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By Lloyd Jones
Editor, Conway Daily Sun

Lloyd@conwaydailysun.com

[emphasis by Skip]

CONWAY — Former governor John H. Sununu, the head of the of New Hampshire Republican Committee, calls John Lynch the nicest governor in the history of the state — and the worst.

"He is the worst governor we've ever had because he cannot make a decision," Sununu said at a recent house party hosted by Maryann and Ray Shakir on Birch Hill in North Conway. "He's a great follower. He lets the radical left leadership of his House and Senate move things forward, but he will not give guidance, he will not tell them what he accepts or doesn't accept. He will not draw the line, he will not go back and cut spending, he will not be honest with what he is saying yet he still goes around smiling and yet is continually well-received around the state. We have to replace the governor."

Sununu served as New Hampshire's governor from 1983-89 and was White House Chief of Staff under President George H.W. Bush. When he first took over as head of the New Hampshire Republican Party in January, he said he refrained from labeling Lynch the worst governor in the state's history because "he had such good political capital." However, "By St. Patrick's Day I was doing (former executive councilor) Bernie Streeter's roast where they raise money for charities in Nashua, and the governor and I were both speakers. He came in and made a couple of jokes about me calling him the worst governor in the history of the state. I got up and said, 'Governor, I've got to admit, you're the nicest governor we've ever had, but the fact is nicest and worst are not mutually incompatible.'"

Victoria A. Bonney, communications director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, offered a response Wednesday, saying, "Mr. Sununu may yearn for his glory days as governor but the reality is our state is better today than it was yesterday. Under Governor Lynch’s leadership we’ve seen significant gains for education, the environment, clean energy, small business and an overall improved quality of life. That’s why Governor Lynch is not only the most popular governor New Hampshire has seen in decades, but the most popular governor in the nation.”

At the house party Friday, July 17, attended by approximately 55 staunch Republicans, Sununu talked about what brought him back into the world of politics as chairman of the N.H. Republican Committee.

"It really is important to understand that this state in particular and certainly the country as well is at a very critical crossroads," he continued. "We've had Democratic governors for 10 of the last 12 years. By the way, I am not running for anything, let's get that clear from the start. I am not going to run for anything. We have had Democratic governors for 10 of the last 12 years. With Lynch, the Democrats will now have it 12 out of the last 14 years. Over that period of time, what has happened to New Hampshire is horrible. It wasn't quite a tsunami but it was a tide so you may not have noticed the individual change, the incremental change. Over a period of time it piles up to make a healthy sandwich of problems for the state of New Hampshire."

Sununu said the rate of growth in New Hampshire has "virtually disappeared" over the last 12 years.

"We're down to about a half of a percent per year over the past few years," he said. "Last year, for the first time in almost 50 years, more people moved out of the state than moved in. Investment has stopped coming to New Hampshire. Jobs have stopped coming to New Hampshire. Our economic structure is deteriorating because we have adopted principles that are anti-job, anti-family, anti-business and anti-growth. We used to be rated in terms of a business environment in the top five, six, seven states. We are now rated in the 40s."

Sununu continued blasting away at Lynch.

"We have had in this last session 38 increases in taxes and fees and new taxes imposed on us," Sununu said. "We have a governor that has no sense that this is not the way to go.  We have a governor who has no capacity to lead or to stand up or to communicate to the legislature what he will or won't accept. Instead he sits there and waits for them to send him whatever they want to send him and 99 percent out of a 100 he signs the garbage they present to him. The Democrats are ruining the state of New Hampshire."

Sununu is attending a number of house parties across the state this summer looking to rally Republicans. He told the enthusiastic audience two weeks ago the political ball is essentially in their court.

"It's up to us to talk to our friends and our neighbors; the people who work for us; the people that we work with; the people that we meet at our post-retirement parties," Sununu said. "It is only by us communicating what has really happened that people will get angry enough to fix what has to fixed in 2010."

 

2010 Season Has Arrived
Eagle Times
Editorial
May 19, 2009

Let there be no doubt, the 2010 political season has arrived in New Hampshire.

Just three weeks ago, Arnie Arnesen, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor in New Hampshire in 1992 and U.S. Congress in 1996, told a group of Sullivan County Democrats their party lacks a voice at the state level while the Republicans have John Sununu. "The problem for us is there hasn't been any real leadership on many of today's issues," she said.

