It is not unusual for a Governor to seek the election of legislators who he believes are advancing or will advance his agenda. However, in so doing, a Governor reveals who he is and what he believes.
For example, our Governor has reportedly endorsed Representative Brodie Deshaies (R, Wolfeboro) for reelection. Representative Deshaies’ (R, Wolfeboro) campaign account receipts tell us not only about him and his numerous very generous in-state AND out-of-state union supporter but also about the Governor by association.
Notably, during this term, Representative Deshaies voted in direct OPPOSITION to a huge plank in the State GOP Party Platform supporting “Right to Work,” and AGAINST overwhelming support among New Hampshire Republicans for a “Right to Work” law.
No doubt the Governor will demur and claim with some justification, and to some degree, that the Republican Party ought to be not only tolerant of those with differing views but also welcoming of them.
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Yet this tolerance and welcoming do not extend so much to some Republicans who are far more conservative than Representative Deshaies (who has just received from the House Republican Alliance a comparatively and absolutely low score of 67.2% on the sixty-six bills considered, which denotes a lack of belief in the NH GOP Platform), particularly and especially to a number of Belknap County Republican Representatives.
Absent all the facts, the Governor precipitously and prematurely has called upon the voters of Belknap County to sack them following the resignations this week of former Gunstock Area Commission Chair Kiedaisch and members of senior staff of Gunstock Mountain Resort.
By attacking his fellow Republicans in the Belknap Delegation (the State House Reps in Belknap County) and members of the Gunstock Area Commission after not having picked up his phone to speak with both the Delegation Chair and the GAC Chair, I believe the Governor has erred by not regarding and following a basic tenet of fairness—seek to hear all sides before issuing an opinion or judgment.
This is a fundamental principle not only for executives (including Governors) but also for parents and every one of us. That the Governor failed to practice this basic executive requirement is disturbing, grievous, and needlessly inflammatory. I would urge him to immediately recognize his error, apologize and make the phone calls to Representative Sylvia and GAC Chair Peter Ness.
Humility is an essential character quality of a true leader. Upon reflection, I hope and pray he chooses the better way.
Paul Terry
Rev. Paul A. Terry
Member – NH House (Belknap-5)
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee
Vice Chair – Belknap County Republican Committee
