John Babiarz To Run For Governor Again--New EMail Policy Announced

Barring a packet from a city or town clerk lost in the mail since last Friday, all filings for state office are now in and posted on the Secretary of State's web site.

As well as downloading the Republican and Democratic filings, you might want to click on the "Declarations of Intent" page.  There you will find candidates who have made official their intent to seek ballot status by acquiring the necessary number of signatures, usually as Independents or as Libertarians (but not necessarily so).  There will be a separate line on the November ballot for these candidates.

Two names appear for Governor, for example, Peter Cordatos, of Bennington (???) and John Babiarz, of Grafton, who has run as the Libertarian candidate in the past.  I was kind of hoping that Babiarz would run as a Republican this time, but it was not to be.  Hey, didn't I see him wearing a Fire Chief's hat on a Channel 9 news report over the weekend?  John Babiarz, apparently, is a man of many hats.  Whether or not he'll be allowed in the media debate is another question.  I recall one year when he was not only in the debates but to me at least (a proud libertarian), he appeared to win.

Yesterday, I noted Cynthia Dokmo for State

Officially, there appear to be 25 pages of Republican filings (not including filings for the party convention; Democrats don't use the filing process for this).  There are 21 pages of filings for Democrats, but that doesn't mean Republicans have filled vacancies for more offices.  In fact, a quick look at the filings reveals that Democrats have used filings much more "efficiently".   That's another way of saying that there are no nearly as many primaries among Democrats. 

A more complete analysis will follow next week, but let's take a random example for now.  Let's go with Bedford (Hillsborough District 7).  For six State Rep seats, six Democrats have filed (probably none will win come November) while nine Republicans have filed including the husband and wife team of Keith Murphy (one of my favorite Reps) and Kelleigh Domaingue Murphy, daughter of Jackie who in the past served as both my Ward 8 Manchester State Representative and Alderman.

Were I in Bedford, I would enthusiastically vote for the Murphys, but the point here is that three of the Republican candidates for State Rep from Bedford will be eliminated in the primary while all six Democrats will advance (till November at least and at most).

This is the case throughout the state, but it'll take a few days to review all the filings, and I've got to run to Concord High School for a taping of Denis Goddard's weekly community service TV show.  It runs on many outlets throughout the state; I do it once a year or so, and it's always fun.  In fact, I thought Denis (one N is correct) was going to run as a Democrat for one of the three State Rep seats in Hopkinton/Concord District 10, but he's not on the list for either Democrats or Intent filers.

As for ballot placement, gone are the days when the Secretary of State draws a letter to determine where the alphabet will begin.  It's more complicated than that now.  The drawing was held yesterday.  Democrats get the left hand column on one-third the state ballots, Republicans on one-third, and other candidates on the final one-third.  You'd have to check to see where your town or ward falls.

As for the primary, another drawing determined whose name will appears first on the ballot, and it's based on the number or candidates in a given field, and a drawing for each one (up to 12 candidates).  However, the official drawing is not totally valid since two names came in for Hudson Rep after the drawing, so a new drawing for a 14-member field will have to be held.  If it sounds too complicated, it is, and you probably don't need to know the details.  It's all based on the fairly recent argument that there's an advantage (however slight) in being listed first on the ballot, so alphabetizing is simply no longer deemed an appropriate determination.  Ironically, however, the number 1 surfaced in many drawings yesterday which indicates that the first listed alphabetically will appear first on many ballots.

Oh yes, guess what?  As an update from yesterday, it now appears that no less than 11 of the 14 Republicans running for 11 seats in the Hudson/Pelham district (Hillsborough 37) are from…the envelope please…Hudson.  Thus, with 2010 top vote getter Sean Doherty of Pelham (the ONLY current Rep from Pelham!) not running again, it is entirely possible that Pelham, WHICH DESERVES FOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF ITS OWN, will get…the envelope please…ZERO.   Democrats filled all 11 seats; you’re way ahead of me…nine from Hudson, and only two from Pelham.

 So much for redistricting fairness!  NOT!

I'm not making it up; check the Secretary of State's web site for details. 

NO MORE FREE INFORMATION TO ALL…

By the way, due to Speaker Bill O’Brien’s new policy attempting to stifle freedom of speech on the State web site, this is the last posting I will distribute to all Representatives.  I am creating a new posting and anyone who finds (or has found in the past) objectionable will be eliminated from receipt.  Those who have complained in the past have already been eliminated from the list (there’s no getting back on…you’re going to miss some great analysis in coming weeks…including my numbers for all 24 Senate districts).  I have always sent everything I write to everyone since I have always believed that if one person has the chance to know something, everyone should have that chance.  Equality is equality, but that apparently is no longer an operative assumption. 

Those who want to get off need only drop me a line….and at the same time I eliminate you, I expect you to drop me from your list of petulant commentary (yes Al and Timmy and Fred and Will that would include—but is not limited to--you...you don't have to thank me).  Thus, I can no longer be accused of offending any tender sensibilities by this or any future Speaker.  If you wish to get on the list, also just drop me a line…last time I made the offer, I received word from a political scientist in Buffalo, New York.  

            Everything will continue to be posted on nhinsider.com.

            Media deemed chronically slipshod, error-prone, or overly offensive have also been dropped from my media list (there’s only one so far).  I do after all believe in equal access to news from all those worthy of it.