Last Thursday, I attended the town hall at the Manchester Community College organized by NH-Forward. I knew neither Jeanne Shaheen nor Maggie Hassan would show up because I had been calling their offices to ask if they planned to host any events while home on recess. The staff members for both senators said no. I decided to attend the town hall anyway because I was curious about NH-Forward and eager to see if the senators would change their minds about facing their constituents.
When I entered the room, the only sign of Senators Shaheen and Hassan were the two empty chairs with their pictures on them.
When I entered the room, the only sign of Senators Shaheen and Hassan were the two empty chairs with their pictures on them.
Later at the event, which was attended by approximately 75 people, I learned that NH-Forward had reached out to both senators about 3 weeks prior to the town hall in the hope of finding a date that would work. The organization wanted to provide both politicians with an opportunity to explain their decision to join Republicans in supporting the Continuing Resolution to fund the government and answer questions for their constituents. Although NH-Forward offered the senators flexibility regarding the date and time of the event, both declined, stating they had prior commitments.
(Organizers later found out that Senator Shaheen attended a $1000 a plate fundraiser that evening.)
The town hall began with a Viewpoint Forum. This gave attendees an opportunity to speak out about whether their senators were working for them. Some pretty strong opinions flowed. The essential theme was that most constituents felt they had been let down by their representatives.
The Viewpoint Forum was followed by 3 excellent speakers. Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress, spoke about countering Christian Nationalism and how the Free Stater organization was infiltrating and influencing our state elections.
The next speaker, Olivia Zink, Executive Director of Open Democracy, spoke specifically about NH voting rights and shared the overwhelming number of bills designed to curb or limit voting rights.
The final speaker, Scott Lawrence, Director of NH Rank Choice Voting, shared the organization’s efforts to promote greater choice and less gridlock in the NH voting system. I knew very little about Rank Choice Voting, but after hearing Scott speak, I want to learn more because it seems to make total sense.
Even though I didn’t get to hear directly from my senators, I was very glad I attended this town hall. I came away with a greater knowledge of the state of democracy in NH, and I have to say, it’s not great. Just like the rest of our nation, it’s hanging on by a thread. It needs us. All of us, and I’m glad NH-Forward has courageously stepped into the void to help organize the troops. This event certainly motivated me to take action. How about you?
"Organizers later found out that Senator Shaheen attended a $1000 a plate fundraiser that evening."
That just perfectly frames the problem.