Back in January the Republican State Committee decided the time was perfect to enlist the help Sununu, New Hampshire's former governor from 1984 to 1989, naming him chairman of the state Republican party. It was a brilliant choice. When it comes to Republican politics in New Hampshire, he is like a giant vitamin pill.

After his first four months on the job, the Granite State's GOP has sprung to life. Regaining Republican control in both the New Hampshire House and Senate is a top priority for Sununu. Accomplishing those two goals and electing a Republican governor would complete the trifecta for Sununu.

Since Sununu came to the political forefront in 1984, New Hampshire citizens have come to understand he is an outspoken politician. Sununu doesn't dance around in the political arena. He's always moving forward, leading with quick jabs, looking for an opening to deliver a knockout punch.

Appearing at a Republican breakfast Saturday in Sunapee, the former White House Chief of Staff didn't hold back any punches. Expect him to come out swinging at all future functions he attends.

He played political hardball at the breakfast, especially making critical remarks about New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch. He understands if the state's Republicans are to overtake the Democratic advantage in New Hampshire, he can't wait until the late innings to step to the plate.

Sununu challenged the Saturday gathering to spread the Republican word in the upcoming months. "Be warm, but obnoxious, whatever your style is." he said. For Republicans, he's probably warm and fuzzy, for Democrats throughout the state, well, they may be leaning toward obnoxious. Either way, Sununu doesn't care, as long as the word of the Republican movement spreads.

Sununu has set ambitious goals for the Republican Party as it attempts to regain control in Concord. Certainly, the state's Democrats will not sit back and watch that happen. That's what makes politics so interesting and educational.

Yes, the New Hampshire political season is in full swing and it's going to be fun watching all the players as they make their moves.

Former NH Governor and current NH GOP Chair John H. Sununu was interviewed by The Hippo this past week. 
In an extensive (5 pages) piece, Sununu was asked a wide range of questions - and he obliged!


Former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu has served in a variety of roles during his distinguished career, from engineer to governor to White House chief of staff to the host of CNN’s Crossfire. He and his wife, Nancy, even took on hog wrangling duties for a year in their town. (The pair were named honorary hog reeves in Hampton Falls, which means they were the go-to tandem for rounding up the town’s loose pigs.)  But at 69, his latest post as chairman of the state Republican Party may prove to be one of the most challenging roles he’s played so far. Earlier this year, Sununu, who served as the state’s governor from 1983 to 1989, took the reins of the party from prior chairman Fergus Cullen, who opted against running again since Sununu wanted the post

He takes over a party that was beaten badly both in New Hampshire and nationally in the November 2008 election. His son, John, lost in his bid for reelection to the United States Senate. Longstanding Republican Sen. Judd Gregg nearly left the Senate to be President Barack Obama’s Commerce Secretary and then abruptly turned around on that post and quickly added he won’t seek reelection in 2010. In addition, Democratic incumbents bested their Republican challengers in both Congressional races and in landslide fashion for the governor’s office. While Republicans did pick up some seats in the state House of Representatives, the majority still goes heavily to Democrats, who also held their majority in the state Senate. On top of all that, recent studies coming out of the University of New Hampshire say Democrats are taking over the Granite State. New voters are siding with Democrats. People moving into the state — not all from Massachusetts — are already Democrats when they arrive. The result, UNH researchers say, is a much bluer New Hampshire.

But Sununu isn’t backing down — not even close. Soon after last fall’s election, the man who was Chief of Staff for President George H.W. Bush went on the offensive. He offered strong criticism, a good portion of which was aimed directly at Gov. John Lynch and his Democratic counterparts, who Sununu says are guilty of overspending.


I sat down with Sununu at his home Friday, Feb. 27, to talk with him about a wide range of topics. We conducted a follow-up phone interview Tuesday, March 3. We started off with his reasons for getting back into politics.

Why did you decide to reenter the ring, so to speak?

