John Stephen 
3-08

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Biography - www.stephenforcongress.com/aboutjohn.htm

John Stephen, a lifelong New Hampshire resident, is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire's First Congressional District.

Stephen has served as prosecutor, both at Hillsborough County and later as an Assistant Attorney General. He later advanced to become the Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Safety. Until recently, Stephen headed New Hampshire’s largest agency, serving as Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services.

As head of HHS, Stephen oversaw a $1.8 billion a year agency, which takes nearly one half (over $600 million per year) of the State’s budget expenses. By bringing fiscal discipline to the Department, Stephen was able to return over $143 million to New Hampshire’s taxpayers over his 4-year tenure. He also brought significant programmatic improvements to the Department, including a new senior wellness program as well as an expansion to the state’s ServiceLink program to provide seniors with one-stop shopping for information and referrals, a new quality rating program for child care programs, so that parents can identify top centers, and a welfare reform initiative that has been nationally recognized for its efforts to move recipients into the job market and up a career ladder.

As Assistant Commissioner of Safety from 1998 to 2003, Stephen assisted in overseeing the Divisions of State Police, Motor Vehicles, Safety Services and Fire Standards and Training. He also was directly responsible for the Division of Fire Safety and Emergency Management, including the E-911 Bureau. He drafted and helped to pass numerous legislative initiatives, including bills to put in place New Hampshire’s first felony gambling law, a vehicular assault statute, and posting the sex offender registry on the web.

During his time at the Department of Safety, Stephen also served as New Hampshire’s first Coordinator of Homeland Security. In that capacity, he acted as a liaison between federal, state, county and local governments. Stephen was also the architect behind efforts to consolidate emergency preparedness responsibilities among state agencies. Stephen also directed the operations of the Department of Safety Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and Security in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

From 1992 to 1998, Stephen served as Assistant Attorney General. In that capacity, he was the Director of the DWI Unit and was responsible for the state-wide supervision of DWI-related cases. Additionally, Stephen prosecuted homicide crimes and regularly appeared before the New Hampshire Supreme Court on appellate issues involving criminal law. He led efforts to pass a law to reduce the legal blood alcohol level for drunk driving to 0.08 and became a recognized expert and lecturer on alcohol impairment and is a published author on the subject.

Stephen worked as an Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney from 1988 to 1992, where he prosecuted numerous misdemeanor and felony crimes. He took this position after beginning his legal career as a Law Clerk for United States Federal District Court Judge Martin F. Loughlin.

In 1996, John was elected by the voters of Manchester to the Charter Commission, which updated the city’s Charter. John successfully worked to add ethics provisions to the new Charter.

Stephen is a graduate of Trinity High School in Manchester. He received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. Stephen graduated with honors from the Detroit College of Law, where he became the Managing Editor of that school’s Law Review.
Stephen has served as President of Makin’ It Happen, a Manchester youth-based organization. He has also served as President and Board Member of the Parish Council for Our Lady of the Cedars Church. Stephen was Chairman and Founder of the Fight to Educate, an annual fundraising event to raise money for local charities. He serves on the Board of Directors of the 100 Club, which raises money for the families of fallen firefighters, police and emergency workers. He also served as a Board Member for the Center of Hope for at-risk children.

Stephen, 44, lives in Manchester with his wife, Jenny, and two daughters, Nicole and Hannah.