What does it mean to be from New Hampshire? That was the question asked today as Democrats challenged the right of Republican Fergus Cullen to run for State Senate. Cullen is trying to unseat Democrat Caroline Mccarley of Rochester.
NHPR's Trish Anderton reports.
30-YEAR OLD FERGUS CULLEN GREW UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WENT TO SCHOOL HERE. AN ACCOMPLISHED RUNNER, HE?S WON MANY NON-POLITICAL RACES HERE. AND CULLEN SAYS, HIS HEART IS HERE.
i?ve boiled sap into maple syrup. I?ve watched moose swim across a pond at dawn. I?ve attended many an old home day celebration. New Hampshire is as nh does, and I?m nh through and through.
BUT WHAT CULLEN DIDN?T DO IS LIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VOTE HERE, AT LEAST BETWEEN 1997 AND 2000, WHEN HE WORKED FOR THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUTT. CULLEN ADMITS THAT, BUT CALLS THAT PERIOD A TEMPORARY EXILE. HE SAYS HE MAINTAINED HIS LACONIA BANK ACCOUNT, REMAINED ACTIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS, AND CAME BACK TO HIS PARENTS? HOUSE IN THE STATE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. BUT STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR KATHY SULLIVAN SAYS THAT DOESN?T CUT IT.
He regi?d to vote in west Hartford, signed bylines w Hartford, worked in ct politics, he listed himself as from west Hartford on race registrations even when racing in Vermont, not connecticutt.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES STATE SENATORS TO BE INHABITANTS FOR SEVEN YEARS BEFORE THEIR ELECTION. STATE LAW ALLOWS A TEMPORARY ABSENCE, AS LONG AS THE PERSON INTENDS TO RETURN. TWO YEARS AGO THE STATE BALLOT LAW COMMISSION RULED DEMOCRAT LEONARD FOY COULD RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD WORKED AND VOTED IN CALIFORNIA. IN RESPONSE THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW SAYING ANYONE WHO VOTES IN ANOTHER STATE CREATES THE PRESUMPTION OF NOT BEING DOMICILED HERE. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHAT THE DEFINITION OF PRESUMPTION IS ?. REPUBLICANS SAY THERE?S ENOUGH WIGGLE ROOM FOR CULLEN TO RUN; DEMOCRATS SAY THERE ISN?T. THE BALLOT LAW COMMISSION GETS TO DECIDE; THERE?S NO WORD YET ON WHEN THEY?LL ISSUE A RULING. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
