Now that the recent legal action taken by five area Democrats against Rep. Worsman and myself has been denied by Judge James D. O’Neill III, Belknap County Superior Court, I would like to comment on this most unfortunate and wasteful county lawsuit. The term “lawfare” comes to mind. By definition, “lawfare” is the weaponizing of our legal system and using it as a blunt instrument.
Now, this suit, brought forth by Rep. Ruth Gulick, (New Hampton/Center Harbor) and Reps. Beth Arsenault, (Laconia); Lisa DiMartino, (Gilford/Meredith); Ian Raymond, (Sanborton), and David Huot, (Laconia); alleged Belknap County Delegation Chair, Colette Worsman, and I, Jane Cormier, Clerk, violated the Right to Know Law by permitting Rep. Comtois, (Barnstead) to participate by phone at a February 18 meeting. Because Rep. Comtois voted NOT to pass the Commissioners’ budget for 2014, as proposed by the Democrats, the vote was a tie – 7 to 7 and the motion did not pass. Well after this vote occurred, Rep. Worsman and I were served by the Sheriff. The next day, on March 4, the County Convention voted to pass the Convention budget containing a modest 1.5% increase versus a much larger 8+% increase as proposed by the Commissioners. While it is clear the Democrats did not like losing, they apparently liked Rep. Worsman and me even less…
“Gulick vs Cormier” should never have happened. If there was a true issue with the aforementioned vote, the suit SHOULD have been against the entire Belknap County Delegation rather than just two delegation members. Rep. Huot, former judge and attorney, actually had to address this “error” and amend the lawsuit to the entire Belknap Delegation AFTER the April 3 hearing at Belknap County Superior Court! But, here is the kicker – Reps. Gulick and Huot KNEW I WAS NOT EVEN IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING IN QUESTION! Now, if Democrats wanted to file suit against the entire Delegation, I would naturally be included in that suit. However, this is not what the original suit maintained. Instead, 5 representatives decided to single out Rep. Worsman and myself to pursue a civil action against us. This is typical of how “lawfare” rears its ugly head.
For weeks, the public got to read about this “lawfare/lawsuit”. While the innuendo ran rampant, I do not recall getting one request for comment from the Laconia Daily Sun. Yet, the articles just kept flowing. And, I am sure this was the desired action. These five Democrats, lead by Huot and Gulick, decided since the legislative process did not go their way, they would wage war in the ‘court of public opinion’ against Rep Worsman and myself. The goal was to try to discredit and tarnish our reputations by filing this dishonest legal action.
But, they lost. The Judge denied the Democrats’ claims. I can only imagine, as a former Judge, Rep. Huot knew it would fail all along. Unfortunately, true process and professional integrity also lost in this frivolous lawsuit. But perhaps worst of all, the five Democrats who pulled the “lawfare” card, are going to make Belknap County taxpayers pay the bill. This is probably the most deplorable deed of all. Remember that come election time.
