Pro-Freedom, Pro-Equality Republicans Win Big in NH

40+ Wins for Pro-Freedom to Marry Republicans

Including Winners in Key Senate Races: Nancy Stiles and John Reagan

"Today, the freedom to marry in New Hampshire is more secure than it was yesterday." - NHRFE PAC Chair, Sean Owen

Manchester, NH - On this Election Day, the New Hampshire Republicans for Freedom and Equality PAC saw major victories statewide, with dozens of its supported candidates clearly winning their races in the early returns.

Chairman Sean Owen said, "We invested $300,000 this election cycle to help candidates who represent the future of the GOP. While Republicans have lost many seats in the House overall, NHRFE-supported Republican candidates out-performed their peers and won a majority of their races. We also had huge wins with the election of John Reagan to the State Senate and the re-election of State Senator Nancy Stiles. Today, the freedom to marry is more secure in New Hampshire than it was yesterday."

Executive Director Tyler Deaton highlighted the PAC's successes with voter contact: "We completed a tremendous direct mail program, with voters in priority districts receiving as many as six mail pieces this cycle. We've succeeded in uniting the Republican Party and building the party through appeal to new voters. Rank-and-file Republicans have supported individual freedom all along, and we've helped them find a stronger voice. While others have tried to divide the party, we ran a 100% positive campaign from beginning to end."

Deaton continued, "We were also the first New Hampshire PAC to take advantage of new fundraising standards set by recent Supreme Court decisions and the New Hampshire Attorney General."

As for the gubernatorial race, Chairman Sean Owen said he was not surprised by Ovide Lamontagne's loss: "We knew that nominating Ovide for governor would be disastrous. It hurt us that our Republican nominee wanted to campaign against freedom and equality."

Executive Director Tyler Deaton added, "It didn't have to be this way. Republicans can win in New Hampshire, both locally and statewide, so long as they have an authentic commitment to freedom across the board. It's something to keep in mind next time we're selecting our candidate for governor."

The PAC's political, communications and fundraising programs are led by Executive Director Tyler Deaton, a lobbyist who also serves as a senior strategist for the bipartisan pro-marriage equality organization Standing Up for New Hampshire Families. Deaton is also Secretary of the New Hampshire Young Republicans. Christine Baratta serves as PAC Communications Director. Committee Chairman Sean Owen is actively involved as a lead strategist and fundraiser.

Winning Supported Candidates Include:

State Senate

Rep. John Reagan	Deerfield
Sen. Nancy Stiles	Hampton

State House

Rep. Gene Chandler	Bartlett
Karel Crawford	Moultonborough
Rep. Harry Merrow	Ossipee
Rep. Steve Schmidt	Wolfeboro
Rep. Chris Ahlgren	Wolfeboro
Rep. Susan Emerson	Rindge
Rep. Jane Johnson	Swanzey
Rep. Herb Richardson	Lancaster
Rep. Rick Ladd	Haverhill
Rep. Neal Kurk	Weare
Rep. Cal Pratt	Goffstown
Rep. Keith Murphy	Bedford
Kelleigh Murphy	Bedford
Rep. Steve Vaillancourt	Manchester
Rep. Carolyn Gargasz	Hollis
Rep. Don LeBrun	Nashua
David Murotake	Nashua
Rep. Bob Haefner	Hudson
Rep. Russ Ober	Hudson
Rep. Shawn Jasper	Hudson
Charlene Takesian	Pelham
Rep. Mark Warden	Goffstown
Rep. George Lambert	Litchfield
Rep. David Kidder	New London
Rep. Priscilla Lockwood	Canterbury
Rep. David Hess	Hooksett
Rep. Kyle Tasker	Nottingham
Rep. Kathy Hoelzel	Raymond
Rep. Gene Charron	Chester
Rep. Sherm Packard	Londonderry
Kevin St. James	Kingston
Rep. Norm Major	Plaistow
Rep. Mary Allen	Newton
Rep. Pat Abrami	Stratham
Rep. Tim Copeland	Stratham
Rep. John Sytek	Salem
Rep. Ronald Belanger	Salem
Rep. Michelle Peckham	North Hampton

 

Many other races are too close to call or are unknown at this time.

NH Republican Leaders Blast Democrat Income Tax Plan

CONCORD – House Majority Leader Pete Silva (R-Nashua) and Deputy Majority Leader and Ways and Means Chairman Stephen Stepanek (R-Amherst) today blasted the newly exposed Democrat income tax plan.  Rep. Peter Sullivan (D-Manchester) filed a bill request (LSR #191) that would establish an income tax in New Hampshire.

