U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) are asking their supporters to take action - and they don't (just) mean phonebanking or canvassing. They're asking for folks to give back directly to their communities.

Through Thanksgiving, the Clinton campaign will collect food for those in need this holiday season.

During Thanksgiving week and through the end of November, the campaign will deliver food and other items collected to shelters and pantries throughout the state. “Serving the ‘least of these’ in our communities is the ultimate contribution to the common good. We are all blessed when we join together to offer a helping hand,” said Senator Clinton. “I am heartened that my campaign is joining with the people of New Hampshire in lifting up our fellow Americans in need as we enter the holiday season.”

John Edwards at the Iowa SEIU endorsement on October 15th, 2007 It is my great pleasure to announce that John Edwards has won the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) here in New Hampshire. This is a major victory for our campaign because the New Hampshire SEIU represent over 10,000 New Hampshire workers, most of whom are state employees.

On Saturday, 75 members of the carpenters union loaded up their cars and drove down to Nashua to show their support for John Edwards. Nothing could have demonstrated organized labor's strong commitment to John Edwards more than the sight of 75 carpenters standing out in the rain, knocking on doors and doing their part to ensure that John Edwards is our next President.

More than any candidate in history, John Edwards has demonstrated his commitment to organized labor by "walking the walk" and helping workers across the country in organizing drives, contract fights and on the picket line.

Jay Buckey has continued (in the opinion of this biased staffer) leading the Senate field in policy ideas and understanding by releasing 3 new policy perspectives, covering a broad range of topics.  These papers include exciting features such as "actual research," "critical thinking," "real statistics," and even "citations."  Unorthodox, yes, but we believe that you'll like it.  You can see them all as well as videos on the issues at buckey08.com/issues,  and I have provided direct links to the three specific papers below.

Energy
Iraq
Global Trade

Buckey sent a letter to supporters a few minutes ago announcing the new papers.  Here's the text:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Matt Simon
NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy
(603) 391-7450
info@nhcommonsense.org
www.NHCommonSense.org

Sen. Mike Gravel Rails Against Drug War, Says Marijuana Less Harmful than Liquor

Pembroke, NH (June 12) – An interview with former Alaska senator and presidential hopeful Mike Gravel will be broadcast today by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) on their daily podcast. Previously, Matt Simon from the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy (NH Common Sense) appeared on Monday’s show to discuss SendTheRightMessage.com, the group’s new project to promote anti-prohibitionist ideas through the presidential primary process. Audio of Monday’s interview with Simon is available at normlaudiostash.com, and today’s show with Gravel will become available late this afternoon.

This appearance by Gravel comes on the heels of two recent public appearances in New Hampshire at which he spoke out against the War on Marijuana. In the Spin Room following the June 5 Democratic debate at St. Anselm’s College, Gravel compared the nation’s current War on Drugs to Alcohol Prohibition: “Is there an American alive who doesn’t know that Prohibition did nothing but criminalize this country in the 20’s? The addiction problem is a public health problem; it’s not a criminal problem.” He added that of all the currently illegal drugs, marijuana in particular is less harmful than liquor.

Lebanon, NH -- City Councilor Karen Liot Hill, 28, will seek re-election on the March ballot. “I have learned a lot and made some significant accomplishments over the past two years, such as chairing the City's first-ever strategic planning process," she says, "and I would like to continue serving Ward 3 residents as their representative to our City Council in order to further the work I've become involved with." Her top priorities for a second term on the Council include engaging residents more effectively in decisions affecting the city, developing a transportation and open space plan to incorporate into the Zoning Update planned for the March 2008 ballot, pursuing opportunities to save energy and invest in new energy alternatives through the creation of an Energy Advisory Committee, and improving our long-term fiscal health by investing in our infrastructure.

Karen is the City Council representative to the Pedestrian & Bicyclist Advisory Committee, which seeks to make Lebanon more walkable and bike-able. She is part of the renewed momentum behind the project at the Westboro Yard, as a member of that City Council subcommittee. She has additionally served on the Dana House Committee, dedicated to preserving this historic asset to Lebanon, and the ADA Committee, charged with overseeing the incremental implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act within our City. She is currently a member of the Council Subcommittee on Zoning which will facilitate the process of reviewing and revising the Zoning Update. "I have enjoyed bringing an action-oriented approach to our city government," says Karen, “My goal has been to conduct city business with a thoughtful, honest approach that respects our past and embraces our future, and I believe I have done so.”

WHAT REPRESENTATIVES ARE SAYING . . . . .

“Anthony Stevens brings invaluable domestic and international banking experience, having conducted hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions, including booking loans and performance bonds, foreign currency and treasury-money market deals. This is exactly the kind of experience we need in our State Treasurer.”
-- Rep. Peter S. Espiefs, Keene, Elected to 4th term.
Judiciary Committee

“I have known Anthony and his family for many years. We are lucky that, after nine years working overseas and in New York, Anthony decided to bring his family back to his home state of New Hampshire where he has led several major state government financial and technology projects involving a wide range of stakeholders and NH business leaders. Anthony will bring the same long-term thinking and insightful financial management skills to the office of State Treasurer.”

