Voters Guide: Peter Silva for Ward 8 State Rep

Date of birth: March 2, 1960

Your background /education: Graduated from Southington High School in Southington, Ct., in 1978 where I was class president – my first political foray.

Experience/Occupation: I'm regional sales manager forBiomet,  a manufacturer of orthopedic implants – knees and hips – and surgical sales. 

Prior elected office: Two-term State Rep, initially elected in District 26, serving as House Majority Whip and House Majority Leader.

Personal: Moved to Nashua in 1988. Married with four kids, ages 29 to 14 –  two girls and two boys. 

Priorities: I would like to make sure we keep voter ID in place. I believe that's very important. I would like to make sure we also reevaluate some of the facets of the welfare system, like EBT cards, which are being abused. Basically, when you have more people riding in the cart than pulling the cart, you're in trouble. I also want to make sure that, at the state level, the health care mandate gets repealed.

Why are you running? The primary reason – it's an unfortunate thing, but the way our government is set up here, it's a volunteer system. Most of the people are retired. I am still working actively, so with only half a term left, I'm able to do it. If I run again after this, if I get elected I don't think I could be a leader again. Other than that, it's one of those things – you're sitting at the kitchen table, talking and complaining about how things are, and it's like the saying goes: put up or shut up.

Why should voters choose you to represent them?

As a politician, you can talk about what you're going to do. I have a track record. You won't find anyone more fiscally responsible than me, and my votes. Whoever I'll be running against will have liberal attitudes. We have to remain as fisically responsible as we can, from social issues to any other issue you can imagine. I actually have a record. There's no guessing with me.