Well, New Hampshire is really such a great state, and I saw it changing dramatically for the worse. I have kids and grandkids that I want to be able to enjoy the state and all the benefits of the state the same way I did. And I felt that if I didn’t get involved, it might never get restored to where it should be. I really do believe that over the last 10 to 12 years — now with the new administration coming in, it’ll be 12 out of 14 years of Democratic rule in the state — that the state really has lost a great deal. We’ve lost a lot of the quality of life. We’ve lost a lot of the aspects of local control which kept our citizens involved and self-governing. We’ve shifted power from cities and towns to Concord. And we have lost the fiscal discipline and the management discipline that made this a very well-run state that people really loved living in. It’s still a good state, but not as good as it used to be. It used to be a great state. And we have to try and help restore it. I saw that one of the biggest problems was that Democrats campaign well and govern terribly. But I also recognized that the problem was a problem within the Republican Party where we have not defined the difference between ourselves and the Democrats in a way that registered with the voters, and in a way that explained why the Republican traditional way of doing things really was done for the benefit of the state over the last half century.

Now that you’re back into it, do you feel energized or reinvigorated?

I’m dangerous.

How so?

From the December Newsletter of the NH GOP:

Dear New Hampshire Republican:
 
In the weeks since the election, I have had an ongoing positive and collaborative discussion with former Governor John H. Sununu about the future of the New Hampshire Republican Party and what role Governor Sununu might play as we work to continue the process of rebuilding and strengthening the Party.
 
Governor Sununu has decided that he wants to apply his considerable experience, talent, and intellect to the job of state party chairman.  I have decided to step aside when my term ends in January and support his candidacy for this position.

I have enjoyed serving as chairman, and am proud of the progress the Party has made over the past two years.  I was prepared to continue in the position for another two years, and after consulting with many party leaders and activists in the weeks since the election, it was apparent that, absent Governor Sununu's willingness to serve, I had more than enough political support to do so.

Nonetheless, I don't mind being given the opportunity to refocus on other aspects of my life that have sometimes taken the backseat over the past two years.  When I became chairman, I was dating; since then I've become a husband and father.  I worked nearly full-time as the unpaid, volunteer state party chairman, but with a family now I need to give more attention to my financial responsibilities to others.  I wasn't as good a coach to the distance runners I work with at Kingswood Regional High School because I couldn't make all the practices.  I realized the other day that I hadn't gone hiking in the White Mountains once this year.  So I'm looking forward to having more time for other things again.
 
I will continue to be active in Republican politics moving forward.  What form that will take will be determined in due time.
 
Highlights of my tenure as Chairman include:

• Despite a terrible national political environment, New Hampshire Republicans gained 17 legislative seats in a year in which Republicans lost seats in every other New England state.
• Ably served as a steward of the First in The Nation Primary, including working with the National Committee on adopting protection for our primary in party rules for the first time.
• Completed the purchase of and transition into a new state party headquarters building.
• Gave the party a youthful face while serving as the youngest Republican state party chairman in the country.
• Placed special emphasis on recruiting qualified women candidates, which resulted in the party nominating a woman candidate for Federal office for the first time.
• Improved and increased communications with elected officials, activists, and the media.
• Stabilized state party finances.
• Modernized our computer and phone systems, and provided health care benefits for party employees for the first time.
• Restored a degree of civility to the discourse between the parties in New Hampshire.

It has been my pleasure and honor to serve you for the past two years, and look forward to seeing you on trail in the months and years to come.
 
Sincerely,
 
Fergus Cullen
Chairman, New Hampshire Republicans

=========================
Fran Wendelboe had this to add to the NH GOP Chair race when interviewed by Brian Lawson of PolitickerNH:

Fran Wendelboe, head of the New Hampshire Reagan Network, said that she "wholeheartedly" supports former Gov. John H. Sununu's decision to run for chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

"I've known that his decision was pretty much final for quite some time now and I actually encouraged him to run and wholeheartedly support him," Wendelboe said in an e-mail to PolitickerNH.com.

Wendelboe, who is also a state rep from New Hampton, said that she has been in touch with Sununu and will work to get him elected chairman.

"The Governor and I have had several conversations and emails in the last couple of weeks," Wendelboe added. "I look forward to helping him get elected and assisting him in any way he wishes."

She added, "Remember I had said I really had no intention to run but was keeping my option open.  This was just in case something came up and the Governor did not run."

