANKS FOR JOINING US. DR. SHERMAN: GREAT TO BE HERE. AMY: LET’S TALK ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY -- ADAM: LET’S TALK ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY. WE COULD BE IN A CRISIS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR SAVINGS OR FREEZING. WHAT’S YOUR PLAN? DR. SHERMAN: LET’S GO BACK. THIS GOVERNOR HAS BOUNCED FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS, THE HOUSING CRISIS, OPIOID CRISIS, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THIS IS YET ANOTHER SUNUNU CRISIS. I WOULD DO IT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY HE DOES THINGS. AS A DOCTOR AND LEGISLATOR, I HAVE ALWAYS REACHED OUT TO LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE AISLE AND RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS TO GET THINGS DONE. PROBLEM SOLVING IS SOMETHING I’VE DONE THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AS A DOCTOR AND LEGISLATOR. FUNDAMENTALLY, WHAT I WOULD DO FIRST THING IS SIT DOWN WITH LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PATH. SUNUNU COULD HAVE AVOIDED MUCH OF THIS HAD HE NOT VETOED SO MANY BILLS WHEN THE RATES AND PRICES WERE LOW AND WE COULD DO THIS EFFECTIVELY. THAT WAS IN 2019. HE DIDN’T, HE CHOSE NOT TO. ALL THOSE EFFORTS WERE BIPARTISAN. REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WAS FULLY ON BOARD AND SUNUNU CHOSE TO VETO THEM ANYWAY. THAT LEAVES US VULNERABLE NOW. WE NEED TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WHO I’M COMFORTABLE WITH, HAVING BEEN IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND CREATE THAT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM APPROACH. SHORT TERM, PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, THAT’S WHERE WE CAN DECREASE THE OVERHEAD PEOPLE ARE FEELING. WE CAN ALSO WORK WITH THE PUC TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO MITIGATE STICKER SHOCK BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO PHASE IN HIGHER PRICES AND HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY, MAYBE WE DON’T HIT THE CONSUMER SO HARD RIGHT NOW BUT WE PUT IT OUT OVER TIME. IN THE LONG TERM, WE BROADEN OUR BASE OF ENERGY SERVICES. ADAM: YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSITIONING TO A GREEN ENERGY, MORE SOLAR AND WIND, ISN’T THAT TRANSITION GOING TO ULTIMATELY COST CONSUMERS MORE IN THE SHORT TERM? DR. SHERMAN: IT IS COSTING CONSUMERS MORE RIGHT NOW, FAILURE THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD AN OPTION WHEN RATES WERE LOW TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE. SUNUNU CHOSE NOT TO. HE HAS BEEN VERY TIGHTLY ALIGNED WITH THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY AND HE’S PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE ARE SO DEPENDENT ON NATURAL GAS AND THAT MARKET THAT WE HAVE TO -- WE ARE DEPENDENT ON IT. WE CAN’T, WE DON’T HAVE THE SAME ARRAY OF ENERGY SOURCES THAT OUR NEIGHBORING STATES DO. ADAM: LET’S TALK ABOUT GUN POLICY. I KNOW YOU WOULD SUPPORT EXPANDED BACKGROUND CHECKS, A WAIT PERIOD, BUT HOW MUCH FARTHER SHOULD THE STATE GO? SHOULD THE STATE REPEAL SOMETHING AND WOULD YOU SIGN A REPEAL OF THE STAND YOUR GROUND LAW? DR. SHERMAN: THIS IS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND I RESPECT THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO BEAR ARMS, THE SECOND AMENDMENT. I AM NOT TAKING THEIR GUNS. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY THAT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL BILLS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE, MANY OF WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE RECENT FEDERAL LAW. BUT ON THE SAME DAY THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, SUNUNU SIGNED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE UNENFORCEABLE BY OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THOUGHT THAT BILL WAS IRRESPONSIBLE AND THE GOVERNMENT SIGNED IT ANYWAY. IMAGINE IF YOU ARE A YOUNG PARENT WITH YOUR CHILD IN SCHOOL. FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR THAT SCHOOL CAN’T BE ENFORCED BY THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, THAT’S WHAT SUNUNU DID. THAT’S NOT COMMON SENSE. THAT’S NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. ADAM: WHAT ABOUT STAND YOUR GROUND, WOULD YOU REPEAL IT? DR. SHERMAN: NOT THIS TIME. ADAM: WHAT ABOUT LICENSING OF AR-15 STYLE RIFLES? DR. SHERMAN: NOT AT THIS POINT. ADAM: DOES NEW HAMPSHIRE HAVE A HEALTHY GUN CULTURE? DR. SHERMAN: AS A PHYSICIAN, ALL OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES IN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING OUR OWN HAVE SAID THERE’S AN APPROPRIATE USE AND OWNERSHIP OF GUNS AND THEN THERE’S THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPERATIVE WHICH IS SUICIDE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MASS SHOOTINGS. THAT’S NOT HEALTHY. DO HUNTERS USE IT? THEY GET OUT WITH THEIR KIDS AND HAVE A GREAT FAMILY EVENT, YES, BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER SIDE WHICH IS SAFETY AND VIOLENCE REDUCTION. ADAM: ON LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM, WOULD YOU SUPPORT REMOVING QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR POLICE OFFICERS? DR. SHERMAN: LAW ENFORCEMENT, I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CHIEFS. I