O'Brien Deserves Another Term as Speaker, Republicans Say

Despite some turbulent times at the Statehouse, most Republican insiders think William O'Brien deserves another term as House Speaker: that's the main finding of this week's Red Granite survey of influential New Hampshire Republicans.

Democrats have frequently tried to paint O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, as a fringe, Tea Party aligned Republican whose thoughts are not in line with New Hampshire voters. And , earlier this year didn't make things any easier for the Speaker.

But according to the influential Republicans we surveyed, O'Brien still has a lot of support in GOP circles.

In all, 102 Republicans from New Hampshire were asked using an automated survey tool whether they think O'Brien deserves another term as Speaker.

Fifty-two responses were collected.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed agreed to some degree that O'Brien deserves another term. Forty-four percent said they completely agree, while another 17 percent said they somewhat agree. Twelve percent were neutral, 4 percent somewhat disagreed, and 21 percent completely disagreed. Two percent of those surveyed said they had no opinion.

Asked where they felt O'Brien has succeeded as Speaker, more than half of those who responded cited his work to help balance the budget and keep spending in check.

"Achieving fiscal sanity," said one influential Republican.

"Righting the fiscal ship," said another.

One person surveyed said O'Brien's greatest accomplishment was "keeping the nuts in line."

Others were more critical, saying his greatest success was in "abuse of power," or "Tearing apart the Republican Party."

The influential Republicans surveyed were more varied in their responses when asked about O'Brien's failures.

Many cited the Speaker's inability to "handle the press" and deal with public relations.

"At times they looked like a train wreck," said one.

Others cited Bettencourt's resignation, saying O'Brien's failures included "assessing the character of certain people in his administration," and "letting people like D.J. Bettencourt... rule the roost unabated & unchecked."

Still others said O'Brien had no failures at all.

When asked for the Legislature's greatest achievement of this legislative session, three-quarters of those surveyed cited balancing the budget and cutting spending. Others referenced the , and progress on pension reform.

"If you were a Democrat, I suppose it would be keeping same sex marriage?" asked one Republican.

The Red Granite Survey

Our surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Republican activists, party leaders and elected officials in New Hampshire. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between June 25 and June 28, 2012.
 
Patch will be conducting Red Granite and Blue Granite surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of Republicans and Democrats on the ground in New Hampshire. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in a weekly surveys that lasts just a few minutes, please email Regional Editor Marc Fortier at marc.fortier@patch.com.

Red Granite Roster: Zac Johnson (Technical writer), Mauri Foster (Retired), Marie Lopez-Reyes (Small business owner), Eduardo Lopez-Reyes (Republican Liberty Caucus, National Vice Chair), Harry McClard (Freelance writer), Pam Tucker (Deputy House Speaker), Gary Ellmer (Chairman, Portsmouth Republican Committee), John Lyons (Lawyer), Rick Paige (Loan officer), Chris Buck (Republican activist), Jerry Delemus (Republican activist), Tasha Olsen (Republican activist) Jim Waddell (State Rep), Russell Bridle (Former State Rep), Alan Williams (North Hampton resident, former Exeter Selectman), Amy Perkins (State Rep), Lawrence Perkins (State Rep), Diane Bitter (Republican activist), Michele Peckham (State Rep), Fred Rice (State Rep), David Hurst (NH Young Republicans Chairman), Sheila Francoeur (Seacoast Republican Women member), Brandon Stauber (Small business owner), Frank Ferraro (Exeter Selectman), Matt Quandt (State Rep/Exeter Selectman), Julie DiCarlo (Small business owner), Ron DiCarlo (Small business owner), Lee Quandt (State Rep), Tim Copeland (State Rep), Steve Brennan (Business owner), Brian Griset (Member of local political committee), Dan St. Hilaire (Executive Councilor/Concord City Councilor), Kris MacNeil (Former State Senate candidate), Robert Washburn (Former Concord City Councilor), Stephen Ludwick (Chairman, Supervisors of the Checklist, Concord Ward 9), Chris Tremblay (Republican activist), Laura Foote (Republican activist), Tom Rath (Consultant), Shari Demers (Republican activist), Jamie Burnett (Consultant), Bill Boyd (Merrimack Town Councilor), Chris Christiansen (State Rep), William Smith (Conservative blogger), Maureen Mooney (Former State Rep), Dick Hinch (State Rep), Chris Buda (Merrimack GOP Chairman), Juanita Dangel (Hillsborough County GOP Secretary), Gary Krupp (Merrimack School Budget Committee), Lenette Peterson (State Rep), Kathy Stroud (State Rep), George Markwell (Merrimack School Board member), D.J. Bettencourt (Former House Majority Leader), Ed Brooks (Former ME Selectman, Town Councilor), Ed Declercq (Salem Planning Board Member), Bob Elliott (State Rep), Bianca Garcia (Former Salem GOP Victory office manager), David Garcia (Salem Town GOP Chair), Pat Hargreaves (Salem Selectman), Jeff Hatch (Salem Romney Town Chair), Tom Linehan (Republican activist), Patrick McDougall (Salem Budget Committee member), Keith Murphy (State Rep), Andrew Manuse (State Rep), Joel Maiola (Former Judd Gregg Chief of Staff), Ken Hawkins (State Rep), Jim Costello (Teacher), Eric Anderson (Former State Rep), John Cebrow (State Rep), Jim Rubens (Former State Senator), Raymond White (State Senator), John Graham (State Rep), Kathy Benuck (BCTV host/blogger), Mark Vincent (Chairman of Amherst Republicans), Peter Hansen (State Rep), Ken Jones (Amherst Republicans member), Bill Modis (Vice Chairman of Amherst Republicans), Steve Landry (Small business owner), Tony Zore (Tea Party member), Lisa Hansen (Romney supporter), Gary Daniels (State Rep), Tom Walker (Conservative Republican), Jennifer Horn (Republican activist), Jim Luther (State Senator), Michael Gallagher (Nashua Republican City Committee), Mark Cookson (Nashua Alderman-at-large), J. Christopher Williams (Nashua Chamber of Commerce President), Pete Silva (House Majority Leader), Bob Duffy (Nashua Republican City Committee member), Di Lothrop (Nashua Republican City Committee member), Kathryn Peterson (Community activist), Pam Price (Former State Rep), David Bates (State Rep), Charles McMahon (State Rep), Kevin Waterhouse (State Rep), Bruce Breton (Windham Selectman), Travis Blais (Windham GOP Chairman), Phil LoChiatto (Windham Selectman), Margaret Crisler (Windham GOP member), Gary Azarian (State Rep), Donna Mauro (State Rep), Rich Okerman (State Rep), Kevin Avard (State Rep), David Murotake (State Rep candidate), Pam Skinner (Windham Planning Board), Jane Aitken (NH Tea Party Coalition).