Members of a newly-formed non-profit organization in New Hampshire believe elected leaders in Concord aren't doing enough to safe-guard New Hampshire's environment. The bi-partisan group called "The Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance" is dedicated to changing that. Leaders of the organization are holding a series of small fundraisers around the state to drum up support. New Hampshire Public Radio Environmental Correspondent Doug MacPherson attended one such fundraiser in Newmarket. He filed this report.
ABOUT TWO DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED ON A PORCH OF A PRIVATE HOME AT THE EDGE OF THE NEWCASTLE SIDE OF THE PISCATAQUA RIVER. THE EVENING SUN LIGHTS THE SAILBOATS AT ANCHOR BETWEEN NEWCASTLE AND KITTERY POINT. ROGER STEVENSON OF STRATHAM, WHO HAS EMERGED AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GRANITE STATE CONSERVATION VOTERS ALLIANCE, STANDS UP TO CALL THE GROUP'S ATTENTION.
TAPE ROGER STEVENSON 012 I’m going to introduce to you someone I think everyone knows. Someone who spent 10 years in the state senate. Was chairman of the senate enviro committee. And, as a republican led strong enviro efforts on that committee, while he was in the senate. :16
FORMER SENATE REPUBLICAN RICK RUSSMAN, AN EXETER ATTORNEY, STEPS FORWARD TO MAKE HIS PITCH.
TAPE RICK RUSSMAN 045 we’ve had 3 receptions. this is our 3rd one, we expect to have others around the state. this is not a seacoast organization. And when i was the state senate for the 10 years, and i did chair the senate enviro committee for 8 of those, and a lot of enviro legislation was passed. And i'm proud of that, not just to say i'm proud of it, but i'm proud of what the leg did, and the gov did, in terms of getting those things passed. but the tide HAS really changed. It’s changed dramatically, and I think you all know that, and that’s probably why you’re here, tonight... :31
RUSSMAN SAYS THE POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, FROM PROTECTING LAND TO REDUCING MERCURY EMISSIONS, IS THE WORST HE'S EVER SEEN IT.
TAPE RICK RUSSMAN 073 now, our plan really is, plain and simple, and i think most of you know that, is to hold some of these public and elected officials accountable. And we're going to go after them, we're going to take them on, we have campaign strategies, we're going to meet with some of the candidates, we're going to try to run some candidates, and we're going to try to turn things around. Now it's not going to happen in one term, obviously, and i don't think anyone expects that. But slowly but surely this is going to build and i think it's going to be good for nh, and it's going to be good for the people of nh more importantly. :32
SOME OF THE INVITED GUESTS AT THIS FUNDRAISER WANT TO HEAR SPECIFICS. AFTER ALL, THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO FORK OVER ONE-HUNDRED DOLLARS.
TAPE, MAN IN AUDIENCE 105 what do you think are some of the most effective strategies /// for bringing pressure to bear?
TAPE RICK RUSSMAN 109 well, i can tell you, one thing we're doing that will be coming out shortly is a report card on the governor. /// we've asked a number of people to contribute to that, whether it's air issues, transportation issues, and we're going to publish that in the next few weeks, and that's going to be rather telling in terms of what the present administration has done, or perhaps has NOT done. :35
RUSSMAN SAYS THE NEW GROUP'S INTENT IS NOT TO BASH ANYONE -- REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. BUT HE REITERATES WHAT HE SAYS IS THE NEED TO RECRUIT AND ENCOURAGE NEW CANDIDATES, AND TO HOLD INCUMBENTS ACCOUNTABLE.
ROGER STEVENSON SAYS FOR YEARS, MEMBERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY HAVE SPOKEN OF THE NEED TO FORM SUCH A GROUP.
TAPE ROGER STEVENSON 124 within the context of enviro orgs in nh, over a couple of years, if you take the top 4, 5 or 6 enviro orgs, collectively they spend millions of dollars on public education and land protection. Collectively they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars advocating for their issues in concord. But in the last two year election cycle, environmentalists spent less than one thousand dollars in elections, holding candidates accountable.
TAPE MAN IN AUDIENCE: why?
TAPE ROGER STEVENSON b/c as a matter of law, and as a matter of policy, those orgs are not permitted to get involved in elections. :39
SO FAR, THE GROUP COUNTS ITS WAR CHEST AT AROUND SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. STEVENSON SAYS WHEN THEY REACH 10-THOUSAND, HE'S SURE HE CAN FIND A MATCH FROM INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS ISN'T MUCH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE. GOVERNOR CRAIG BENSON ALONE SPENT MORE THAN 11-MILLION DOLLARS. BUT STEVENSON COUNTERS THAT TO A CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE -- A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS CAN BE QUITE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY INDEED.
SOME IN ATTENDANCE ARE WELL KNOWN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICAL CIRCLES. SUSAN ARNOLD OF STATFORD WAS POLICY DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN. ARNOLD DECRIES RECENT LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WHICH SHE SAYS HAS BECOME A "BACKWATER."
TAPE 2 SUSAN ARNOLD 250 there's a morale problem. There's a sense of, well, if i take it to the top they're just going to say, "do what the permitee's requesting" kind of thing. /// 262 in the casual communications i've had, there has been a sense of, "we don't want you to push, on much. we don't want people to be very assertive. :20
SOME OF THE ATTENDEES ENGAGE IN SOME SHARP QUESTIONING, DESIGNED TO FIND OUT IF THE GRANITE STATE CONSERVATION VOTERS ALLIANCE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
TAPE JOHN ALGREN 420 my name is john algren. And i'm a lawyer in portsmouth. I've been there for about 25 years, i live in newmarket. //// 492 this org needs support, with money and manpower. And i'm here as an interested person, i make a donation, but i want to know will it be effective, who is involved, what are their strategies, is it a mature organization, and it is. :25
ALGREN IS ONE OF SEVERAL HERE THIS EVENING WHO SAY MANY VOTERS AND LAWMAKERS DON'T MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAFEGUARDING NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING THE STATE'S ECONOMY, AND PROTECTING ITS QUALITY OF LIFE.
TAPE JOHN ALGREN 450 it's not seen as something that can make you any money, and it's very easy to get tagged as -- you know, you're a tree hugger, you're a leaf lover, and so forth. You're somehow on the wrong side of something. Yet all those people who complain -- at the same time, here we are on a beautiful situation, on a porch overlooking the piscataqua river on a lovely day. And it takes some work. It's takes some protection, it takes some care. And that gets lost. :28
THE ALLIANCE PLANS SEVERAL MORE FUNDRAISERS AROUND THE STATE. IT PLANS TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES AT ALL LEVELS OF STATE GOVERNMENT. ROGER STEVENSON SAYS THE GROUP WILL ALSO WORK TO EDUCATE VOTERS.
TAPE 2, ROGER STEVENSON 325 the newcomers to the state, and the people who have resided here for a generation, have the leaders of a hundred years ago to thank for being able to hike in the white mountains today forever. The people who come into the state today, have the leaders in the legislature and in the executive branch -- a generation ago -- to thank for the current use laws that have saved untold thousands of acres of open space. That leadership doesn't exist in concord today. And people don't know about it. :33
THE GRANITE STATE CONSERVATION VOTERS ALLIANCE IS OUT TO MAKE SURE VOTERS KNOW CONSIDERABLY MORE -- BEFORE THEY GO TO THE POLLS.
FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I'M DOUG MACPHERSON.