HELPED THE CHIEF IN STRATHAM WITH THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND WHAT I WOULD SUPPORT FOR MY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE -- AND THEY KNOW THIS -- WOULD BE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEED. THAT MEANS POSSIBLY BROADENING THEIR TOOLS TO INCLUDE SOCIAL SERVICES OR FORMALIZING SOME OF THE LINKS THEY HAVE WITH AREA AGENCIES DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE MANCHESTER, NASHUA WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES OF LANGUAGE AND ADVERSITY, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO REACH ACROSS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND CONNECT. ADAM: HOW ABOUT ABORTION? IF YOU ARE GOVERNOR, WHAT LEGISLATION DO YOU WANT TO SEE AND WOULD YOU REPEAL THE 24 WEEK ABORTION BAN? DR. SHERMAN: I WOULD WANT TO PUT IN PLACE ROE V. WADE IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE ALMOST GOT THERE IN THE SENATE. ONE OF OUR SENATORS BOUGHT THAT, WE COSPONSORED IT AND WE HAD TWO REPUBLICANS JOINING US. IT WAS A 12-12 HIGH SO WE WERE SO CLOSE. NEW HAMPSHIRE DOES NOT WANT THE STATE IN BETWEEN A DOCTOR AND A PATIENT ESPECIALLY ON SUCH AN INTENSELY PRIVATE ISSUE. ADAM: WHAT ABOUT REPEALING THE 24 WEEK BAND? DR. SHERMAN: THE ISSUE IS THE CRIMINALIZATION AND IF ROE V. WADE WAS IN PLACE WE DIDN’T -- WE WOULDN’T NEED THE 24 WEEK BAND. -- BAN. WE MAKE IT A STATE-BASED STATUTE AND PUT IT AS A PROTECTION THAT PROTECTS US FROM ANYTHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT DO TO TRY TO DO AN ABORTION BAN ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE. ADAM: DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS ANY POINT IN WHICH THE FETUS SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE? DR. SHERMAN: I THINK ROE V. WADE RECOGNIZES VIABILITY. THERE ARE ALSO EXCEPTIONS WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH THE WOMAN’S -- WHETHER THE WOMAN CAN SURVIVE? SOME OF THE STATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE PUT IN SUCH TIGHT RESTRICTIONS THAT A WOMAN’S LIFE MAY BE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY. SO WE NEED TO LET THE DOCTORS AND WOMEN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THOSE INCREDIBLY TOUGH PERSONAL DECISIONS. ADAM: CAN YOU NAME ONE ISSUE OR POLICY AREA ON WHICH YOU’D STAND UP TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? DR. SHERMAN: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT AREA WHERE WE NEED TO BE THINKING IS HOW DO WE BRING DOWN PRICES? SO IT IS NOT REALLY STANDING UP, IT’S THAT I WOULD SHIFT THEIR POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN ON INFLATION, AND THAT’S NOT A STATE ISSUE. IT IS NOT REALLY MY PLACE. THAT IS MORE THE PLACE OF THE FEDERAL DELEGATION. THAT’S WHAT WE’VE SEEN THE DELEGATION WORKING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT I DON’T HAVE A ROLE TO STAND UP AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE A STRONG ROLE MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CAN SURVIVE AND LIVE IN THE STATE THEY LOVE, CONTINUE TO DO THAT, IN SPITE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY. ADAM: IF THE DNC TRIES TO TAKE AWAY SUPPORT FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PRIMARY STATUS, WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE PRACTICAL IMPACT FOR DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT HERE IN NOVEMBER? DR. SHERMAN: I DON’T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING AT THIS POINT -- I BELIEVE WE DESERVE THE FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FIGHT HARD. IT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL AND WE WERE FIRST WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS. I WOULD MAKE A STRONG ARGUMENT WITH THE DNC THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE DOING. I DON’T THINK THAT -- I DON’T WANT TO SPECULATE BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN HOLD ONTO THE FIRST IN THE NATION STATUS. ADAM: HERE THEY ARE PUTTING THIS ON THE TABLE. IT WILL BE A CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE. DR. SHERMAN: I WILL FIGHT TO KEEP IT HERE BECAUSE IT IS PART OF WHAT MAKES NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS VOTERS UNDERSTAND -- WHO UNDERSTAND WHO PEOPLE ARE, GET ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OR INDEPENDENT, I’VE BEEN ABLE TO WIN IN A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT BECAUSE PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE PERSON. WHEN PEOPLE GET TO KNOW ME, REALIZE WHAT SUNUNU HAS DONE OR NOT DONE THEY WILL CHOOSE ME. ADAM: NATE SILVER AT THE WEBSITE FIVETHIRTYEIGHT GIVES YOU A 1 IN 100 SHOT OF WINNING THIS RACE. THAT’S PRETTY STARK. DR. SHERMAN: THAT’S THE PUNDITS. I CAN’T GO WITH THAT. I’M HERE TO RUN THIS RACE UNTIL NOVEMBER AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHO I AM, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT IN THE FIRST ABORTION BAN AND IS ATTACKING OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS. HE HAS SHIFTED AND TAKING THE STATE SO FAR OFF TRACK THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED HE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE IT. I WILL LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND AND MAKE SURE THE TRUST IS INTACT AT THE