-- Rep. Barbara Hull Richardson, Richmond, Elected to 8th term.
Children and Family Law Committee

The NH State Treasurer is a nonpartisan position elected, like the Secretary of State, by the New Hampshire House and Senate elected representatives.

The role of Treasurer was explained by candidate Anthony Stevens in a Nov. 20th letter to legislators as follows:

The Treasurer provides professional financial management services to the state government, its agencies, the legislature and its citizens. The Treasurer’s job is to optimize the use of state financial assets and protect those assets through the employment of appropriate technology, modern and efficient banking practices, a commitment to prudent management of public funds and a professional staff.

The Treasurer is the state’s personal representative to the financial community. The Treasurer is responsible for cash management and investment of more than $300 million daily; banking relationships; debt management (issuance of notes and bonds); and trust fund management. The Treasurer supervises a 26-member department that carries out the functions of a corporate treasurer's office. The Treasurer provides financial management services to numerous boards and committees, including the New Hampshire Retirement System and the Deferred Compensation Commission.

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Congratulations to Democracy For New Hampshire for endorsing Anthony Stevens for State Treasurer.

I have known Anthony very well since 1973, when he was first elected to the House as a young 21 year old and we served together. I've known him to have the highest integrity, and his intelligence and background in finance is extraordinary. He is also a good leader and works very well with people.

I am pleased your organization has similar views of this good man. Democracy For New Hampshire has every right - - in fact, even an obligation - - to offer it's viewpoint on this selection, since the State Treasurer can positively influence the credibility of our financial systems, and thus provide ethical investment of our funds. I know Anthony Stevens will excel at all those expectations.

For the benefit of our DFNH community, I feel compelled to respectfully respond to Marjorie Smith's posting. I believe the Board of Directors carefully considered both candidates. We voted to endorse Anthony Stevens. We reviewed and reinforced that decision at a follow up Board meeting. We also looked at the available information and listened to those of us who have had personal experiences with each of the candidates and what others have told us. It was a spirited discussion. We are satisfied that this was an important endorsement for DFNH to make.

When considering the importance of the role of the State Treasurer, Marjorie states that she could not find anyone to tell her the necessary qualifications for this job. Even "the senior partner in the nation's leading public bond counsel firm" could only tell her to look for "intelligence, integrity, honesty, and an ability to understand and communicate complex issues to others". (Who may that person be, Marjorie?)

These are qualities required of any candidate for any office.

It doesn't help us to select between candidates who both have these qualities in abundance, by any adequate assessment. I respectfully suggest that we need other points of comparison to make an intellegent choice.

It is each legislator's responsibility to understand what skills are needed if we are to vote intelligently and objectively. We can find these requirements by reading the Treasurer's website (link to which is kindly pointed out in Marjorie's posting).

Anthony Stevens, in his letter to legislators, very clearly spells out the job requirements for the position for which he is running. It includes IT projects, which his opponent recommends in an audit of the State Treasury. Anthony has successfully managed 30 complex IT projects for the Secretary of State's office remarkably without a single failure. In fact, those people I have spoken with who know nothing about either candidate other than their resumes are universally selecting Anthony Stevens as their candidate.

In addition I have known Anthony since 1973 when we both served in the House together. Secretary of State William Gardner also served in the House at the same time before he became the longest serving Secretary of State in the United States. We came to know each other well and I have followed Anthony's career all these years. I was delighted when he came back into State Government after a highly succesful career in Financial Management in the private sector. (See his resume) He was motivated to come back to New Hampshire by the same high ideals of public service that Secretary of State Gardiner exemplifies.

Anthony Stevens clearly has the INTEGRITY, EXPERIENCE,
ACADEMIC RECORD, AND SKILLS to merit our endorsement. He deserves our all out effort to support him with both the public and their Representatives.

A letter from Nancy Tobi, Chair, Democracy for New Hampshire

I am writing to ask your support for Anthony Stevens in the NH State Treasurer race.

The Treasurer is elected next Wednesday, December 6th, in a joint session of the State House and Senate. Democracy for New Hampshire needs your support of Anthony Stevens when you vote for the next New Hampshire State Treasurer on Organization Day, December 6th!

This race will determine the long term fiscal management of the Granite State. Fiscal responsibility is a core DFNH ideal expressed in our mission statement, and it's natural that we take a serious interest in this race.

The State Treasurer position requires expertise and experience in financial management in order to ensure the long term solvency of our state retirement system and the fiscal health of the State.

Anthony brings 9 years' experience in the world of international finance, working opposite corporate treasurers. He has conducted hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions including booking loans and performance bonds, foreign currency and treasury money market deals. He has started up and managed a branch bank overseas. He is familiar with Wall St and the bond rating process, and he has high level connections on Wall Street and in Washington, D.C. When he left the corporate financial world, he did so in order to help entrepreneurs launch their small businesses, and then later to enter a life of public service in the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office.

Congratulations to DFNH-endorsed State Rep Terie Norelli, who has just been elected New Hampshire's next Speaker of the House!

A happy crowd gathered at Eleven Eleven in Manchester last night to celebrate DFNH's 68% success rate in the 2006 election. Here are some photos from the event.


DFNH Directors Karen Liot Hill and Chaz Proulx jamming to Me & Bobby McGee

see more photos