Concord Archives - Granite Grok

BEST: No Formal Role in State Legislative Activity?

June 13, 2026 Claire Best

Dear Mr. Conforti, You state that “the City plays no formal role in State Legislative activity”. This is contradicted by the following: Councilor Schultz is an elected official for the State House. Mayor Jim Bouley’s firm Dennehy & Bouley is a paid lobbyist for/against bills presented to the legislature. Steve Shurtleff was both a councilor, … Read more

The New England Take: Concord Good News, LPNH & Kauffman Problems, and the Bangor Fecal Matter

May 16, 2026 The New England Take

This week, on The New England Take, A. J. dives into some recent headlines: Concord considers composting, the Concord Monitor shifts to USPS delivery, Jeremy Kauffman hurts the Republicans’ progress, and the Bangor Daily News publishes an unhinged article involving homeless feces. Concord Monitor: “Concord explores food waste drop-off proposal”: https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/13/concord-composting-food-scraps/ Concord Monitor,:”To Our Readers: … Read more

Forest fire leaves branch Photo by Alfred Kenneally on Unsplash

MACDONALD: Brush Fire Blame

May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 Steve MacDonald

Given the opportunity, a Proglodyte will lie about anything. Take Global warming. Everything is caused by it, relabeled as climate change to ensure the hymns matched the dogma. Heat, cold, rain, drought, sun, shade, storms, quiet, no snow, more snow, everything is the result of their sky god, while yours is just a fake thing … Read more

BEST: Concord City Council Meeting – Fireworks, Tears, Cops and an “Agent of Chaos” – Preserving the “Brand”?

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Claire Best

The optics are not good for the Concord City Council, whose message for 2026 is to preserve the “Brand”…… https://patch.com/new-hampshire/concord-nh/city-council-consider-removing-ward-5-councilor-concord-mayor-champlin The January 12th council meeting ended with fireworks: Ward 5 Council member Stacey Brown was called an “Agent of Chaos” by Mayor Byron Champlin. Councilmember at large, Amanda Grady Sexton, allegedly said “she was going … Read more

MACDONALD: Concord’s Screwed Up City Ward Redistricting

January 15, 2026January 13, 2026 Steve MacDonald

Concord, New Hampshire’s State Capitol, is, like many state capitols, mostly or entirely captured by the government class that accumulates to run the state. This often, if not always, results in a majority center-left constituency and a Democratic majority city government. So, why would they lie about the population to redistrict city wards? Because they … Read more

NE TAKE: A Book was BANNED in My Neighborhood! (Not Really)

December 6, 2025 The New England Take

And it was massively inappropriate for kids… This week on the NE Take, A. J. breaks down the “issue” of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” being removed from Merrimack Valley High School curriculum and how it is great that it happened. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, … Read more

MACDONALD: A Few Thoughts on the Concord PD (Pronoun Department) And the AG’s Civil Rights “Itch”

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 Steve MacDonald

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has been desperately trying to scratch an itch it can’t quite seem to reach—a high-profile case it could use, at least in my estimation, to leverage civil rights law to suppress protected speech. Create a hate speech exception, tied to state civil rights law, and let the Orwellian pall … Read more

BEST: Who is Amanda Grady Sexton?

September 27, 2025 Claire Best

Running for re-election in the City of Concord as an “at-large council member” Here is a link to Amanda Grady Sexton’s profile for her re-election campaign to the City of Concord. I was pretty shocked to see a “No” as her answer to the question asking if any family member of hers worked in politics … Read more

Moffett: Lafayette, We Are Here!

June 20, 2025 Michael Moffett

So said American army Colonel Charles Stanton in Paris on July 4, 1917, standing at the tomb of Gilbert du Motier—better known as the Marquis de Lafayette. The Americans were in Paris as part of an advance World War I vanguard of Yankee doughboys. Over a million U.S. soldiers and Marines would soon be in … Read more

Opinion: Do We Really Need City Managers?

May 29, 2025 Megan Schmitt

The idea of having a city manager might sound like common sense – someone to handle the day-to-day work of running the city, keeping things organized and professional. That’s why cities like Concord use the “council-manager” system of government. But over 100 years after this model was first introduced, it’s fair to ask: is this … Read more

Rochester’s Ex Superintendent Is In Court Over Spying, And Now Working in Concord

May 10, 2024 Ann Marie Banfield

It’s not just your child who has almost no privacy protections in a public school, but it looks like school board members and elected union officials may not have privacy, too.

Search Yields Firearms, a Manifesto, Suicide Notes, and a Bag Containing Zip Ties, Masks, and Gloves

April 28, 2024 Steve MacDonald

The New Hampshire Republican Party held its annual meeting in Concord two weeks ago. That was probably a mistake, but the State House is there, so I can guess why they’d think it would be safe. Concord is a city filled with lefties and a few Libertarians, but it is not like there weren’t a bunch of armed citizens present inside at the event.

Concord Mosque Lawsuit Against City – Yeah, It’s About the Parking …

January 13, 2024January 13, 2024 Steve MacDonald

City Councilor Ali Sekou is suing his City over a new development next to the Mosque he runs. I shared some thoughts on this a few days ago and wondered if the lawsuit to block new housing was about parking spaces. It’s been a few days, and I think it is about parking.

Should Hannah Elizabeth Lawrence Lose Her Right to Vote in NH?

November 19, 2023November 19, 2023 Steve MacDonald

In New Hampshire, if you violate election law, you can have your right to vote in the state revoked. Forever. It is rarely used, but perhaps it should be, especially when we are talking about those who steal political signs.

Zandra Rice Hawkins - Image Credit Girard at Large

Dem Activist Gets Shown the Door in City Election

November 11, 2023 Steve MacDonald

Long-time progressive activist and sometime Concord City Councilor Zandra Rice Hawkins has been unseated. After Tuesday’s elections, the three-term incumbent is one of only two incumbents in Concord replaced by challengers.

We Need People to Come to Concord on March 7th to Testify in Person

March 5, 2023 Ann Marie Banfield

For both the State House and the Legislative Office Building, enter through the front door. Fill out a pink card if you are testifying and hand it to the person or committee member collecting them. Sign in on a white or blue sheet if not testifying.

New Hampshire House Leaders Introduce Tax Reduction Legislation

January 25, 2023 Op-Ed

Concord, NH- House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn), Majority Whip Jeanine Notter (R-Merrimack), and Vice Chair of House Ways and Means John Janigian (R-Salem) released the following statement after public hearings

Danger: The Concord School District is Fishing for a Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

August 21, 2022 Steve MacDonald

SAU 8, the Concord, New Hampshire School District, just posted a job opening on Indeed.com (today!) for a Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ). The job starts at $95,000.00 a year plus benefits. To do what?

THIS WEEKEND: 2A FREEDOM RALLY 2022

March 30, 2022 Kimberly Morin

Women’s Defense League to Hold 7th Annual 2A Rally

The Women’s Defense League will be holding our 7th Annual 2nd Amendment Rally at the State House in Concord on Saturday, April 2nd from noon to 2 PM – 2A FREEDOM RALLY 2022.

Zandra Rice Hawkins’ Concord Mask Mandate Goes Down in Flames

January 11, 2022 Steve MacDonald

Progressive community organizer and sometimes Ward 10 Concord City Councilor Zandra Rice Hawkins wanted a mask mandate for the state Capital. All the finest left-wing-run urban toilets have them. How would it look if we didn’t cling to the faulty science and add one too?