U.S. Senator     Former Governor Shaheen (D) has defeated incumbent
                         Senator John E. Sununu (R)

U.S. CD-1          Incumbent Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D) has defeated
                         former Congressman Jeb Bradley (R)

U.S. CD-2          Incumbent Congressman Paul Hodes (D) has defeated
                        Jennifer Horn (R)

Governor           Incumbent Governor John Lynch (D) has defeated
                         NH Senator Joe Kenney (R)

Exec. Council   Incumbent Exec. Councilor Ray Burton (R) has defeated
                         Mike Cauble (D)

NH Senate D-4  Incumbent NH Senator Kathleen Sgambati (D) has defeated
                         Laconia City Councilor Greg Knytych (R)

NH Senate D-2  Incumbent NH Senator Deb Reynolds (D) has defeated
                        NH Representative Bill Tobin (R)

NH House Races

Belknap County District 1    Incumbent Representative Fran Wendelboe (R)     unopposed

Belknap County District 2    Dennis Fields (R) elected
                                         Liz Merry (D) elected

Belknap County District 3    Incumbent Representative Steve Nedeau (R) elected
                                         Kate Miller (D) elected

Belknap County District 4    Incumbent Judy Reever (D) elected
                                         Incumbent Don Flanders (R) elected
                                         Incumbent Beth Arsenault (D) elected
                                         Richard Stuart (D) elected
                                         John Veazey (R) elected

Belknap County District 5    Incumbent Doc Pilliod (R) elected
                                         Incumbent Alida Milham (R) elected
                                         Jeffrey St. Cyr (R) elected
                                         Bill Johnson (D) elected
                                         Incumbent Laurie Boyce (R)  elected
                                         Peter Bolster (R) elected
                                         Elaine Swinford (R) elected

Belknap County District 6    Incumbent Representative David Russell (R)     unopposed

Belknap County

Commissioner:   Ed Philpot (D) elected
                         Incumbent Commissioner Brad Long (R) elected

Sheriff:               Craig Wiggin (R)

Treasurer:           Mike Muzzey (R)

Attorney:            Jim Carroll (D)

Register of Probate: unknown at this time

Register of Deeds:   unknown at this time.

TO: MIKE SLANKER, NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE

FROM: GLEN BOLGER, PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES

RE: NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE TRACKING KEY FINDINGS

DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2008


Key Findings

1. Senator John Sununu has the momentum in his race against Jeanne Shaheen.

Last Monday, October 20th, Senator Sununu trailed Jeanne Shaheen by six points (41% Sununu/47% Shaheen/5% Blevens). By Thursday, October 23rd, Sununu had narrowed the gap to just three points (43% Sununu/46% Shaheen/5%Blevens). As Election Day draws closer, it is clear that in a tight race, the momentum is on Sununu’s side.

2. Sununu’s improved standing on the ballot is buoyed by an increase in support for McCain on the Presidential ballot

Last Thursday, October 23rd, Senator McCain trailed Senator Obama by just four pointson the Presidential Ballot (44% McCain/48% Obama). Just three days earlier, McCain faced a nine point deficit (41% McCain/50% Obama).

The Bottom Line

With less than two weeks left until Election Day, Senator John Sununu trailed Jeanne Shaheen by just three points. As voters continue to learn more about former Governor Shaheen’s liberal record, an already close race will become even closer. Despite being written off by many in the media, Sununu has an excellent chance to pull off an Election Day surprise on November 4th.

Methodology

Public Opinion Strategies conducted two telephone surveys among 525 likely voters in New Hampshire. These surveys were conducted October 15-16, 19, and October 20-22, 2008, and have a margin of error of +4.28% in 95 out of 100 cases.

From the Laconia Victory office:



VICTORY Office (LACONIA, NH)
Laconia Victory Headquarters,
664 Main Street, Laconia, NH

Contact: Brent Perrin @ 603-524-1999 or Brent@nhgop.org


Meet at Laconia Victory Headquarters, 664 Main Street staging location @ 10:30am
Knocking on first door at 11:00am
Walking Laconia Ward 1 then Laconia Ward 2

Shift 1: 11:00pm – 1:00 pm

Door Goal - 100
Volunteer Goal - 3

Shift 2: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Door Goal - 200
Volunteer Goal - 4

Shift 3: 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Door Goal-    200
Volunteer Goal-    4

The voters have spoken....though with a very low turnout, perhaps it could be phrased "not many spoke". 

