Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: Straight Ticket Voting Cost The Democrats Several Seats In 06

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 19:58:33 PM EDT

The partisan enclaves are still there even without the straight ticket, and candidates in those parties will still have an edge, but not an edge so great that people who don't work hard from the opposite parties won't have a chance.

This improves the race on both side, because perhaps the only thing worse than a candidate who doesn't think they can win is a politician who doesn't think they can lose.

Before 2006, we had no data to prove this, but thankfully the Secretary of State's office counted Straight Ticket ballots just in time for them to be rightfully removed, and those in the enclaves would not have seen their margins changed for the most part.

On the Democratic side, the Upper Valley wouldn't be touched. Grafton 9 (Hanover/Lyme), the safest State Rep District in the State for Democrats, had no Republicans run; and Grafton 11 (Lebanon Wards 1-3) would have seen the Democrats lose 863 votes, leaving a margin of 332 votes between the lowest vote getter among the Democrats and the highest vote getter among the Republicans.

In Keene, the same rings true. There still would have been seven Democrats taking the seven seats there, only with the margin of victory between 7th place and 8th place being 413 rather than 1656.

The same thing happens again and again throughout the Democratic strongholds, which is to be expected since 2006 was a Democratic year anyway, but what about the Republican strongholds?

If there was not a straight ticket vote in 2006, Democrats would have won even more seats.

Hillsborough 18 (Bedford) was the opposite end of the spectrum from Hanover, with Republicans receiving 665 more straight ticket votes than Democrats, but it would have taken another 629 votes for any Democrat to get past the GOP sweep there.

Likewise in with the GOP 7 seat sweep in Belknap 5 (Alton, Barnstead, Belmont and Gilford), where no straight ticket would have netted Democrats 73 votes, but there was a difference of 260 votes between 7th place and 8th place, but that's about it.

There still would have been a recount in Rockingham 11 (East Kingston and Newton), as Mary Allen(r) won the seat by one vote, she only got an extra 16 votes from straight ticketing according to SOS figures.

The GOP sweep in Rockingham 3 (Windham/Salem) would have changed. In that district, Republicans gained 428 votes from straight ticketing, but there were three Democrats who were within that margin.

There were also two Democrats within less than 70 votes in Rockingham 5 (Derry), but Republicans got a bonus 556 votes from straight tickets.

The only district where Democrats would have lost ground is in Hillsborough 14 (Manchester Ward 7), and that was one seat.

Here in Merrimack, we've been a conservative town in the past, but we're becoming a swing town. In '06, there were 18 more Democratic straight tickets than Republican straight tickets believe it or not. I'm not going to weep over losing those 18 votes in exchange for the peace of mind in knowing that in districts like mine, even in bad years, Democrats can win if they work hard.  

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: Change Doesn't Come From Concord, It Comes To Concord

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 20:28:42 PM EDT

My journey in politics began in the Spring of 2003 volunteering for Howard Dean at Keene State College. That year and that campaign made me believe that anything was politically possible, and eventually led me to come back to my hometown to help assail what seemed to be the impossible task of getting Democrats elected here in Merrimack.

While the core of what being a Deaniac meant never left, as the weather grew colder that year, so did I. The fatigue and tedium changed my focus that year changed from helping elect Dean to helping elect a Democrat that would defeat Bush, no matter who it was. By December of 2004, I became jaded towards Presidential Politics.

During this presidential primary cycle, the ambivalence hadn't worn off, but the scale and scope had changed. I must've went everywhere and saw everything that all of the campaigns on both sides had to offer across this great state and beyond.

But even that couldn't bring me back to the summer of 2003. Whenever I heard the candidates speak, what I heard wasn't what they said or what their words meant, but the substance between the words: how those words were said and perceived by potential voters.

I've begun blogging about my travels along the campaign trail here at the bottom of the ticket because so much attention is given to the Presidential campaign that you would think it's the only race being contested this year.

However, the campaign for President is so large that even us small fries get caught up in it, and that happened the other night at a small convention watch party the Merrimack Democrats had at our town chair's house.

