I had hoped conservatives would endorse a single gubernatorial candidate rather than risk splitting the conservative vote four ways and handing the Primary to the incumbent, progressive Chris Sununu. Since that hasn’t happened, I’m weighing in to endorse Thad Riley for Governor.
A critical question was asked at the The Resolve Debate in Wolfeboro on August 5, 2022. Please listen to five minutes of this debate, from marker 1:52:00 to 1:57:40.
“What is the source of your authority (if you run) for governor?”
Thad Riley mentioned the NH Bill of Rights and explained that the NH Constitution Pt. 2 defines and limits the governor’s authority, making the NH governor one of the two weakest state governors in the country. Our NH Executive Council is a check on the governor’s authority, limiting his authority to act unilaterally on certain contracts and fiscal matters.
Julian Acciad agreed with Thad Riley, adding that NH county sheriffs are another check on the governor’s authority, along with the Supreme Court and State Legislature.
Karen Testerman said that the source of the governor’s authority comes from: 1. God Almighty; 2. the Constitution of New Hampshire; and 3. the Constitution for the United States.
Jay Lewis said that the governor is a manager over the Executive branch and needs to listen to the people of New Hampshire and abide by our Constitution and laws.
God Almighty is not the source of the governor’s authority. The NH and US Constitutions may be divinely inspired, but the governor does not derive authority from God Almighty. That authority comes from The People.
The Bill of Rights, Pt. 1 of the NH Constitution recognizes that our inalienable rights originate from God, or nature. Pt. 2 of the NH Constitution describes the role of government, including that of the governor. This constitution was designed and approved by The People.
Sununu enacted over a hundred executive orders and distributed over a billion federal dollars on his own authority without oversight by the Executive Council or State Legislature. He acted as if he were God’s vessel, which I’m pretty sure he’s not.
Louis the 14th of France called himself the Sun King, claimed he derived his authority directly from God, and famously said “L’etat, c’est moi” (“The State, It’s Me”). That’s why folks call Gov. Sununu the Sun King. Sununu believes in and acts on the Divine Right of Kings.
We the People are the source of the governor’s authority. The NH Constitution defines and limits that authority. The US Constitution is not the source of the NH governor’s authority.
All things considered, my endorsement goes to Thad Riley. He was the front runner of gubernatorial candidates in two Granite Grok polls. Over the past few months he’s gone from political obscurity to nearly 60% support in the Granite Grok July poll. As a former school board member, he understands the dangers of Critical Race Theory. He’s taken the time to listen to hundreds of people across the state. He may not have multiple years of experience in state politics, but he understands the very limited authority of the governor. That’s good enough for me.
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As an education activist since 1990 and former member of the Nashua Board of Education (1/2016-12/2019), my advice to Riley is to support the decentralization of education. Parents don’t need to come together at the State level in yet another committee to rid our local schools of the State implemented aggressive political ideologies that are dividing us. The problem is State interference through grants, bribes, and legislation.
Destroy the centralized pipeline that pushes radical reforms upon local schools. Stop tracking student academics and behavior in State databases. Allow the creation of independent community schools within school districts. Trust parents to work within their communities to create education strategies.
[Disclaimer: Every Grokster is allowed to have personal endorsements on GraniteGrok and this is Doris Hohensee’s. At this time, the GraniteGrok authors have not yet finished voting on the NH Governor race to see if GraniteGrok will issue an endorsement in this race, and if so, who will receive it. -Skip]
