The Hollis Democrats Pasta Dinner at the Lawrence Barn on May 4 brought together people from local communities and affiliations to discuss New Hampshire’s political climate and current state of affairs.

Though 10 candidates, advocates and organizers spoke about their different lives, how they came to politics, their platforms and political intentions, the evenings dialog revolved around one theme – a government of, by and for the people.

“What voters hate most is hypocrisy,” U.S. Congressional candidate Anne McClane Kuster said, while answering a question from the audience. She talked about conversations she has had across the state with voters from both parties and independents, all of whom are concerned with the state of affairs in Concord and Washington, D.C.

“Fairness, that is what this election is going to be about,” she said. “I was raised with Granite State values,” as she talked about bringing personal liberty, equality, fairness, opportunity and fairness back to our government. She spoke about fighting for legislation that encourages personal freedoms and responsibilities, creates personal and economic opportunity and recognizes the inherent value of every citizen.

“I don’t just want to go to Congress, I want to change the way we go to Congress,” Kuster said. She spoke about funding her campaign with small, private donations.

Similarly, candidate Debra Pignatelli lamented the loss of purpose, fairness and transparency within New Hampshire’s Executive Council. She challenged the decisions and voting of current Councilor David Wheeler to close Planned Parenthood and to kill the southern New Hampshire rail initiatives despite local, state and federal support.

“He doesn’t represent my interests and I believe that he doesn’t represent the interests of anyone here,” Pignatelli said. “I will not be out-worked by David Wheeler,” as she talked about her drive to restore hope and retake the office of Executive Council.

“If there is anything that caused the problems that we are having in the state house it is disengagement,” said Jackie Cilley candidate for New Hampshire governor. “Let’s stop pretending we are a lighter version of the other side. We are an alternative. We are better than that.”

Cilley’s speech focused on opportunity and economic growth based on improvements within education, transportation and communications. She stressed the premise that any change in government needed to represent and reflect the lives and needs of real New Hampshire people.

In that same vein, David Gilmour tried to impress upon those in attendance the importance of changing the lives of real people for the better through thoughtful and innovative legislation on behalf of his wife former state Sen. Peggy Gilmour. Her only concern was, “what is in the best interest of my constituents?” he said as he talked about her campaign to reclaim a seat in New Hampshire’s Senate.

As the evening’s focus moved to candidates for contested local seats in the House, Claire Helfman, the evening’s moderator, encouraged voters to look past their local relationships and associations with representatives.

“If you don’t know their voting record, you truly do not know who you are voting for,” she said before making space for House candidate Melanie Levesque to take the podium.

Harkening back to a time when the House was charged with serving the people, Levesque said she is committed to focusing on pressing local issues that affect the people of her community such as education, the environment, the economy and personal liberty.

“I want to be one of the people who goes back to Concord to restore commonsense to government,” Levesque said.

Brian Rater, a Brookline resident running for the House, told guests how he had grown up in a blue-collar home, worked hard to succeed, and had depended on opportunities provided through student loans and grants to accomplish his goals.

He talked about moving to New Hampshire from Texas and becoming involved in local politics at town meetings in Merrimack, where he watched people work hard for the good of their neighbors; people helping people.

“They had a great deal of pride and respect for the institution and for New Hampshire,” said Rater. “That is no longer true. Something really bad has happened here.”

Rater spoke about bringing hope and the will and power of the people to Concord this fall.

Heidi Foster spoke on behalf of Kat McGhee, of Hollis, who is running for the House. She read a speech written by McGhee for the occasion, which reiterated the common themes of the evening, investing in the state’s future and its people.

“The plans of the current New Hampshire House are designed not to build on success, but to break what has been built by those before them,” read Foster. “We’ve come too far to allow fear to have its way with our precious community and our state. We’re going to have to fight for the future.”