Obama's speech was pleasing because of how he said it, he was finally attacking the attacks of McCain, but other than the tone of what Obama said, I honestly couldn't tell you a single thing other than a single part that resonated with me...

"...You have shown what history teaches us - that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington.  Change comes to Washington.  Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time..."

I have lost track of how many times I had heard Barack Obama speak, either to an audience I was in, or even to my own face. (in Hampton he told me he didn't like stickers on his suit, in Nashua he told me I had asked him too many questions and that somebody else deserved a turn, etc.) Each time I heard him speak, it was in that hardened mold that was born in the Fall of 2003, not caring what he said, but how everybody perceived what he said.

But for that paragraph at Invesco Field, I was transported back to Jack Spratt's farm in Walpole listening to Howard Dean tell us we could change the world, because it captured why the hell I was here better than I could say it myself.

It may seem cliche, but we are at a critical moment in our history where a new way of thinking must replace the old ways, where new leaders challenge the beliefs of the established elite in order to make sure our entire way of life does not collapse from a tired complacency of failed tactics.

The voters of Merrimack are sick of those failed tactics in Concord, whether they be constitutional amendments on education, the 150,000 residents across the state without healthcare, taxes rising without seeming to return any immediate value, or here in Merrimack the endless failures from proposing doomed legislation to bring us a just toll system.

That change isn't going to come from Concord, it is going to come to Concord.

Several days now after he spoke those words, their essence is still rattling around my mind.

These words may sound unusual since I am a Democrat, and both houses of the legislature and the Governor's office are Democratic, and what may sound more unusual is that there are many talented people on both sides of the aisle currently serving in Concord.

Those public servants are like the words in the candidates' speeches, what is the issue is the substance between the words: the actions that trickle down to the average person who is not as politically involved as we are to help them believe that things can get better, that solutions can be obtained.

That is not going to change from the inside, it will take new people.

And that's why four years later, i'm still here in Merrimack, trying to come to Concord.

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: Registrar Or Register Of Deeds?

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 00:50:44 AM EDT

RSA 478 says they're registers, not registars. However, Webster's says that a Register is an object or a verb, wheras a Registrar is a person.

With pressing issues like these determining our choice of Register or Registrar of Deeds, why the hell this position is elected and not appointed, I do not know.

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: The Phantom Oil Drilling Platform Off Hampton Beach

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 00:29:07 AM EDT

They were friendly, fair, and forthright; we had a good conversation, and I think we stuck up a good rapport.

For the most part, it was a pretty average conversation, whether it be from the perspective of a Merrimack voter (they talked about toll booths), a Republican voter (they talked about taxes), or an average voter (they talked about politicians suck).

However, there was one thing that caught me, and that was how the wife asked me why the state of New Hampshire doesn't drill for oil off Hampton Beach.

I was a little perplexed, considering there is no oil off the shores of Hampton Beach, but she swore she saw an oil drilling platform out there. Considering I haven't been to Hampton Beach in around a year, and that was at night, I decided to be diplomatic and try and change the subject gingerly.

Since it's a Federal rather than a State issue, i'll let the big wigs discuss the issue considering there isn't any oil off the shores of New Hampshire. In the meantime though, if anyone knows what the oil drilling platform this woman is talking about actually is, please let me know.

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: The Things We Can Control And The Things We Can't Control

by: Andrew Sylvia

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 12:23:57 PM EDT

That question has generally bugged me considering there are so many other races on the ballot in November, and was part of the reason why i'm blogging about what it's like to be running a campaign at the bottom of the ticket, but I figured i'd tell him what I really thought and tell him that it's only on the periphery of my focus right now and that I was focusing on myself.

He replied to me "Good, in economics there are things we can control, and things we can't control. It's best just to worry about the things we can control and forget about all the rest."

Barack Obama wasn't going to put Hillary Clinton as the VP just because somebody might have asked him out of fear that the Hillary voters weren't going to show up at the polls for me. Nor should we fear the zombie narrative that these tidal shifts are going to be the deciding factor, and i'm talking to Republicans too on that. This will be a Democratic year, generic Democrats are consistently polling 5 to 10 points better than their generic Republican rivals, but the races will be decided on the ground everywhere, regardless of anything else. Whoever works harder will win.

