Stonyfield CEO Gary Hirshberg seriously looking at Senate Run UPDATE: Marchand will run

The Herald story (4.00 / 1)

here.

Marchand said his choice was made easier after he received information that neither Gov. John Lynch nor former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen were interested in taking on Sununu next year. His decision was also bolstered by a statement made recently by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., that Democrats intended to target the New Hampshire Senate race, along with two others, in 2008.

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by: elwood @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 17:13:28 PM UTC

I figured Shaheen woulnd't run again... (0.00 / 0)

just a feeling.

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 17:16:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Should be an interesting primary (0.00 / 0)

I don't know anything about their views on anything.

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by: Alex Gallichon @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 17:44:23 PM UTC

Marchand (0.00 / 0)

Here is his [www.cityofportsmouth.com/mayor/bio.htm bio]with the City of Portsmouth. I think that I heard him describe himself somewhere as fiscally conservative, socially moderate, and environmentally progressive, or some words to that effect.

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by: gradysdad @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 18:39:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We will turn this state solid blue (4.00 / 1)

I'm really looking forward to this race. Two or three good candidates will really bring publicity to the race and help the eventual nominee gain some momentum for the general.

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by: Scoonie @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 19:35:59 PM UTC

This is fantastic news. (0.00 / 0)

I'm usually more inclined to dislike successful businessmen who run for office because they have the money, but this is an entirely different situation.  This guy built a hugely successful business that promotes local agriculture and which features organic food prominently.

Since Elwood's diary came at roughly the same time, I'll blockquote it here since his commentary is also good (and check out the blogs on their website; very cute):

DiStaso reports that Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirschberg is considering a run for the Senate against Sununu.

Stonyfield Farms got into blogging as a marketing outreach tool after being inspired by the Dean campaign.

Gary hosted Tom Vilsack earlier this year.

We may have a fairly crowded Senate primary: Marchand and Gottesman are publicly considering a run, Shaheen is being coy, and many of us believe Peter Burling is fairly well positioned. As I've observed repeatedly, New Hampshire lacks statewide "steppingstone" elective offices such Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General; as a result our political leaders cannot build solid bases from which to launch a campaign for Governor or Senator. We've had a long history of wealthy people "coming out of nowhere" to win statewide: Mel Thomson, Gordon Humphrey, John Lynch.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 20:00:33 PM UTC

And I should add... (0.00 / 0)

that if Hirschberg can get the farmers behind him, many of whom in the past made up a good voting block for more traditional (meaning: sane) Republicans, he'll be able to use that support to spread the word about him locally in rural areas.

The cogs in my mind are spinning on this faster than I can type...

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 20:06:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

OK, Marchand better give us something soon (4.00 / 1)

because this from Hirschberg pretty much made my day:

"Any thinking person who cares about the future of our state and country has to be very dismayed by Senator Sununu's nearly unanimous lockstep votes in support of the Bush administration's failed policies," he said in a statement.

  "Certainly his failure to face the facts about climate change and his complete lack of leadership on any initiative to reduce our dependency on polluting energy sources are among many reasons that it is time for us to seek new representation for a state that deserves better," he said.

Huzzah!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 20:40:54 PM UTC

Perhaps I spoke too soon... (0.00 / 0)

This is encouraging as well:

Marchand said he would be helped by his own political experience as a strategist and organizer for others and by his "world view," which, he said, is in line with "the New Hampshire world view ... fiscally conservative and socially moderate and environmentally progressive." He called the late Sen. Paul Tsongas, D-Mass., and former Sen. Warren Rudman, R-N.H., his political role models.

I'm so excited that there is early attention to this race, because it will take a significant amount of time and energy on all of our parts to get this job done right.

Here's to a healthy and vigorous primary, which will culminate in a unified effort to win back a Senate spot for the people of this state.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jan 11, 2007 at 23:48:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

They're both good candidates (0.00 / 0)

Although Elwood will tell you Gary has the historical advantage.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 00:17:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Marchand (0.00 / 0)

I have my doubts that Marchand would be taken seriously by the voting population. I'm not sure he has the "gravitas".

I do agree that I'm hoping for a healthy, competitive primary to vet the candidates.

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by: Scoonie @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 00:30:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

gravitas ? (0.00 / 0)

To your concern of gravitas, does being a hippie farmer turned Yogurt king imply more gravitas than being a Mayor of one of our wonderful Seacoast Communities ? Steve ran the Concord Coalition while Gary was first befriending and then turning on Jeanne Shaheen over an Income Tax.
Further it would be strange for Hirshfield to strongly support Vilsack and then abandon him for his own race. I bet he does not do it, as in the end the U.S. Senate is nothing like the fiefdom he runs now. Gary is passionate and concerned but his career has been notably about being different and unique, unbowed and singualarly unconcerned with popular opinion. The Senate moves at a snail's pace compared with the Senate.

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 11:59:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Coupla comments (0.00 / 0)

1. Since Stonyfield is now owned by Danone, Hirschberg reports to the parent company. It's pretty commmon for previously independent CEOs to chafe in that situation and leave.
   
2. Hirschberg has done Vilsack a big favor already, by giving him more credibility with progressives and by introducing him to local activists. Being involved with his own campaign while continuing to support him would nor be abandonment. Governors face the same situation all the time -- endorsing a candidate while running their own race.
   
3. I don't know anything about Marchand beyond the fact that he's Mayor of Portsmouth and was a leader in the Concord Coalition. So, I have no opinion on his 'gravitas.'  But Hirschberg has it. The "hippie" description is his own, but he was more a Stewart Brand than a Wavy Gravy (few stereotypical hippies were published authors). The grants to UNH's agricultural program also add to his reputation as as serious player.
   

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by: elwood @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 17:05:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bottoms Up? (0.00 / 0)

Scoonie, I hate to be cynical, but it is genetic, so I will be cynical.  To the extent that either of these candidates was discussed as a potential candidate (and they both were), could it be because they and/or their friends were talking about it behind the scenes, so it filtered across to the blogs, or, could some of their friends or supporters started the on line discussion?  The net can be an echo chamber as well as a petri dish.
But these two are both great potential candidates.  Very exciting!! Lets see who else shows up!  And, if it these two, do you think one of them will try to paint the other as the "establishment" candidate? 

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by: Frodo @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 02:00:02 AM UTC

Marchand started getting attention (0.00 / 0)

when he started sending out public signals -- e.g., when he met with Obama.

Scoonie was actually one of the first to float Gary's name -- but if he hadn't, I was right behind. I'm not associated with either -- but Hirschberg fits the template of the successful statewide candidate in NH (other than legacies like Gregg and Sununu): a millionaire who suddenly appears. (I know Gary a bit, and fortunately he would be a great candidate.)

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by: elwood @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 02:30:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yogurt (0.00 / 0)

He certainly produces a great yogurt, has created jobs, and has a great environmental and jobs record! 

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by: Frodo @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 02:40:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

frodo (0.00 / 0)

I don't take any credit for either of their candidacies. I just think that lots of people read these blogs, and discussing potential candidates can have some amount of influence on the decision-making process. It certainly doesn't hurt.

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by: Scoonie @ Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 03:12:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hirshberg as a Candidate (0.00 / 0)

I just hope that Hirshberg is not another Jim Pederson in AZ (multi-millionaire but a pretty horrible candidate).

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by: Scoonie @ Sat Jan 13, 2007 at 19:49:02 PM UTC