Five former governors back Gardner in contested race for Secretary of State
Lynch, Merrill, Benson, Gregg, John H. Sununu join in letter of support for incumbent
Lynch, Merrill, Benson, Gregg, John H. Sununu join in letter of support for incumbent
Five former New Hampshire governors – four Republicans and a Democrat – have backed Secretary of State William Gardner in his bid for a 22nd term as the state’s top elections official.
Gardner, a registered Democrat, faces a well-organized challenge from 2016 Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern in an election that will be held among the state’s 424 legislators at the State House on Organization Day, Dec. 5.
Gardner was elected to the post in 1976 and has been re-elected to two-year terms 20 times since. He has faced opposition in the past, but Van Ostern is his most well-funded challenger to date and easily won a nonbinding preference straw poll of the incoming House Democratic majority caucus on Nov. 15.
The winner next Wednesday will need at least 213 votes if all lawmakers attend the session.
Former Gov. John Lynch, who formally introduced Gardner to the Democratic caucus during the closed Nov. 15 session, is listed first on the open letter. Republican former Govs. Stephen Merrill, Craig Benson, John H. Sununu and Judd Gregg also signed on.
U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, a former governor, told WMUR that she is not making an endorsement in the race.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is also a former governor, is also staying out of the race, a spokesman said Wednesday.
“As the state’s top elections official, the Secretary of State is charged with safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process,” the five former governors wrote. “We have each witnessed Bill Gardner, regardless of the makeup of New Hampshire government, execute these duties with absolute independence and incorruptible motive. Whether we have agreed with his position on a particular issue, Bill Gardner’s perspective is one steeped in historical understanding, not partisan allegiance.”
They wrote that Gardner has earned the trust of elected officials and voters, and, “It is critical to safeguard this trust, by re-electing Secretary of State Bill Gardner.”
They also praised Gardner for protecting the first-in-the-nation status of New Hampshire’s presidential primary for many years.
“Secretary Gardner has fiercely and successfully defended the primary throughout his tenure and has proven to be a trustworthy steward. Certainly, politics has an obvious place in New Hampshire’s landscape. But it has no place in the Secretary of State’s office,” the letter says.
The former governors “strongly urge” Granite Staters to contact their representatives or state senators and ask that they support Gardner.
Meanwhile, several of the former governors, as well as members of veterans’ groups and the business community, will hold a news conference on Monday on the State House steps, weather permitting.
Consultant Josh McElveen of McElveen Strategies, who is organizing the event, said it will be “focused on preserving the independence and integrity of the Secretary of State’s Office.”