Manchester City Chairman Bob Backus calls out Free Stater candidates on municipal GOP slate

by: ManchDems

Wed Oct 12, 2011 at 10:00:24 AM EDT

"Manchester City Democrats have linked seven candidates for city office with the libertarian-minded group for signing on to the Free State Project, posting to the group's website, being listed as friends of the organization or for receiving an endorsement from members of the project."

"We think they bring to New Hampshire a perspective that's not a native-grown New Hampshire perspective. I think that's something people should know," Backus continued. "We've always had a pro-individual liberty streak to us. In spite of that, I think most citizens believe we do have a community we all share and support. Not everyone should be on his own all the time."

This should come as no surprise to regular Blue Hampshire readers. Our own The Money Magician discussed these very ties last month. To whit:

"I assume everyone here knows what the Free State Project is.  At this point, they have about a thousand people in the state, and over 10,000 people signed up to move to New Hampshire when they hit the 20,000 mark, which, at current rates, will be in about ten years."

"We have some running for office in Manchester. They're a curious bunch. It's great fun - at least, until they get elected.  We have a lot of trouble getting good candidates for city office.  If these folks aren't outed, and their opponent is weak, they're likely to win."

And make no mistake - extreme they are. Let's run down this cast of characters and where they stand. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you -Manchester's Free State Candidates

Craig Haynie - Alderman Ward 2  
"Ward 2 Alderman Ron Ludwig is facing a challenge from Craig Haynie, who spoke before the aldermen in June opposing the treatment of the protesters (who were protesting the Manchester Police Dept.) . Both are featured on Free State websites." Union Leader, 7/31/2011

Roy Shoults - School Board Ward 4
"Greetings and welcome to New Hampshire to all incoming Free Staters from a New York transplant who saw a good thing and moved here seven years ago, have increasingly loved it, and knew this was the very best state to choose for the Free State Project. - Roy Shoults,
Sr, Manchester, NH" FreeStateProject.org, 11/03/04

Phil Greazzo - Alderman Ward 10
"FSP Friend Phil Greazzo won his race for Alderman." FreeStateBlogs.net, 03/11/20

Greazzo was listed as a FSP "Organizer & Volunteer." FreeStateProject.org, 2008

Greazzo defended a FSP member who walked into a police station carrying a gun, and then refused to show up for his court date.

Question: It would be nice if we could set up something that helps to keep that kind of thing from happening again, without people feeling like they have to automatically cooperate with the police.

Greazzo's Response: "Yeah I think that better communication among the the folks that would be employing that tactic might help them obviously the police are entering houses without proper warrants, and in that case I wouldn't open my door either.
YouTube,4/21/2010

Emily Sandblade - Alderman Ward 11
Sandblade published a "The Top Ten Reasons Why The Mafia Is Better Than The State" on a Free State Project
website.  [FreeStateProject.org, accessed
9/28/2011 http://freestateproject.org/fi...

Mike Segal - Alderman Ward 5  
"Ward 5 Alderman Ed Osborne is facing a challenge from Mike Segal, an organizer for Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign and one of the protesters involved in the Manchester police station incident." Union Leader, 7/31/2011

Jean Esslinger - Selectman Ward 1  
Esslinger was endorsed by the Free State Project because if they " can influence an election, it will be HUGE" and fits with the Free State Project "ideologically." FreeStateProject.org, Oct. 2007

Cam Dejong - Selectman Ward 2
Listed under the "Great News" section on on Free State Project website was an alter than "FSPer Cam DeJong won his racefor Selectman."  [FreeStateBlogs.net,
03/11/20 http://freestateblogs.net/blog...