NH Democrats, Indies: More Debates Now

Numerous political leaders from across New Hampshire announced the formation on Oct. 1, 2015, of New Hampshire Debates, a coalition of concerned Democrats and Independents who believe that the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation Primary is best served by a democratic process where presidential candidates may freely participate in more than one Granite State debate without fear of punishment by the Democratic National Committee for doing so, according to a press release.

Members of the coalition represent current and former elected officials, town and county democratic leaders, democratic activists, supporters of multiple presidential campaigns and undecided leaders who believe strongly that the Primary tradition of free and open debate transcends any one presidential campaign.

“Our allegiance to any one campaign is exceeded by our desire and passion to keep New Hampshire and the nation blue in 2016,” said former state Sen. Peter Burling. “This coalition will work together to preserve one of the long traditions of the New Hampshire Primary and strengthen our eventual democratic presidential nominee.”

“Every day that goes by that we Democrats remain silent and spurn healthy debate among those who would lead us is fatal to the party’s chances to defend the progress we’ve made under President Barack Obama and the progress still to come under the Democratic banner,” said labor leader Beth Campbell.

“We are united in the cause of protecting our Primary and its tradition of debates,” said activist Jay Surdukowski.

New Hampshire Debates will work to educate members of the public and the media about the long-tradition of New Hampshire Primary voters having more than one opportunity to see all the candidates at the same time on a single stage offering competing visions for moving the country forward. New Hampshire Debates will explain that a single debate the Saturday before Christmas dishonors the New Hampshire Primary tradition and that debates should be held at the height of voters’ attention, not at the lowest point.

The coalition will be meeting with media, nonprofit organizations, and private and public educational and civic institutions to secure at least one additional debate before the New Hampshire Primary.

New Hampshire Debates Mission Statement

New Hampshire Debates is a coalition of concerned Democrats and Independents who believe that the New Hampshire Primary is best served by a democratic process where presidential candidates may freely participate in more than one Granite State debate without fear of punishment by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for doing so. Members of the coalition represent multiple presidential campaigns and undecided leaders who believe strongly that the Primary tradition of free and open debate transcends any one presidential campaign.

New Hampshire Debates will work to educate members of the public and the media about the long-tradition of New Hampshire Primary voters having more than one opportunity to see all the candidates at the same time on a single stage offering competing visions for moving the country forward. New Hampshire Debates will explain that a single debate the Saturday before Christmas dishonors the New Hampshire Primary tradition and that debates should be held at the height of voters’ attention, not at the lowest point.

New Hampshire Debates will also work with media outlets and educational institutions to try to facilitate at least one more debate in New Hampshire before the February 9, 2016 Primary.

The Members of New Hampshire Debates include:

David Allen

Jeffery Ballard

Dean Barker

Hon. Mo Baxley

Hon. Peter Burling

Dan Calegari

Bernadette Cameron

Beth Campbell

Hon. Lorrie Carey

Hon. Byron Champlin

Sen. Martha Fuller Clark

Sen. Lou D’Allesandro

Robert Dietel

Clara Dietel

Hon. Dudley Dudley

Lucy Edwards

Hon. Eileen Ehlers

Robert Ehlers

Brent Erstad

Lew Feldstein

Nathan Fennessey

Rep. Sue Ford

Caroline French

Hon. Sylvia Gale

Irvin Gordon

Hon. Martin L. Gross

Ronna Hamelin

Rachel Hampe

Matthew Hancock

John Hattan

Zandra Rice-Hawkins

Ann Heffernon

Mary Heslin

Rep. Patricia Higgins

Sen. Andrew Hosmer

Hon. Harold Janeway

Don Jorgensen

Brian Keaney

Janice Kelbe

Ben Kelley

Karina Kelley

Quinn Kelley

Eric Tolbert Kilchenstein

Rob Lanney

Jonathan Lax

Kyle Leach

Derek Lick

Hon. Maureen Mann

Rep. Marcia Moody

Kathy Muirhead

Prof. Russ Muirhead

James Owers

Linda Paquette

Chia-Huei Parker

David Parker

Norman Patenaude

Shana Potvin

John Rauh

Mary Rauh

Alan Reische

Joan Reische

Hon. Gary Richardson

Ken Roos

Atlant Schmidt

Hon. Jan Schmidt

Brian Shea

Dr. Bill Siroty

Rep. Marjorie Smith

Robert Spiegelman

Bill Stelling

Jay Surdukowski

Jim Tetreault

AnnMarie Timmins

Ken Traum

William Tucker

Michael Veilleux

Donna Veilleux

Rep. Lucy Weber

Pat Wilczynski

Ann Wright

Josh Wyatt