I may be wrong, but if I am, there's nothing I can do about it, so why worry about the things out of our control? I am working hard and that's all that I can control.  

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: Switching Into High Gear

by: Andrew Sylvia

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 12:03:05 PM EDT

I knew that the transition from pre-convention campaigning to post-convention campaigning would be a jarring one, but it still caught me off guard.

I didn't expect anyone else to start up seriously until the last week of August, and here we are. I'm just glad I took my opponents seriously enough to start six weeks earlier than the traditional state rep campaign in Merrimack has begun in the past.  

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: "I Don't Believe In No Stinking Curses"

by: Andrew Sylvia

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 11:50:03 AM EDT

Even if I didn't have the stigma of the partisan version of the Curse of the Bambino to fight, the candidates I face are all incredibly formidable, so I knew i'd have to go above and beyond what is considered traditional campaigning for a state rep in Merrimack.

I wish I had gotten a picture of the grass in front of Zyla's, a really cheap retail store here in town, and a local landmark of sorts, particularly when it comes to gauging who is seriously campaigning.

At the beginning of August/end of July, my signs were the only ones up along with Pamela Coughlin for Registrar of Deeds.

Right now, there are signs for me, Coughlin, John Stephens, Jeb Bradley, Deb Pignatelli, Stephen Stepanek, Peter Batula, Jim O'Neil, Arthur Beaudry, and I believe one or two more. By the end of September, you won't be able to see the ground on that tiny strip of grass and dirt.

Some people have asked me why I got my signs up so early, and to that I now quote Pedro Martinez...

"I don't believe in no stinking curses."

We make our own luck in life.  

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: Nashua Telegraph Questionaire/State Budget Overview Up

by: Andrew Sylvia

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:51:51 AM EDT

In it, I mention information about our state budget, which i'm going to be discussing here on my website, continuing with the evolving discussion on the state budget a few weeks ago.

To kick off this restart of the discussion, here is an excel spreadsheet overview of the six major parts of the state budget from 2006 to 2009 and where the money for it according to the New Hampshire Legislative Budget Assistant's office.

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: The NRA Questionaire and The Guy At The Polls

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 19:37:41 PM EDT

"Oh, you're Andy Sylvia? You got a D from the NRA! You don't deserve to be a state rep, you don't know anything about guns, you need to learn!"

And he was livid, out of the blue he just walked over yelling. "What did I ever do to this guy?" I asked myself, perplexed at what had transpired.

Then a conservative friend of mine starting talking about guns, and strangely enough I began to understand it the same way I, and many people on the left see abortion rights, which in itself is enough for an entire article.

That conversation, along with seeing the degradation of our Constitution* gave me new respect for the Second Amendment of the US Bill of Rights as well as Article 2a of the New Hampshire State Constitution, which is almost identical in its scope.

I probably construe the the Second Amendment/Article 2a differently than that guy who yelled at me that day since I don't construe shooting people as part of bearing arms or defending yourself(in 2a) except in a militia (which now I assume means the National Guard).

Fortunately, word had gotten to him that apparently I don't bite, and we had a good discussion at Deliberative Session a few months ago. He's never shot anyone, but on top of that he's a proud union member and is just as angry at run of the mill Republicans for trying to harm labor rights that affect him as a blue collar worker as he is at run of the mill Democrats for trying to deny his Second Amendment rights.

Since we talked back at Deliberative Session, we've talked a few more times, and I figured this time i'd ask for him to teach me about gun issues while doing the NRA questionaire again considering he made such a big deal about it in 2006.

I honestly don't know if i'll submit the NRA questionaire this year irregardless of my new friend's help. There are many people I trust who have told me just to ignore it, and that i'll be downgraded just because I am a Democrat, as it seemed with some other voter guides.

