New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is seeing to it that the second-oldest state in the union is second to none in the Information Age. The two-term New Democrat understands that forward-looking New Economy policies are essential to restoring the sustained economic growth of the 1990's.

"I think people see the New Economy as being narrowly defined -- we think about those businesses that build software, computers, and networking systems," she says. "But technology is also about doing things differently and seeing that your traditional companies, whether they be manufacturing- or tourism-based, are doing okay as well."

Recognizing the importance of investing in the New Economy's foundation areas, Shaheen issued an economic development strategy last April that calls for extending economic opportunities to every individual and family across the state, maintaining both quality of life and quality of place, and focusing on education development.

"The New Economy of the 21st century is run on brainpower, not horsepower. In this economy, success is built on ideas, innovation and information," Shaheen says.

In her most recent State of the State Address last month, Shaheen outlined her plan for the continued implementation of the recommendations in the "New Hampshire in the New Economy" plan, and for getting New Hampshire's economy back on track in the economic wake of September 11.

Her plans include:

• focusing on the fundamentals of a strong economy by maintaining efforts to expand international trade, promoting the state's high tech sector, increasing telecommunications access, and improving educational opportunities and job skills;
• helping laid-off workers by increasing unemployment benefits without raising payroll taxes; and
• speeding up the projects included in the state's capital budget because state construction projects provide jobs that stimulate local economies.

"It is up to us to take on this economic battle with all the weapons in our fiscal arsenal. We cannot afford to hesitate and simply hope for better times," said Shaheen.

Elected New Hampshire's first female governor in 1996, Jeanne Shaheen was born in St. Charles, Mo., in 1947. She earned her bachelor's degree in English from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania in 1969 and her master's degree in political science from the University of Mississippi in 1973. Shaheen was elected to the state senate in 1990 and served three terms. Gov. Shaheen and her husband of thirty years, Bill, live in Madbury, NH, and have three daughters and one granddaughter.