House Majority Leader Pete Silva

“I have to give Peter Sullivan credit.  He had the courage to throw back the veil of deception that the Democrats have tried to throw over the eyes of the voters and he has come out and had the guts to stand up and support the very income tax publicly that most Democrats support in private.  That trickery is the same reason why Maggie Hassan, who once boldly supported an income tax, now takes the Pledge, but refuses to support a constitutional amendment to ban an income tax.  The truth is that Democrats need to publicly take a stand – do you support Question #1, which would ban an income tax, or do you stand with Peter Sullivan and the other liberal income tax advocates?  Anyone who says that they oppose an income tax like Peter Sullivan’s, but who won’t support Question #1 is really just one more dishonest politician who is looking to say one thing to get elected, but who will vote to dismantle the New Hampshire Advantage the first chance he or she gets.”

House Deputy Majority Leader Stephen Stepanek

“Our New Hampshire Advantage has been built around not having a sales or income tax.  Passing one now would be a colossal mistake, but it’s no surprise that the Democrats want to bring their big government, tax-borrow-and-spend agenda to New Hampshire that they have to Washington.  That’s precisely why we put a question on the ballot: to give the voters a chance to say, once and for all, that there will be no income tax here.  Question #1 is the solution to dealing with the constant efforts of Democrats to pass an income tax.  Peter Sullivan and his friends have shown exactly why you are either for Question #1 or for an income tax. Maggie Hassan is against ballot Question #1, which puts her in the camp of those supporting an income tax.  Unlike Democrat Rep. Peter Sullivan, she just does not have the courage to publicly admit her private beliefs.”

NH Speaker Statement on Resignation of Rep. Browne

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien today made the following statement regarding the resignation of Rep. Brendon Browne who serves Strafford District 4, which includes Ward 1 and Ward 2 of Dover. Rep. Browne served on the House Legislative Administration Committee. He cited moving out of his district due to work and family commitments as reason for his resignation.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“I want to thank Rep. Browne for his service to the State of New Hampshire and to the citizens of Dover. I know he enjoyed representing his constituents here in Concord and we wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.”

NHDP - Rolececk, New Hampshire Republicans Should Cancel Carr Event

Carr Has Blamed Rape Victims for Their Attacks

  

CONCORD - Chuck Rolecek and New Hampshire Republicans should cancel
their event tonight with Howie Carr, who has blamed rape victims for their attacks, said Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

"New Hampshire Republicans sought political cover by condemning the offensive words of Rep. Todd Akin, even though they agree with his policy positions," Buckley said. "Well now it is time for them to put their money where their mouths are. "

"Howie Carr has blamed women for their rapes. How can Chuck Rolececk and New Hampshire Republicans stand with Howie Carr and support his offensive brand of politics?" Buckley asked. "Rolecek and New Hampshire Republicans should cancel this event immediately."

Controversial and offensive shock-jock Howie Carr will campaign and raise money for Chuck Rolecek tonight in Manchester.

On his radio show in November 2011, Carr blamed two alleged rape victims, including one 18-year old, for their sexual assault saying "what did she think was going to happen?" [SoundCloud, 11/3/11].

"It is incredibly disappointing that in the wake of Rep. Akin's deplorable and offensive comments toward rape victims, that the GOP in New Hampshire would welcome and celebrate a man who said of an 18-year old alleged rape victim 'what did she think was going to happen?'" Buckley said.

Howie Carr regularly promotes insensitive and offensive racial and ethnic stereotypes in his writing and on his radio show. He has engaged in personal attacks, using sweeping, unsubstantiated generalizations to cast aspersions on Native Americans, Hispanics and Catholics among other groups.

Gubernatorial candidates on Portsmouth Community Radio

PORTSMOUTH – With only a few short weeks left before the state primary election, Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA 106.1 FM, is making it easier for listeners to get to know the candidates.

With Gov. John Lynch stepping aside after eight years in the Statehouse, the spot as state of New Hampshire’s CEO is up for grabs. On Portsmouth Community Radio, former state senator Burt Cohen of New Castle interviews all three contenders for the Democratic primary: former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan of Exeter, former state Sen. Jackie Cilley of Barrington and veteran Bill Kennedy of Danbury. Audio archives from the interviews on “The Burt Cohen” can be found at http://portsmouthcommunityradio.org/audioarchive/public-affairs#burt.

On Portsmouth Community Radio’s “Radiogazette,” attorney and former Portsmouth City Councilor Charlie Griffin talks to candidates running in the Republican primary including Ovide Lamontagne of Manchester, Kevin Smith of Litchfield and Robert Tarr of Manchester. Audio archives for the interviews with Lamontagne and Smith can be found at http://audio.wscafm.org/audio/2012/RGAZET/WSCA-RGAZET_07-27-2012.mp3. The final interview with Tarr airs Friday, Aug. 24.

WSCA is an all volunteer, non-commercial radio station located at 909 Islington St., Suite 1, Portsmouth, N.H. 03801, offering a wide variety of programming by and for the community. Tune in to 106.1 LP FM. For more information call 603-430-9722 or visit www.portsmouthcommunityradio.org.  Thank you for listening.