In the end though, the grade from the NRA if I decide to submit the questionaire isn't as important as hearing his views as well as the views of people in Merrimack who favor gun control so I can hopefully be part of crafting solutions to issues that reflect the views of Merrimack in the legislature.

He said I got his vote and he's going to put my sign on his lawn.

*-Ambiguity of "Free Speech Zones" breaking the 1st Amendment, The FISA Vote breaking the 4th Amendment, many cases of ignoring the Geneva Convention among other treaties ratified by Congress and signed by past presidents breaking Article VI, abuse of Executive Signments breaking Article I, etc. etc. etc.

Tales From The Bottom Of The Ticket: The Grandma Who Gave Three Dollars

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 18:25:46 PM EDT

I've had a few instances like that, but one in particular has really stuck in my mind. There was a little old lady a week or so ago that saw that I was running for office and out of the blue gave me three dollars. She was just so grateful that someone asked for her vote it seems.

She's asked me not to reveal her name, so if you think you know who i'm talking about, it's somebody else. Still, I wanted to thank her publically even though I know she might feel embarrased that I am thanking her.

She shouldn't. It'd be nice if we could all try to be nicer to each other, and if at all possible, perform a kind deed like she did.

Toll Booths

by: Andrew Sylvia

Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 14:54:06 PM EDT

Due to an emergency yesterday, I used the toll booths in Hooksett on I-93.

For many of you, that might not seem like a big deal, but I see using a New Hampshire toll booth the same way a Jehovah's Witness might see testifying in court or voting. I only wish I were as pious as they seem to be, i've lost track of how many times i've gone through the tolls this year, I suppose i'm fortunate that i've kept it in the single digits despite going from Merrimack to Concord and back just about every day.

Tolls are the second biggest issue from people i've talked to at doors, but unfortunately in their eyes it's tinged with the biggest issue: nobody can do anything about it.

For those of you who are reading this article from outside Merrimack, let me explain simply.

Our town has 1/20th of New Hampshire's population. We have 1/3rd of the state's toll booths. Last time I checked, we do not have 1/3rd of the state's wealth.

If that is not economic injustice, I don't know what is.

The story of the tollbooths comes from the late 1980s, we wanted our exits onto the F.E Everett Turnpike expanded. So, the state came to us and said "if you want your exits expanded, you'll need to approve 'temporary' tollbooths". Twenty years later and those temporary tollbooths have become permanent due to a multi-million dollar profit the state rakes in and a lack of organized resistance from the town itself.

That must change.

It will take two years, and it will take more than myself, but I have a three point plan to fight back effectively against the injustices of the Turnpike System.

First off, we as Merrimackers must stop using the tolls. I've tried to live the example I want to preach, only using the tolls in absolute emergencies, but it'll take hundreds of Merrimackers to stop using the tolls and start saving their toll money in a grassroots effort, led by the Town Council and our delegation in Concord. Executive Councillor Deb Pignatelli has already made a great foundation with her Tolltalkers group.

Second, we need to find more Deb Pignatellis: people from outside of Merrimack who are affected by tolls. This is not an issue about Merrimack, this is an issue of social justice, if we are to succeed in Concord, all of the effort cannot come from just Merrimack. Dover faces a similiar plight to us, and many other towns and cities feel the disproportionate focus on certain areas that the Turnpike System has.

And finally, we need to use that money saved from avoiding the tolls to build a warchest to fight the tolls. Legal fees, political action groups, mass media communication, all of it costs money and all of it will probably be necessary in order to make progress on the toll issue.

I cannot guarantee a timeframe on success, but I can guarantee that we will fail if we decide to give up or continue on without any effective strategy like the one I just said above.

How Voc Rehab Shoe Inserts Changed A Man's Life

by: Andrew Sylvia

Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 14:04:36 PM EDT

One day I was talking to a voter and all of the sudden his cell phone rang and he asked me to excuse him for a second. I was happy to, but I have to admit I heard his side of the conversation which consisted mostly of one word answers ("Yes", "No", "Sure", etc.)

He apologized, I replied that it was ok, but asked him out of curiosity who it was.

