Exeter, New Hampshire, has more voters who register as independents than those who choose Democrat or Republican. That’s the pattern for the state as a whole where independents have held a narrow plurality since 2000.
In the state’s open primary system, undeclared voters as they are technically listed, often play a pivotal role. They can wait until the very last second to decide whether to weigh in on the Republican or Democratic races.
Exeter is the town we are following as part of our series called Primary Place. Recently, New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg met a number of independents as they participated in an unusually direct exercise in democracy.
Coop members hold up cards to vote on the budget. (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
SFX loud speaker voice: all those in favor of moving to a vote, please raise your voting card. We want to see those voting cards
In the former Exeter High School gymnasium, residents of the newly created Exeter River Coop are debating and voting on the rules and budget that will govern their community. The stakes might not be as high as writing America’s constitution, but scale that down a bit and you’ll get a feel for what is motivating these people.
The significance of today is not lost on Heidi Paradis.
CUT: Heidi 1 I think it’s very important. You have a say and an opinion. I like that// It feels good?// It does. It feels It feels like you’re in control of something.
Control is the operative word. Until this month, the Exeter River Coop used to be the Lindenshire Mobile Home Park. Exeter has many mobile home communities, more than just about any other town in the state. These parks are islands of affordable housing in a real estate market where a place for 250 thousand dollars is considered a good deal. That was put at risk last fall, when Lindenshire was about to be sold for over 15 million dollars. With the help of a non-profit organization, residents came up with a way, for the first time, to own the land their homes sit on.
And now, they are working through the nitty gritty of community ownership.
CUT: 16/1:00 if you feel strongly about amending something, in any of these documents, raise your hand, present a motion. If it’s seconded, it will be discussed and ultimately voted on.
There are so many people in the bleachers, you might almost think the high school basketball team was about to play. Residents range in age from their 20’s to their 80’s. They are electricians, back hoe operators, opticians, retirees, and more.
About ten months from now, these same people will have the chance to vote in the New Hampshire primary, an act of much greater national significance. One couple, Sherry Carter and Joe Mastromarino, recently moved up from Massachusetts and while they’re both looking forward to having first crack at the candidates, they actually don’t see many similarities between what’s going on today and the primary.
Anita Jordan, president of the Exeter River Coop, talks to a resident (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
CUT: Sherry and Joe I mean presidential, that’s for the entire country. What we’re talking about is just for our community. It’s totally different/ // Well, some people would say that it’s democracy at two different levels but it’s still democracy, know what I mean?//Well, yeah. But I still see it in two totally different aspects. // This is democracy for us, not for the country. What we say here goes for everybody. What we say for is democracy. But what politicians say now, they might change their minds in a year or two.// When you do participate in the presidential primary, and I presume you will, do you think it will be more on the Republican side or the Democratic side./ /I don’t know. I’m hoping Democrat but then again, I’m an Independent. I might go Republican. So you never know.â€
Among this crowd, party ambivalence and a skeptical view of politicians go hand in hand. Today in this gym, they know that what they see is pretty much what they get. Steve Millard, an older park resident, would like to feel the same way about presidential contenders, but he refuses to.
CUT: Steve I mistrust people who are dissemblers, who have expensive spin doctors telling them what they can say and what they can get away with and what hot buttons to punch and -- God, I’m really wearing my cynical hat today. I believe in, what’s that buzz phrase, due diligence -- really doing your homework and finding out. Rather than saying , “ Oh, that candidate looks nice, uh, he or she looks, yeah, that’d be very nice.â€
Steve probably wouldn’t have much to say to one of his neighbors, Ruth McArdle, who is drawn to one candidate, except --
CUT: Ruth “I don’t know how to pronounce his nameâ€// Barack Obama?// That’s the guy. I’m kind of leaning toward him. I like him.â€
Ruth is a senior citizen who recently moved from Oregon.
CUT: Ruth “First of all, he has a very calming voice. And that’s what I think we need. Someone who is calm. And I really enjoy listening to him talk. It doesn’t matter what subject he’s speaking on. I enjoy it.â€
Setting aside personal styles of connecting with candidates, independent voters have a daunting task in front of them. This year, with open races in both parties, they have a smorgasbord of choices that is unprecedented. Joyce Dow is an optician who grew up in the park.
CUT: Joy 1 I’m still learning, still forming opinions, still kind of listening.â€
Joyce has paid some attention to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. And she’s also noticed, like her neighbor, Leona Nelson, one Republican candidate
Coop members register to vote. (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
CUT: Leona and Joy “ I love Giuliani and I like how he does sutff, but I don’t think he’s experienced enough for national. //But you learn experience as you go too, you know. He’s for the people// Yeah, but we don’t need somebody learning. We need someone who knows what they’re doing because of the war.â€
Beyond independents, there also are committed Republican and Democratic voters at this meeting. And many jaded non-voters. Heidi Paradis, the first woman we met, was -- on a beautiful Saturday -- willing to stand in a long registration line and sit through a very long meeting to weigh in on park rules. But ask Heidi if she plans to show up for the primary and her reply is blunt.
CUT: No. I probably should. Everybody tells me a I should, but I don’t. I don’t know. It’s important but I don’t think my one vote is going to make a difference
For this crowd, the successful presidential candidate would be able to persuade them that a vote in the primary is as meaningful as a vote today. But compared to setting your rent and keeping the park clean, that would be a tough sell.
CUT: Loud speaker voice “OK, the by-laws have been adopted. Congratulations./ Applause and cheers ..
For NHPR News, I’m Jon Greenberg.
I am a resident of Exeter River Mobile Home Park. I am repling to this report, the board chooses to do what they want, when they want. They have elected board members without allowing residents to vote. They do not notify residents of meetings, and they continue to neglect residents when issues are brought up to them. When a resident notifies the office of a problem they opt to ignore it and not respond to the resident. The thought process of the people in control is not for th best intrest of the resident's, but for themselfs. I am sure that if the books were inspected that it would be found that there is wrong doing happening. I have a major sewer problem and I had notified the office of this situation, they have failed to contact me on the issue. I had my home appraised and was informed do to this issue my home is not marketable.I have children that have to live in a home that for one has mold growing do to this issue, for two I am unable to sell my home, because it has no value. The members of the board are showing that they have no concerns of the residents.