For this side-by-side platform comparison of candidates, Front Door Politics gathered information from their Web sites, debates and interviews to outline their stances on a number of important state and national issues.

Candidate for U.S. House: Carol Shea-Porter, Democrat, Rochester (U.S. Congress 2007-present; formerly a social worker)

Web site: www.sheaporter.com

War & military: Shea-Porter strongly opposes the Iraq War. She believes it was a distraction from the war on terrorists. She supports a deadline for withdrawal and a ban on permanent bases there. She supported initial military efforts in Afghanistan. She voted to require a timetable for withdrawal. She also supported an amendment to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Foreign policy: “The key to success in (the Middle East) is not just military, and our goals will not be accomplished by using a ‘lone wolf’ approach… I believe we need to engage the entire region to bring real stability to the broader Middle East.” Shea-Porter voted against a United States-Peru free trade agreement.

National budget and federal tax structure: She blames much of the federal deficit on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the “massive tax cuts that the Bush administration gave to the wealthiest Americans.” She supported the pay-as-you-go system for government spending. She also supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“stimulus bill”), as well as last year’s healthcare reform package.

Jobs & economy: “While our country is still generally prosperous, our wealth has become increasingly concentrated at the very top of the income ladder.” Shea-Porter believes the middle class is threatened and supports both a business-friendly and family-friendly environment. She voted to extend unemployment benefits and was an original co-sponsor of the Increasing the Minimum Wage Act.

Energy & Environment: Shea-Porter serves on the Natural Resources Committee. She supported a moratorium on deepwater drilling rigs and supported a “cap and trade” system to regulate carbon emissions. She voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. She supports offering tax credits for environmental stewardship.

Immigration: “We can’t round everybody up… We have to stop the flow of illegal immigration. We have to penalize companies that hire illegal immigrants.” She believes current illegal aliens need to learn English and learn “about the American way of life, our government, and we have to make sure … we don’t create a permanent underclass.”

Education: “(A)n investment in our students is one from which we, as a nation, will see great returns.” Shea-Porter sees vouchers as a threat to public education. “(No Child Left Behind) is a program with worthy intentions, but a large unfunded mandate and some unreasonable requirements” led her to oppose it.

Elections & Campaign Finance: Shea-Porter supported HR 5175, which tightened campaign finance disclosure requirements. In 2007, she supported giving voting rights to the residents of the District of Columbia. She supported the creation of an Office of Congressional Ethics.

Abortion: “One hundred percent pro-choice.” She supports access to and funding of contraception, and opposed House Amendment 509 (2009), which would have prohibited federal funding for abortions.

Guns & 2nd Amendment: “I support the 2nd Amendment.” Shea-Porter supports regulations on assault weapons. She voted to repeal portions of the District of Columbia firearm ban.

Candidate for U.S. House: Frank Guinta, Republican, Manchester (Manchester Mayor 2006-2010; formerly in the insurance industry)

Web site: www.teamguinta.com

War & military: Guinta believes armed forces and first responders “must always have the resources necessary to respond and meet any challenge that we are confronted with.” Referring to the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, he said, “I never would have supported the notion of giving our enemy an end date.”

Foreign policy: Guinta pledges to “work to responsibly address the growing threats from dangerous and unpredictable countries like North Korea and Iran.” He supports bringing home troops from Afghanistan once Afghanis can protect themselves.

Energy & Environment: Guinta opposes the “cap-and-trade” method for regulating carbon emissions, saying it “will destroy jobs and raise prices for gas, electricity and other sources of energy.” He proposes eliminating the Department of Energy. We must start recognizing that “fossil fuels can be burned in a cleaner way,” he said.

Immigration: Guinta pledges to “make sure that our borders are secure” and says, “If you are here illegally you are breaking the law and you should be deported.” He supports the right of Arizona to enact an immigration law stricter than current federal policy.

Education: While mayor of Manchester, Guinta implemented a comprehensive Student Information System to “present real-time data on the more than 16,000 Manchester School District students.” He proposed eliminating the Department of Education.

Guns & 2nd Amendment: As mayor, he “defended the rights of law-abiding gun owners to protect their families and property from dangerous criminals.”

Libertarian House candidate Philip Hodson could not be reached for inclusion in the voter’s guide. To learn about Hodson, visit www.lpnh.org, click on candidates and scroll down to Philip Hodson.