It turns out the caller came from New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation. The voter lives a subistence life, he couldn't afford a car, he could barely afford his rent and utilities, and he had just gotten a job as a cook at a local diner, but wouldn't be able to accept it unless he got special shoes with certain inserts that would not slip on the kitchen floors and could support him since he had some kind of osteoporosis.

However, since he could barely afford the bare necessities of life, he couldn't afford these special shoes, so he went to voc rehab.

The voter wanted to work and be a productive member of society, but he wouldn't have been able to without that little boost, and was grateful for the assistance he had gotten.

After I left, I thought hypothethically as to what the financial costs and benefits were to what must have been a $60 or $70 pair of shoes in this man's case.

The government probably got back their investment in one or two lunch rushes from meals tax. The owner of the diner might have gotten someone else to fill the job, but maybe they wouldn't be able to and would have either had to raise their wages to attract a new employee or turn to undocumented immigrant labor. And perhaps without that job, that voter may not have found another job and lost his apartment, and the landlord wouldn't have been able to pay the property taxes on the property and it would fall into disrepair, lowering the property values throughout the neighborhood degrading the tax base to the point where it would no longer be able to sustain the services expected by its residents.

Then again, everything might have turned out just fine. The thing is though, why leave that to chance in cases like these when the solution was as simple as a pair of shoes?

Dissecting HB 1: A Responsible Budget Comes From Understanding, Not Pledges

by: Andrew Sylvia

Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 13:49:13 PM EDT

I don't want to see an Income Tax or Sales Tax, but I would much rather prefer avoiding those taxes to come from an understanding of our spending and appropriations.

So that's why I want to begin the process of going through our state budget with you all on these journals, line by line.

Are they too high? Are they too low? Is it not clear enough what the expenditures actually are? Let's figure it out together.

Today are the line items from section 01-02, the Legislative Branch

Here's the Senate's line items for Fiscal Year 2008.

01-02-01-01-11 Personal Services - Members $580.00
01-02-01-01-12 Personal Services - Permanent $1,282,379.00
01-02-01-01-13 Personal Services - Non Permanent $195,889.00
01-02-01-01-20 Current Expenses $78,500.00
01-02-01-01-30 Equipment New/Replacement $5,000.00
01-02-01-01-46 Consultants $63,000.00
01-02-01-01-60 Benefits $519,820.00
01-02-01-01-70 In-State Travel $150,500.00
01-02-01-01-80 Out-Of State Travel $24,000.00
01-02-01-01-91 Continuing Education $5,000.00
01-02-01-01-92 President's Discretionary Fund $4,500.00

Here's the House

01-02-01-02-11 Personal Services - Members $2,000.00
01-02-01-02-12 Personal Services - Permanent $1,424,587.00
01-02-01-02-13 Personal Services - Non Permanent $183,833.00
01-02-01-02-20 Current Expenses $167,500.00
01-02-01-02-30 Equipment New/Replacement $12,000.00
01-02-01-02-46 Consultants $30,000.00
01-02-01-02-60 Benefits $719,887.00
01-02-01-02-70 In-State Travel $1,077,500.00
01-02-01-02-80 Out-Of State Travel $100,000.00
01-02-01-02-90 Continuing Education $3,000.00
01-02-01-02-91 Speakers Special Account $4,500.00
01-02-01-02-92 Maj. Leaders Special Account $3,500.00
01-02-01-02-93 Min Leaders Special Account $3,000.00
01-02-01-02-96 Contingency $50,000.00

92 Days and 5 Hours To Go: The Only Thing You Can Promise Is That One Day You'll Die

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 20:06:01 PM EDT

A little while ago, I go up to a house, ring the door bell, and hear somebody yell "hey, somebody's at the door, go get it!"

So, I wait for 2 or 3 minutes until a young man comes to the door followed by what I assume was his grandfather.

The grandfather has no shirt on, and looks like a slightly shorter version of Telly Savalas, and I start to go into my script.

Apparently his most important issue is also what i've found to be the most important issue to voters, saying that things suck and all the politicians are crooked and only looking out for each other, so on and so forth.

