SOMETIMES IT’S OUR JOB to debunk media reports, especially those affecting the first-in-the-nation primary.
A few online news services breathlessly reported last week that a New Hampshire Republican State Committee resolution adopted last January could keep more than 300,000 independent voters from taking part in the presidential primary.
GOP perennial candidate Karen Testerman of Franklin authored the resolution, which stated that only those registered as Republicans 30 days before a primary would be allowed to cast a ballot.
“Why do we want somebody from outside making that decision?” Testerman asked.
A 1979 law (RSA 659:14) states the political parties may decide, if they wish, to change the rules and hold a closed primary.
“The party chairman shall notify the secretary of state in writing prior to the filing period for state offices whether the party has adopted such a rule,” reads this law, which has never been invoked.
When RNC member Chris Ager became the party’s new chairman in January, he said his first order of business was to check into this resolution.
For starters, such resolutions are non-binding. They are not rules changes.
Second, Ager learned that as written, the resolution would break two state laws, including one on same-day voter registration (RSA 654:7) and the other related to the timing of someone changing their party (RSA 654:34).
If enforced, this resolution would prevent a new voter from showing up on primary day and signing up to vote as a Republican.
Ager said he went to his Executive Committee last February to inform them this resolution could not be carried out.
Secretary of State David Scanlan informed him of the defects in the resolution, Ager said.
“Presidential Primary campaigns have also been informed that there will be no change to our current First In The Nation Primary selection process and have been campaigning accordingly,” Ager wrote in a letter to the Executive Committee on Feb. 6.
The proper way to make such a change in the future would be to change the bylaws, Ager said. The first opportunity to do that would be at the next annual meeting, on Jan. 13, 2024.
“I will help sponsors through the process as desired to ensure the activity meets required standards,” Ager said.
Phillips’ fondness for NH
Democratic presidential candidate Dean Philips said he fell in love with America as a kid summering in New Hampshire.
“I went to camp in the North Country when I was 12 years old. North Conway was my second home as a kid. I canoed on the Saco River, climbed Mount Washington, and I need me a whoopie pie. It is so good to be back,” the Minnesota congressman said Friday, the day he filed his candidacy in the first-in-the-nation primary.
“I could not have ever imagined when I was 12 years old in (the) North County that I would be signing up to run for the highest office in the land here with my exceptional family. Maybe it is fitting because I learned to love America in New Hampshire.”
The youth camp, Forest Acres, was just over the border in Fryeburg, Maine, but Phillips said they camped in North Conway.
DeSantis praises Red Sox GM pick
Florida Gov. and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis visited Fenway Park two days before the Red Sox named former pitcher Craig Breslow their new director of baseball operations.
A day before the team made the announcement, DeSantis said he told Red Sox brass that Breslow would be a great choice.
“If the Red Sox are smart enough to hire Craig Breslow, they are going to be just fine,” DeSantis told reporters in Londonderry.
What makes DeSantis an authority?
When DeSantis was captain of the Yale University baseball team, Breslow was one of his teammates.
DeSantis brought his eldest child, Mason, 6, for his first Granite State visit, along with Florida first lady Casey DeSantis.
“On Sunday, Mason knew he was coming here, so he rooted for the New England Patriots,” who beat the Buffalo Bills, DeSantis claimed.
OK, Governor, just don’t try to convince us Mason is in front of the television set this afternoon, pleading for the Pats to knock off the AFC East Division-leading Miami Dolphins.
Pushing early-state debatesDeSantis, who will be at home for the third Republican National Committee debate on Nov. 8 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, said it’s time for the RNC to have some showdowns in the early states.
“Look. I love Florida, I love Miami, doing great, you know, we’re proud to host it, but there should be a debate in either December or early January in Iowa, then there should be a debate after the Iowa caucus, but before the New Hampshire primary in New Hampshire, and I don’t know why we haven’t had any of these debates in the two early states,” DeSantis said.
Vivek blows off RNC
In a manner, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will give the RNC the cold shoulder Wednesday morning when he debates Democratic California Congressman Ro Khanna at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
Boston Globe reporter James Pindell will moderate the event.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ramaswamy almost got themselves bounced from the latest RNC debate when they agreed to face off on Fox News.
After GOP leaders issued the threat, the two candidates agreed to appear separately but back-to-back on the conservative news network.
Since Wednesday’s event is not a debate between two Republicans, Ramaswamy likely will not face any sanction over this one.
Ayotte still stacking cash
The money keeps rolling in for Republican candidate for governor and ex-U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte.
Joe Faro is hosting the next fundraising event for Ayotte at his new Artisan Hotel in Tuscan Village in Salem on Nov. 30.
The host is kicking in $10,000. Sponsorships are going for $2,500, and the price of admission is at least $250.