The slate of candidates that have been chosen by Republican voters that should represent us after the November elections are:

President of the United States:

Senator John McCain (R-Arizona)
Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska)

US Senator:

John E Sununu (R)

US Representative, NH-1:

Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro)

US Representative, NH-2:

Jennifer Horne (R-Nashua)

NH Governor:

Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield

NH Senator, District 2:

Bill Tobin (R-Sanbornton)

NH Senator, District 4:

Greg Knytych (R-Laconia)

NH Representative, District 1:  

Fran Wendelboe (R-New Hampton)

NH Representative, District 2:

Denis Fields (R-Sanbornton)
R. Larry Scott (R-Tilton)

NH Representative, District 3:

Richard Juve (R-Meredith)
Steve Nadeau (R-Meredith)

NH Representative, District 4:

John Veazey (R-Laconia)
James "Olie" Anderson (R-Laconia)
Tom Brown (R-Laconia)
Glenn Dewhirst (R-Laconia)
Don Flanders (R-Laconia)

NH Representative, District 5:

Laurie Boyce (R-Alton)
Alida Milham (R-Gilford)
Jim Pilliod (R-Belmont)
Peter Bolster (R-Alton)
Jeffrey St. Cyr (R-Alton)
Kevin Christiansen (R-Alton)
Elaine Swinford (R-Barnstead)

NH Representative, District 6:

David Russell (R-Gilmanton)

Belknap County:

Register of Deeds:             Barbara Luther (R-Laconia)
Register of Probate:           Karen Brickner (R-Center Barnstead)
County Commissioner:       Frank Tobin (R-Laconia)

Richard Long (R-Belmont)

Sheriff:                              Craig Wiggin (R-Meredith)
Treasurer:                          Michael Muzzey

Editorial comment:

The voters have spoken....though with a very low
turnout, perhaps it could be phrased "not many spoke". 

This in itself that we should take on in the future by reversing the meme that partisan ("sticking up for your principles") politics is bad and politicians of all stripes are worse.

From the Citizen:

Republicans talk about victory as they open Laconia headquarters

New Hampshire Republicans spoke confidently of making a political comeback as they officially opened their Lakes Region office Monday in downtown Laconia.
 Sen. John Sununu who is up for re-election and 1st District congressional candidate Jeb Bradley made a guest appearance at the grand opening for the Lakes Region's headquarters at 664 Main St. for Republican John McCain's campaign for President. The facility will serve Belknap and Carroll counties.

"This is going to be a team effort." said Peter Spaulding, a former executive councilor who was representing presumptive presidential candidate John McCain. "We have great volunteers throughout New Hampshire."

There are five other Republican offices in New Hampshire, located in Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Stratham and Lebanon.                       

Sununu was excited about the facility. He exclaimed that the New Hampshire GOP is an outstanding organization and he thinks the volunteers will "get out the vote, get out the message."

The senator claims that Republicans understand the issues and challenges today such as energy conservation and rising taxes. He wants to open up offshore drilling, produce more oil and energy alternatives at home and "keep the money in the United States." "We're going to win because we've got the best candidates," Sununu said.  

Jeb Bradley, who held the 1st District seat in Congress for two terms before he was defeated two years ago by Democrat Carol Shea-Porter, also made an appearance at the opening and said that "Democrats are after our pocketbooks" and that Shea-Porter promoted multiple tax increases because she wants to spend all our money.

Bradley said he is "ready to take back our state and turn it around and make it red again."

[Note: Other NH candidates in attendance were Greg Knytych, Tom Brown, Bill Tobin, Frank Tilton, Karen Brickner,  and Barbara Luther (there may have been others that I have missed; my apologies -Webmaster)

(cross posted at GraniteGrok)

PolitickerNH: By Brian Lawson

A UNH poll contains good news for U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord) but show trouble for U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester).

According to The Granite State Poll, Shea-Porter is losing to former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) 46 percent to 40 percent. However, the same poll has Shea-Porter beating Bradley's primary rival, former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen 42 percent to 36 percent.

Bradley enjoys a 48 percent favorable rating, while 62 percent of voters say they do not know enough about Stephen. Shea-Porter is viewed favorably by 35 percent of voters and 32 percent view her has unfavorable.

In the 2nd Congressional District Hodes holds substantial leads over state Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) and Jennifer Horn (R-Nashua).

Hodes leads Clegg 44 percent to 25 percent and beats Horn 43 percent to 23 percent.

Both Clegg and Horn remain unknown to most voters. 62 percent of voters do not know enough about Clegg and 77 percent say the same about Horn.

The poll did not match Hodes up against either Jim Steiner (R-Concord) or Grant Bosse (R-Hillsboro).

(Charts over at GraniteGrok)