Once he started talking about the municipal level politicians, I had to be more neutral due to my position on the Merrimack Ethics Committee, telling him about the Ethics Committee and letting him know that it's here for oversight of public employees and public officials and what to do if he thought a town employee or a town elected official was acting unethically.

However, I told him that even with the Ethics Committee, I couldn't promise anything in regards to helping him regain his trust in government, and for that matter I couldn't promise him anything other than the only three things I can promise anybody, and he replied with an interesting statement...

"I don't expect any more out of you, but the only thing anybody can ever truly promise is that one day they'll die."

We talked for another few minutes about things, and he wished me luck, thanked me for coming by as well as for running for office, and said I had gotten his vote.

Still, after that moment of clarity, I doubt that in the grand scheme of things that his or anyone else's vote is truly 100% guaranteed.

93 Days To Go: Taking It Easy

by: Andrew Sylvia

Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 19:16:40 PM EDT

One thing I learned the hard way in 2006 is not to burn out too quickly. Sometimes you've got to take a day off, and that goes for writing too.

Still, i'm making progress on the ground, so far I have more signs on lawns in Merrimack than all other State Rep candidates combined, I probably have about as many as Jeanne Shaheen, Barack Obama and John McCain for that matter.

Add to that pretty good fundraising numbers for a state rep candidate (about $600), an appearance on WMUR's Close Up this morning (i'll try to get the video of it up asap), and i'm more than happy to hold back a bit.

After all, the next few months are going to be busy. I gotta keep up this pace.

96 Days To Go: Regaining Hope

by: Andrew Sylvia

Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 18:55:54 PM EDT

In large part, the people i've talked to in Merrimack and throughout the state have had a different fatigue, and that is probably the biggest factor in what I have seen as the biggest issue our state and indeed, our country faces this fall.

It isn't healthcare, it isn't Iraq, it isn't the economy or gas prices, it isn't education or the environment or taxes or immigration or for that matter, any other thing we'd probably truly classify as an issue.

In reality, the biggest issue I see is that people might care about these or other issues, but they feel powerless to do anything about it, or they've stopped caring altogether due to the grinding and seemingly unjust nature of "the system".  Here in Merrimack, it's a lack of faith that we can ever achieve a fair and equitable turnpike system.

Before we solve any of the numerous problems our state and our country face, we first must address the the lack of faith, the lack of hope many of us feel towards the world beyond ourselves.

We must say to all people throughout our state and throughout our nation from all walks of life, from all ideological backgrounds, that they if work hard, and respect and do not harm others, they can have a chance to achieve whatever they dream, and we must say this not just with empty rhetoric, but with a tangible framework to facilitate their efforts rather than an all encompassing and strangling bureaucracy or an outsourced and soulless network that only helps a privileged few.

Because what we've lost as a nation and as a state doesn't belong to just one side of the political spectrum, it's larger than that. What we've lost is the hope of the American Dream, the unassailable belief that anything is within anyone's reach if they are just willing to grasp it, and we can reattain this if we choose to do so by working with each other rationally towards concrete solutions to the problems we face rather than engaging in endless dogmatic rancor like we have seen in the past.

I believe we can do this, but I am only human. At times I will falter, and I will ask you all to help me when I stumble towards this goal. And in return, if I am able, I will help you when you falter as well.

In the end, none of us can regain the hope we once had as a nation alone, but I am certain we will regain it if we keep on moving forward.

Heads-Up: Hamsters on WMUR's Close Up this Sunday

by: Douglas E. Lindner

Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 10:32:05 AM EDT

I actually just got back from taping it.  Again, it will air this Sunday, August 3, at 10 AM on WMUR.

Oh, and guess who plugged www.bluehampshire.com but not his own website?

97 Days To Go: What Is The Most Important Issue To Voters This Year?

by: Andrew Sylvia

Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 22:46:36 PM EDT

This can be done pretty much anywhere in New Hampshire where there are people who are stationary and not engaging in a particular activity at that moment.

