Our Campaigns - Candidate - Karen Y. Testerman

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Testerman, Karen Y.

CANDIDATE DETAILS

Affiliation


	2010-01-01

Name

Karen Y. Testerman

Address

Franklin, New Hampshire , United States

None

Website

[Link]

Born

Unknown

Contributor

Jason

Last Modifed

Mr. Matt
May 20, 2022 10:52am

Tags

Japanese - Polish - Married -

Info

Karen was raised in a modest home in a small California farming community where she developed her core beliefs as a social and fiscal conservative. Her grandparents immigrated from Japan and Poland. Although her grandparents were prevented from becoming naturalized citizens until their sunset years, they raised their children to be proud Americans. Her father was a member of the 442nd Battalion, the most highly decorated battalion, during World War II.

Born in Colorado, her parents moved to California where Karen attended schools in the Central Valley. To help pay for college school supplies, she worked as a nurse’s aide and lab assistant. She met her husband David Testerman at college. While David served in the U.S. Air Force Karen devoted herself to providing a nurturing home for their four children. Their sons are active duty members of the Air Force and Navy. Their eldest daughter is a Coast Guard veteran. In her spare time Karen volunteered with the Officers’ Wives Clubs in community outreach to disabled children, hospitals and nursing homes and served as the Marine Mom for the US Marine Embassy Guard Unit in Australia. The Testerman’s moved to New Hampshire in 1993 and currently live in Franklin.

Karen is a long time advocate of family values and rights. She joined with a group of grassroots activists who fought the introduction of Goals 2000 in New Hampshire to a standstill. As Executive Director of Cornerstone Policy Research (a New Hampshire family policy organization she founded in 2000), she became the leading voice for the traditional family. She led the fight on numerous family rights issues. Karen is also the “go-to” person for national pro-family group activities in the State. She is a recipient of the Family Research Council Family Faith and Freedom Award and the Cornerstone Policy Research William Wilberforce Award. NH Magazine selected her as one of their Remarkable Women. Karen was host of a weekly radio show called “New Hampshire Policy and People” that covered a variety of topics that affect the family. She is also a columnist and author.

Shortly after arriving in NH in 1993, Karen looked for a family policy council associated with Focus on the Family. Learning that there was not such a group in NH, she set about understanding how to found and grow an organization that would network with other state policy organizations around the country. Starting a non-profit as a new resident to the state required familiarizing herself with the laws of the state, getting to know the people, the government and legislative process, becoming knowledgeable about the issues, in addition to raising the funds necessary to grow the organization. Cornerstone Policy Research officially opened its doors in 2000.

She established the Steward of the Family Award to recognize individuals in NH who made a difference for strengthening and/or defending family values. Later she established the coveted William Wilberforce Award given to person in public policy who exemplifies the statesmanship and diligence of abolitionist, William Wilberforce. These awards are presented at the annual fundraising dinners with prominent national figures like Ken Starr, Star Parker, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, and Oklahoma State Senator Steve Russell, retired US Army.

In addition to her family, Karen has the ability to build broad coalitions of diverse groups to accomplish common goals. These have included pro family, pro gun, taxpayer groups, political leaders, military groups and religious leaders.

Karen has been active with several organizations such as Coalition of NH Taxpayers, Faith Based Action Network, the New Hampshire Alliance, NH Firearms Coalition, Church, NH Right to Life, and the Abstinence Advisory Committee of Health and Human Services. She served as the co-chair to develop the Faith Based Community Initiative in NH and is a member of the NH Firearms Coalition and a life member of Gun Owners of NH. She was also the only NH representative to First Lady Laura Bush’s Conference on Helping America’s Youth.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and has been certified to teach (and has taught) science courses through the college level. She is an accomplished vocalist, enjoys cooking, a variety of needle works, the outdoors, and helping others.

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