SENTINEL EDITORIAL: Our picks for the Executive Council (partial)

Published: Friday, October 31, 2008

The importance of the New Hampshire Executive Council far surpasses the small amount of recognition its members get from the press and the public. The five-member council was designed by the Founders to serve as a check on executive power, making it an important safeguard against cronyism, extravagance and graft. Its members vote up or down on all significant state contracts, all state judicial nominations and appointments of people to head all state agencies. It also sets priorities for all state highway projects.

Executive councilors are powerful people who get their phone calls returned. And, in addition to their other duties, that makes them informal ombudsmen for their constituents. They are often called upon to mediate disputes among individuals, communities and government agencies — another function that can place limits on government excess. So it makes a difference who serves on this key body.

Council District 5 (Hinsdale, Winchester, Keene Jaffrey, Peterborough and points east to Nashua):

Democrat Debora Pignatelli of Nashua has held this post for two terms, putting together a fine record of service. Among other things, she insisted that the council hold public hearings on key appointments, something that had not previously been done. And, despite some initial opposition from her colleagues, she carried the day, nudging a critical function of the council into brighter sunlight.

She also has made a point of insisting on competitive bidding for state contracts, a position that has no doubt saved the state a great deal of money during her four years on the job.

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we believe Pignatelli, with her balanced approach to the tasks at hand and her impressive track record, merits re-election.

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MILFORD CABINET:

The stakes have never been higher, and, in some cases, the candidates have never been stronger.

Executive Council, District 5 – Debora Pignatelli: While the Republican challenger, Amherst Rep. Steve Stepanek, is running as a bipartisan problem-solver, District 5 already has a perfectly good one (Councilor) in Pignatelli. The Nashua Democrat has increased transparency and efficiency during her tenure on the council, working for the best interests of her constituents. (partial)