You can go to Market Square in Portsmouth, Railroad Square in Keene, Eagle Square in Concord. You can go to Mine Falls Park in Nashua, Victory Park in Manchester, or Androscoggin Wayside Park in Errol.

No matter where you go in New Hampshire, you're going to get the same results for the most part when it comes to the biggest issue on the minds of voters, and this goes for Merrimack too.

However, if you'd like to know what i've found in all those places, you'll have to read tomorrow's article! Until then my friends, it's 97 days and counting...

98 Days To Go: Signs and Rumors

by: Andrew Sylvia

Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 11:04:39 AM EDT

You ignore them, and they'll grow and possibly cause problems with those who can't feel bothered to verify what they hear before they accept it as truth. You take them too seriously, and then people will accept them as truth irregardless of their veracity. Either way, i've found that you can't let them rule your actions under any circumstances or it'll just drive you mad.

So, I was a little stunned a few weeks ago when I had heard I was breaking the law in regards to lawn signs.

Before 2004, RSA 664:17, New Hampshire's state law on lawn signs, said that you couldn't put them out before the last Friday in July. In 2004, that law was challenged in court, the court found that telling people that they couldn't put up signs before a certain date was unconstitutional, and then in 2006 the legislature passed HB 349, a bill that removed the the last Friday in July provision from RSA 664:17.

So now you can put up lawn signs at any time, provided they are on state owned rights of way or private property. Here in Merrimack, the zoning ordinance regarding signs on town owned rights of way isn't enforced, so it's a judgment call for the most part on where to put signs.

The rumor about me breaking this law that had been repealed a few years ago probably wasn't a big deal in the first place, but I figured it was a big enough of a deal to mention and clarify.

Not sure otherwise about the rumor though, so far i'm the only candidate in Merrimack  who has any signs up other than two candidates for Registrar of Deeds.

99 Days To Go: Education And Spaghetti Sauce

by: Andrew Sylvia

Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 12:33:06 PM EDT

She talked about two of her sons, one in private school, the other in public school. The one private school was older, she thought she would be able to put both of them in private school, but it turned out not to be the case, and she didn't want to separate the older child from his friends he had made and she could afford to send one of the two kids to private schools.

She wondered why the two children received such different educations despite going to schools only a few miles apart from each other. The private school child received much more emphasis on a core curriculum while the public school child in her eyes was not being challenged.

She also said the private school staff were being paid far less and received fewer extraneous assistance in teaching, yet the results she was seeing from the private school were greater than those she was getting from the public school child, who was getting far less homework.

I can't affirm or oppose her assertions in regards to the private school she mentioned, and while I was on the School Board Budget Committee last year, I have to admit that our job seemed to be one of oversight rather than real hands on fiscal policy in the school district, due in large part to the excellent job the School Board did before we convened shortly before the Deliberative Session in the spring.

However, when I was going over those budgets, it was difficult to discern what the value of each line item was, due in large part because there were so many.

This was part of why the woman I talked to wanted to see our town's school budget cut. "When I go to the supermarket, I see so many brands of pasta sauce now that I can't tell them apart, I get overwhelmed" she said. "So in the end, I just look for the price, and find the cheapest one."

I believe a government budget is no different than that woman's dilemma with the spaghetti sauce as well as how she viewed the educations of her two sons.

If the choices that need to be made within a budget are overwhelming and it isn't clear what value one would get from spending on a certain item, it's understandable that people would go into a default mode and make a decision on the clearest value you're going to see on just about any spreadsheet: price.

However, with her kids, she saw more than just price. She saw something that may well be intangible in terms of her childrens' education, but is never the less just as valuable as the money spent on it, if not more so.

It appeared that she agreed with my belief on budgets that any dogma of an extreme, whether it be cutting everything or spending indiscriminately without understanding of the cost, wasn't a particularly good idea.

We had a good discussion, and even though she didn't say specifically that she'd vote for me, she offered me a Fresca since it was a hot day, so i'm guessing i've gotten her vote.

And to top it off, I was actually aiming to talk to someone else in her house that wasn't home....