Prominent Republicans Among New Supporters to SUFNHF Leadership Council

New Members Urge Lawmakers to Get Back to Work on the Economy in Concord

  
CONCORD, NH – Standing Up for New Hampshire Families– the coalition working to protect the freedom to marry in the state–today announced new Leadership Council members which include prominent Republicans such as Sarah Crawford Stewart, former NH State Director for Jon Huntsman, and former NH Deputy State Director for Senator John McCain and Eduardo J. Lopez-Reyes, the National Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus.  This now brings the count to over 250 council members from across the state.
 
Working on the New Hampshire Presidential Primary campaigns for John McCain in 2000 and 2008 and Jon Huntsman in 2012, Sarah Crawford Stewart has gained a unique insight when it comes to what concerns voters.
 
“I urge the legislature not to waste any more precious time on this popular law and set a laser-like focus on jobs and the economy instead of taking away the right to marry from their fellow Granite Staters,” said Stewart.
 
“Poll after poll consistently shows that voters from across the political spectrum oppose repealing marriage equality.” She added.
 
The complete list of today’s new additions to the SUFNHF Leadership Council are:

Travis Blais, Windham - Attorney and Republican activist
 
Eduardo J. Lopez-Reyes, Portsmouth – National Vice Chairman, Republican Liberty Caucus; Management and Public Relations Consultant
 
Marie A. Lopez-Reyes, Portsmouth – Business Owner, Marie Lopez Photography; Health Care Provider
 
Frank McDougall, Hanover - VP, Government Relations at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
 
Dr. Jim Squires, Hollis - Former Republican gubernatorial candidate; Former Republican State Senator; Founding President of the Endowment for Health
 
Christopher Stewart, Manchester – Principal, b-fresh consulting, LLC
 
Sarah Crawford Stewart, Manchester – Principal, b-fresh consulting, LLC; Huntsman NH 2012 State Director; McCain NH 2008 Deputy State Director
 
Mike Whitney, Manchester - Retired Banking Executive and Business Consultant
 
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Marine veteran Craig Stowell, Co-Chair of Standing Up for NH Families and a Republican from Claremont, said he was proud to see so many people, including prominent Republicans, stand up for the freedom to marry.
 
“Our new supporters understand that focusing on a repeal of freedom and rolling back the clock on individual rights is not what the voters sent them to Concord to do," said Stowell.  "Their involvement brings new attention and prestige to defending our state’s popular marriage equality law and sends the message to lawmakers that HB437 is entirely wrong.”
 
Some other notable Republicans already on the SUFNHF Leadership Council include:
 
Irena Goddard, Hopkinton – Chairman, Hopkinton Town Republican Committee
 
Ruth Griffin, Portsmouth – Republican Former Executive Councilor and former Republican National Committeewoman
 
Chris Lawless, Hopkinton – Former Hopkinton Selectman
 
JP Marzullo, Deering – Former NHGOP Area 3 Vice-Chairman; Deering Selectman; Chairman, Contoocook Valley Republican Committee
 
Bonnie Newman  – Chancellor Emerita of the Community College System of New Hampshire; Former President of the Business and Industry Association; Former Interim President of the University of New Hampshire; Former  Executive Dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government
 
Sean Owen, Manchester – Chairman of New Hampshire Republicans for Freedom and Equality PAC; Business Owner, Printer’s Square and wëdu
 
Kimon Zachos, Manchester – Republican Former NH House Majority Leader; Former Deputy Speaker of the NH House; Former Chairman of the NH House Judiciary Committee

NHDP - Chair Ray Buckley on Governor Lynch's State of the State Address

Concord - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley released the following statement on Governor John Lynch's final State of the State address. 

"Governor Lynch has once again shown himself to be a strong leader, focused on the best interests of the people of New Hampshire, and working to move our state forward. There is no wonder the people of New Hampshire elected Governor Lynch to an unprecedented fourth term.  He has helped to strengthen our successful strategy despite the best efforts of legislative Republicans who have been actively working to undo our success. 

"For seven years, the Governor's strong leadership has brought people together to make progress for New Hampshire during some of the toughest times in the last century.  I hope the Legislature will heed the Governor's call for common sense solutions at the State House and change their focus from issues such as weakening our public safety laws and discriminating against certain segments of our population.  They should join the Governor in focusing on jobs and the economy."

"Governor Lynch has stood up for our New Hampshire advantage and state he loves. Over the past twelve months, he has served as much needed check against the legislature's Tea Party agenda."

NHRFE Chair Sean Owen Responds to NOM Threats

CONCORD, NH – Sean Owen, Chairman of the New Hampshire Republicans for Freedom and Equality PAC, released the following statement today in response to NOM President Brian Brown’s threat to fund primaries in New Hampshire against legislators who don’t vote with NOM’s unpopular narrow agenda.

“The National Organization for Marriage is desperate.  Offering a bounty for votes is a clear sign you are losing.  This effort to scare lawmakers into betraying their constituents, by signing on to bad legislation, will fail when voters go to the polls.  This is precisely why I started this PAC to stand up to this intimidation and protect those who defend liberty and the freedom to marry.”

“NOM’s intimidation tactics won’t work in New Hampshire. This vote isn’t an auction for the highest bidder, this is about what is right for New Hampshire and we will provide resources to protect the process and let our lawmakers work for the people they represent without fear of retaliation.”

“It is also shameful and disgusting that Brian Brown would brag about attempts to buy legislative races in New Hampshire in the 2010 election cycle and about defeating candidates for office who stand for individual freedom and liberty.”

NH House Passes Bill Making TSA Pat Downs Subject to Oversight

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt released the following statement on House Bill 628, which will begin to track incidents of complaints of abuse by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The bill passed 188 to 136.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“While security is of utmost importance, the maintenance of that security must be conducted in a way that respects citizens’ rights and decency. Our citizens should not be forced to have their rights trampled just to board an airplane or to work at an airport.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt:

“This is a transparency and accountability bill. It will shine a light on and prevent potential abuses of TSA agents at our nation’s airports and train stations.  It will prevent potential abuses and also allows citizens to video and audio tape their own search to verify their reports. The database of abuse reports will be used to determine patterns of abuse and whether further action is needed by a future legislature and should also serve as deterrence to such abuses.”

NH House Eliminates Department Maintenance Budgets

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien released the following statement on House Bill 618, which repeals the requirement for a maintenance budget while requiring the governor and all departments of the state to develop a budget that will continue to use forms furnished by the commissioner of administrative services.  HB 618 passed on a voice vote.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“We are eliminating an inefficient process in which department heads create their budgets on cruise control. The maintenance budget consisted of the departments saying we spent a certain amount last year and that number will grow on inflation and program growth. In eliminating the maintenance budget, the departments will be allowed to take a fresh look at their spending and consider new ways to foster efficiency. We are shifting away from a ‘just keep doing what you’re doing’ approach, which is exactly the wrong message we should send, and forward toward a better budgeting process. If businesses budgeted the way our government does with maintenance budgets, they would be bankrupt.”