A 2008 Priority for NH Dems: Keep the Executive Council

One reason the EC gets ignored (4.00 / 1)

is that the districts don't even follow news media coverage areas. My local paper covers most of the state Senate district and a lot of House districts. But it covers only a sliver on the EC district geography.

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by: elwood @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 11:10:51 AM UTC

Districts (4.00 / 1)

The district for the Executive Council are set up so that each district covers 1/5 of the population of the state, Hence the strange boundries.

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by: bobbruce @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 12:08:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes - (4.00 / 1)

The councilors have equal power within the state and are therefore subject to "one man, one vote" redistricting, just as state Senators are. County government is not: each county raises its own money and elects its own leaders.

But the result is districts that follow no particular geographic or demographic boundaries.

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by: elwood @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 12:33:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

correct (4.00 / 3)

That is true, that is one thing that people do not realize is that when you are elected Executive Councilor from your District descisions that are made by you can affect the whole state not just your District.  I get it all the time when talking to people , "I'd like to help you out but you are not in my district" and so I have to explain to them why they should help.

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by: bobbruce @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 12:51:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank You! (0.00 / 0)

The Executive Council is important, but the races will be buried by TV ads for the presidential and senate races. As has been discussed here previously, any Democratic governor who has to go to a Republican EC to get permission to appoint agency heads and get approval for state contracts bears a significant burden.

This is yet another reason why it's so important to educate voters to Vote from the Bottom Up for the lower profile offices. Many new voters will arrive at the polls Nov. 4 to vote for Obama, Shaheen, Shea-Porter or Hodes - and it's up to us to make sure they vote for their Democratic legislative candidates, county nominees and Council candidates, too!

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by: Tim Ashwell @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 11:33:39 AM UTC

New designation (0.00 / 0)

Now just what would an R,i be, or a D,i be? Would this be a person who wants confused people to vote for them but doesn't care enough to support the principles of that person's party? Dems seem to have a large number of DINOs and Republicans have their own RINOs. Why don't they get together and form the WINOs or something?  

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by: xteeth @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 11:41:21 AM UTC

a standard (4.00 / 1)

often used by the press to designate whom the incumbent is. It is not featured on the ballot.

Hope >> Fear





Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

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by: Mike Hoefer @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 12:04:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It kind of interesting to me (4.00 / 2)

that the nominees for Governor don't run as a team (or at least don't appear to) with the nominees for Executive Council. The Governor needs the Executive Council to be effective. But, you don't see "Lynch/Pignatelli" or "Kenney/Wieczorek" being promoted as a team ticket in the Executive Council districts like other states do, for example, with a Lt. Governor.

A lot of people don't know about the Executive Council, but I think it's one of the most interesting checks and balances our New Hampshire system of government has. To me, it makes a lot more sense to have an Executive Council perform the "advise and consent" role over executive and judicial appointments than a legislative body, like the Senate, as happens at the federal level. In a worst case (or maybe most cynical) scenario, it strikes me as better to trade confirmation votes for regional favoritism in the doling out of state contracts than to trade confirmation votes for support for bad legislation that can cause more harm to the public at large.

For as much relative constitutional power as the Executive Council has, I'm really disappointed it doesn't get more attention.

Good job on bringing this up, Elwood!

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by: Alex Gallichon @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 17:42:27 PM UTC

District 4 (4.00 / 7)

As the Democratic Nominee for District 4, I would say that a lot of my time campaigning is taken up with educating people on what the council is or does in Concord, in a crowd of 60 people I am lucky to have 1 or 2 raise their hands when I ask the question, "Does any one here know what the Executive Council does". My website www.bobbruce.org has a whole section on the history and duties of an Executive Councilor.

Bob Bruce
Executive Council Candidate
District 4

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by: bobbruce @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 19:59:28 PM UTC

Thanks - (4.00 / 1)

I'll link to the map on your site, which shows the boundaries of all five districts.

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by: elwood @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 20:12:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bob, thank you (0.00 / 0)

Even though only a part of Hooksett is in your district, and hence a sliver of our County, we appreciate your stopping by the Merrimack County Dems picnic yesteday, and even more your $
I hope you get the Executive Council seat !

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 15:17:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You are welcome (4.00 / 1)

It was a great picnic and I was glad to be able to help.

Bob

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by: bobbruce @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:54:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great link to see what the council is doing and has done (4.00 / 1)

http://www.sos.nh.gov/g&c%20mi...

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by: bobbruce @ Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 13:25:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Shea, Hollingworth and Pignatelli (4.00 / 1)

All do an admirable job. All three deserve our support.

As someone who has run for the council, it is very difficult, voters do not grasp the power, influence and importance of the councilors. Anything we can do to support our three Dems would be worth the effort.

I also want to put in a good word for Bob Bruce and Mike Cauble. Both men are serious, competent and are in politics for all the good reasons.

Burton and Wieczorek are in politics "to be somebody" not "to do something" for the people.

Burton smiles, remembers your name, but has failed to save the north country from economic disaster. 32 years since his first election and what can he seriously claim as an accomplishment? Burton is awol when it comes to leading. Wieczorek, well don't get me started, it is shameful this man holds public office. That's all I am going to say about him.

Have you told a stranger today about Bill O'Brien and his Tea Party agenda? The people of NH deserve to hear about O'Brien  and his majority committed to destroying New Hampshire and remaking it into a armed survivalist preserve.  

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 23:05:37 PM UTC

Ray where is Shea campaigning ? (0.00 / 0)

We never see him around these parts at events etc.
He had signs dropped off at our picnic but never showed up

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 15:19:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]