The Fragmented Executive: Accountability in NH

I really don't believe (0.00 / 0)

most voters here understand that, when they elect the Governor, they don't give him or her the authority to pick a management team.

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 01:09:30 AM UTC

Man, I wish I wasn't beat from writing my own diary (0.00 / 0)

Because this is something people have to know, and I'd love to comment more fully.

Really. Stuff like this is just not explained to people like me.

Thankfully, I read on Saturday that John Shea returned from Belgium, and is ready to go. He sounded kinda cool actually.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 01:31:37 AM UTC

I Heard... (0.00 / 0)

That John Lynch lives in his district, and didn't even vote for him.  Wasn't Chea soem kind of tolken candidate?

In theory, anyway...

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 04:18:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sort of (4.00 / 1)

He's had a longtime interest in politics, served on the Keene City Council, and even ran for Governor in the 1960s. But his candidacies for EC over the past several elections have been token efforts: a sign or two, maybe a letter in one newspaper.

The man he defeated, Peter Spaulding, was a local neighbor of Lynch and has a reputation of being more ready to reach across the aisle than some of the other councilors.Lynch's reported vote isn't so surprising.

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 12:00:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I you look closely at that photo of Lynch splitting his ticket (0.00 / 0)

You'll notice John Lynch didn't even vote for himself. He thought that might be a bit too partisan.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 13:52:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There's a picture? (0.00 / 0)

I havent seen it.  Could you find it?

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 18:19:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Laura has it. Laura? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 18:48:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"We offered" as pompous as (4.00 / 1)

Ashooh's need "to educate" Hodes and CSP.

I'm so divided on the idea of the executive council.

On the one hand, I do think there may be an inherent flaw in our US Consitution that allows the executive branch too much leverage.  Either that or presidents have taken more and more power without the other two branches having had an effective way to stop it.  Not just Nixon to Bush II; this drive seems to have been ongoing from at least TR.

On the other hand, the clear check that the executive council provides to our state exec, the gov'nr, also has serious problems.

My best guess is that as long as two parties dominate the landscape of elected representatives, the EC just adds an additional partisan wrinkle to the political strategy, rather than the real check intended by the NH framers.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:11:20 AM UTC

I was playing around with election results (0.00 / 0)

and I mapped towns to EC districts. Unlike counties, they must  adhere to "one man-one vote" principles.

The map is just flat-out bizarre. And, nobody knows what it looks like. Quick: How far south does Ray Burton's district reach?

Once Councilors get ensconced, they seem pretty comfortable in their role. Why not? They have enormous leverage over the state budget and all high-level appointments, and whatever deals they cut are undocumented: no legislative trail.

It should be abolished, we should add a few more Senate seats, and the Senate should take over confirmation of high-level nominees.

Needs a Constitutional amendment...

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:18:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We ought to start an "Executive Council Project" (4.00 / 1)

on this site, just to educate ourselves and others on the what, who, and why of this circumspect group.

I know that Blotnar ran a good campaign against Burton (so that means Burton somehow falls into Cornish), but Burton's permanence around here ultimately gave him the edge, despite even getting a smackdown from the UL:

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:30:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Newport / Charlestown (4.00 / 1)

It appears to reach down that far. An EC project would be pretty cool. We'd probably attract some academics and historians who though they would die without finding such a forum...

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:35:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Blotner ran a good campaign? (0.00 / 0)

Who did you talk to?

I live in Burton's district, and working for the local Dems, heard a few things about Blotner.  Apparently he never raised any money to campaign with.  I wasn't aware of any campaign appearances he made, at least not im my area. 

Frankly, i'm not sure what he did besides put his name on the ballot. 

I'm not even sure he did that!  Our county democratic chair put together some signs and flyers on his computer and asked us all to print them out for Mark Blotner, and please ask people to write him in for the democratic nomination in the September primary because he hadn't filed in time to get his name on the ballot.

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 04:28:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You are right on all counts. (0.00 / 0)

I missspoke.  What I meant was that he came closer than I expected.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 04:37:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He came close... (0.00 / 0)

for the same reason that Democrats won the NH House...

This was a Democratic wave.  For many voters, it didn't matter  how nice the Republican was, they were gone because of the "R" next to their name.

I know many Democrats, even some regular Kossaks, who voted for Ray Burton.  Anyone who knows him, likes him.  Thats why he survived the wave.

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 04:41:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ray Burton... (0.00 / 0)

Doesn't his district go as far south as Meredeth?

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 04:29:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wot a difference, huh................. (0.00 / 0)

..........from the unitary executive that our-man-in-Washington is? Or at least claims to be?

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:19:20 AM UTC

Exactly (0.00 / 0)

I started out planning to explore that, but decided it was a rathole.

There are some definitions of "unitary executive" that seem pretty defensible, and in keeping with the idea that the voters can change the Executive. Credible political theorists worry about agencies like the Federal Reserve.

Maybe Armando can sign up here...

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:22:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Slight correction (4.00 / 2)

The Secretary of State and the State Treasurer are elected by the Legislature, not appointed by the Governor.

Unfortunately, in 2005, Gov. Lynch reappointed Kelly Ayotte Attorney General to a 4 year term.  Stephen's term is up in October when hopefully the Governor will replace him...maybe even with a Democrat.

Can someone explain to me why, if they love the Constitution so much, the right-wingers keep introducing amendments to change it?

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by: NHFlatlander @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:34:48 AM UTC

Thanks (0.00 / 0)

That sounds right, now that I think on it: I recall House votes on re-appointing / nominating Gardner.

Yet another example, though, of opacity in government: The Governor appoints the Attorney General, the legislature (or General Court) appoints the Secretary of State.

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by: elwood @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 03:45:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]