The committee holding the event includes such GOP big names as Trump confidant Bruce Breton of Windham; Andy Crews of Bedford; Rep. Fred Doucette, R-Salem; Keene Mayor George Hansel and Windham businessman Al Letizio.
Morse loses a mentor
GOP candidate for governor Chuck Morse of Salem paused his campaign for a moment last week to mark the passing of a friend and mentor.
“Today we said goodbye to a great man, Russell Ingram. Even at 98 years old, Russ was an invaluable contributor to our community and a good friend to many,” Morse said.
A former four-term state representative, Ingram was on the board of directors of the Salem Boys and Girls Club and past chairman of the Council on Aging.
His philanthropy resulted in construction of the Russell and the late Roberta “Bobbi” Ingram Senior Center in their hometown.
Craig lands big fish
Democratic candidate for governor Tom Sherman of Rye endorsed Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to succeed him as the next gubernatorial nominee.
“Joyce’s leadership in Manchester has brought a resurgence in the city, attracting hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development and thousands of good-paying jobs,” said Sherman, a former state senator who lost to Gov. Chris Sununu last November.
“Joyce is ready to lead New Hampshire forward and she has what it takes to win back the corner office. Joyce is battle-tested and has won tough elections, including defeating a popular four-term incumbent Republican to become the first Democratic Mayor of Manchester since 2005.”
Ricciardi rakes it in
As a rank-and-file senator, Sen. Denise Ricciardi, R-Bedford, may have set a record Thursday when she raised more than $100,000 at her fall reception at the Fotia Greek Taverna in Manchester.
She had 12 hosts chipping in $5,000 each and another four sponsors that gave her $2,500 each.
Hot hearing coming up
Rep. Erica Layon, R-Derry, and two conservative co-sponsors are proposing a plan to outlaw gender transition surgery for minors and to change the definition of conversion therapy.
The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee will take testimony Tuesday on the amendment, which seeks to refine a retained bill (HB 619) from Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield.
It’s a busy week at the Legislative Office Building, with policy committees facing a Nov. 17 deadline to make recommendations on more than 200 leftover measures.
Five panels are holding executive sessions this week.
Law library closing for monthThe John W. King Law Library at the New Hampshire Supreme Court will be closed for four weeks starting this Wednesday for asbestos abatement work.
During this time, librarians will be available by phone (603) 271-3777 or email (lawlibrary@courts.state.nh.us).
“We will move the most frequently requested books like the New Hampshire Practice Series out of the library so users will still be able to borrow a limited selection of titles,” said Law Librarian Mary Searles.
The law library’s computers will be inaccessible, but the Westlaw legal database will be available at the public libraries in Derry, Littleton, Portsmouth and Dover, officials said.
Trump goes retail
With his Secret Service detail in tow, former President Donald Trump is in the bubble whenever he campaigns.
It was clear Trump enjoyed filing in New Hampshire last Monday, going through a rope line and holding babies, taking selfies and lingering with supporters who offered their best wishes.
This is not standard behavior for a candidate used to giving a one-hour-plus speech from a teleprompter and hustling off back to the motorcade.
“He was so generous of his time and seemed to be having fun,” said a top legislative staffer who preferred to remain anonymous.
“You see him this way and it’s a different side to the public persona, where he can come off as a pompous ass.”
Contentious meeting
A meeting of the Hillsborough County House delegation got personal last week when executive committee leadership called on state Rep. Maria Perez, I-Milford, to step down.
Perez, who left the Democratic Party a few weeks ago, must vacate her seat on the governing committee, Democratic leaders said.
Perez refused, prompting Chair and Rep. Sherry Dutzy, D-Nashua, to introduce a resolution allowing the full delegation in the future to decide whether to rescind its executive committee makeup and create one balanced by political party.
All Democrats on the executive panel endorsed the idea, and all Republicans abstained.
This came after Hillsborough County Attorney John Coughlin got some but not all the additional staff he had asked for to erase a backlog of cases created by COVID-19.
A close veto fight
Sununu went nine-for-nine on having his vetoes upheld last week, but one was close — his rejection of the bill (HB 337) increasing the notice and document access requirements for the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Led by House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Chair Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, the House voted, 251-104, to override, surpassing the necessary two-thirds majority.
Then-Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, Majority Whip Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, and Sen. Keith Murphy, R-Manchester, all endorsed the idea.
“I was kind of surprised to see the governor veto this bill,” Carson said. “What is really at issue here and who are we advocating for? We talk about transparency of government; this would help get it done.”
But Senate President Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, came to Sununu’s rescue, getting the other 10 Senate Republicans to sustain the veto. The vote was 12-11 to override, four votes shy of the number needed in the Senate.
