People ask me all the time why there's a chicken on my campaign sign.
First, I genuinely like chickens. They are practical animals. They give my family eggs. They eat ticks and help keep the yard clear. They are simple, productive, and self-sufficient. That appeals to me.
When I first ran, my slogan was "He's No Chicken." It was a lighthearted way to say I'm not afraid to do the hard thing or say what others won't.
And for those wondering, the breed on my sign is a New Hampshire Red Hen.
But the chicken also makes a larger point.
In Weare, if you want to build a simple backyard chicken coop, you technically need a building permit. If you run an extension cord out in the winter to keep the coop warm, regulations say that setup must be inspected by an electrician. This year in New Hampshire, there was even legislation proposed to regulate the selling or gifting of backyard eggs.
Think about that.
A chicken in your own backyard, on your own property, producing eggs for your own family — and government still finds a way in.
We like to think decisions stay close to the people. But more and more, even the smallest parts of daily life get wrapped in permits, inspections, and rules.
If government can regulate your backyard chicken, it can regulate just about anything.
So yes, I like chickens. But I also like freedom. The chicken on my sign is a simple reminder that even the most ordinary parts of life deserve to be left alone.