The Vaillancourt blow-up, and to a lesser extent, the Mead mini-scandal, overshadowed a more serious controversy: the war that has erupted against New Hampshire’s public schools. … There are legislators whose sneering references to “government schools” makes one wonder if they are still resentful over being put in the corner for their bad behavior in second grade.
— Kathy Sullivan, DNC member and former N.H. Democratic party chair
Bob Mead, director of legislative services for the House Majority Office, resigned yesterday after being outed by the Concord Monitor. The Monitor story revealed Mead used his taxpayer-funded position to recruit Republicans to run for office and he had billed the state for travel expenses related to that work.
Questions remain, said House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli:
“By whom was (Mead) directed to do electoral work? I would like to know why the speaker hasn’t taken any action against Greg Moore, the chief of staff, since he was the one who approved the reimbursement.”
We don’t discuss personnel matters, replied House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt:
“Unfortunately the professionalism and decorum underlying this policy allows ignorant partisans to jibber jabber without response but the House policy of not commenting on these matters is the proper one.”
A progressive perspective on New Hampshire politics and other oddities.
William Tucker is an architect in Portsmouth.
Projected Democratic seats: 190
