Stephen, NOM Misinformation Campaign Unravels

by: Pamela Walsh

Mon Oct 18, 2010 at 10:20:25 AM EDT

In his letter, Gilmore wrote, "Admit it, fix it, get on your life. It is how we were raised, how to handle our mistakes. Well, this is what I am doing here. It is in reference to some of my statements and 'facts' I posted about SB500.

"First, everything I (we) have said has been true to the best of our knowledge. As we continue to dig deeper, reach farther, and look everywhere, the details, more important details, are slowly coming out. There are enough 'sound bytes' floating around to confuse everyone. I apologize for my part in that and can only say that in our haste to get information out we were unable to get all the scattered details correct and verified," Gilmore wrote.

At the end of his letter, Gilmore wrote: "Conclusion: It is good policy."

The Lynch Campaign applauded Mr. Gilmore's courage in coming forward to correct the record, and called on John Stephen and his allies to do the same.

"Unlike Mr. Gilmore, John Stephen knows the facts. But John Stephen has chosen to mislead people and play politics with public safety," said Pamela Walsh, campaign manager for New Hampshire for John Lynch. "John Stephen's misinformation campaign is rapidly unraveling.

"John Stephen should apologize to the people of New Hampshire for deliberately trying to mislead them and call on his friends to stop their misleading attacks and pull their ads," Walsh said.

The National Organization for Marriage and Cornerstone, groups supportive of John Stephen's agenda, have been running misleading ads on this issue.

The Portsmouth Herald has called the misleading statements against the reform law a "cheap political trick."

Get Ready for a Bumpy Ride

by: susanthe

Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 23:51:31 PM EDT

The votes have been counted, the winners declared, and the primary officially over. Now we move into the concentrated madness of election season; the season we love to hate. Robo-calls, lawn sign wars, letters to the editor, ugly accusations, and underhanded deeds will be part of our lives for the next month and a half. It's better than any reality show.

Lynch Campaign Asks AG to Clarify whether Stephen Exceeded Contributions Limits

by: Pamela Walsh

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 15:50:38 PM EDT

$33,000 in Contributions in Question,
Including $23,000 of Stephen's Doughnut Money

MANCHESTER-New Hampshire for John Lynch '10 today asked the Attorney General's office to clarify whether Friends of John Stephen has exceeded legal contribution limits.

"The John Stephen campaign has accepted $33,058 in contributions - including $23,000 from the Dunkin' Donuts franchises in Massachusetts and Connecticut - that appear to be exceed those allowed under state finance law and previous interpretation of that law," said Pamela Walsh, campaign manager for NH for John Lynch.

"We are asking the Attorney General to quickly clarify whether these contributions are acceptable under New Hampshire law, or whether they exceed legal contribution limits and should be returned," Walsh said.

About 13 percent of John Stephen's campaign funds - $124,000 - come from a series of businesses that share two addresses in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Lynch campaign has called on Stephen to come clean about the donors, including their interests in New Hampshire, and about whether there are any New Hampshire businesses or citizens who are invested in these companies.

About $23,000 of Stephen's doughnut contributions appear to be greater than those allowed under previous interpretations of New Hampshire law. In addition, another $10,058 in contributions seem to exceed legal limits as previously interpreted by the Attorney General.

Based on RSA 664:4-V and previous Attorney General opinions, previous candidates for governor - and New Hampshire for John Lynch - have operated on the understanding that if candidates have officially file for office and opted not to voluntarily limit their expenditures, their campaigns thereafter are subject to contribution limits of $1,000 for the primary and $1,000 for the general election.

The Attorney General has made clear that this contribution limitation does not apply to a campaign prior to a candidate's filing for office (pre-declaration). However, under RSA 664, any contributions, whether received pre- or post-declaration, must be attributed to either the primary or the general elections.

John Stephen's campaign, which elected not to abide by the voluntary spending cap, does not appear to be counting its pre-declaration contributions toward either its primary election limit or its general election limit.

In at least five instances, John Stephen's campaign accepted $5,000 from donors pre-declaration and an additional $2,000 from the donors post-declaration.

In addition, Stephen accepted $26,000 in additional contributions toward the primary from people who had already given more than $1,000 in the pre-declaration period.

A copy of the letter to the Attorney General is attached.
# # #

Pamela Walsh
NH for John Lynch

Lynch calls on Stephen to Come Clean about Doughnut Donations

by: Pamela Walsh

Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 12:21:58 PM EDT

Stephen Must Tell New Hampshire More About
the People Funding 13 Percent of His Campaign

MANCHESTER - John Stephen must come clean about his doughnut donations and tell New Hampshire more about who is funding nearly 13 percent of his campaign budget, Pamela Walsh, campaign manager for Governor John Lynch, said today.

"Contributions from just two addresses in Massachusetts and Connecticut are funding 13 percent of John Stephen's campaign," Walsh said. "It's time for John Stephen to come clean with the people of New Hampshire about his doughnut money, and about who is behind it."

John Stephen received $104,000 in contributions from 30 LLCs at two addresses - one in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut. All of the contributions were made on three days: June 7 and 8th, and August 18th.

The LLCs list four individuals - who donated an additional $20,000 - as their principals.

On Friday, Stephen campaign spokesman Greg Moore said the campaign had nothing to hide about these donations.

"These companies are funding 13 percent of John Stephen's campaign. If the Stephen campaign has nothing to hide, than John Stephen should come clean and answer basic questions about these donors: Who are these individuals?  What is their interest in New Hampshire? And are there any other partners or investors in these businesses that have connections to New Hampshire?" Walsh said.

See the list of contributions here

Pamela Walsh
Campaign Manager
NH for John Lynch

Stephen Economic Plan

by: Pamela Walsh

Mon Jul 12, 2010 at 15:49:56 PM EDT

Pamela Walsh
NH for John Lynch

1st Manchester Mayoral Debate Wed., Aug 12, on 2 Joes Live Show!

by: joebriggs

Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 17:04:37 PM EDT