New Hampshire’s Executive Council is a body that wields considerable power but that many people don’t' understand. As a result, it attracts little attention in elections and incumbents rarely lose their seats. In District 4 around Manchester, Democrat Ray Buckley hopes to beat the odds and unseat Republican Ray Wieczorek. As NHPR's Rebecca Kaufman reports, the contest has been a bitter one.
Ray Buckley and Ray Wieczorek have never debated each other. But that doesn't mean that they've never gone head to head. This impromptu exchange took place at an education funding event with Buckley defending his record.
Track 13 :45if you tell me I didn’t vote every single time to bring money back to the city of Manchester, you were the one opposed..don’t interrupt..don’t say I lied..you are such a phony..you are the phony…I’m looking forward to a lot of debates with you….
Those debates never happened. The one the two candidates almost agreed on unraveled when Buckley refused to attend because the moderator’s wife had contributed to Wieczorek’s campaign.
If there had been a debate, it might have shed light on just what executive councilors do.
They approve all state contracts over 5,000 dollars, as well as the Governor’s appointments to the court and to state agencies.
The council is a check on the governor’s power. And that lies at the crux of Buckley's main criticism of Wieczorek. That he isn't much of check on Craig Benson.
Track 2 1:26
Ray Wieczorek time and time again has been a rubber stamp, 99.5% of all appointments Craig Benson has wanted he has rubber stamped
Buckley has tried to tie Wieczorek to some of Governor Benson’s more controversial decisions.
He points to Wieczorek’s vote that removed former Attorney General Peter Heed before a criminal investigation into Heed was complete. That investigation later exonerated Heed.
Buckley also criticizes his opponent for failing to rein in the governor in the wake of an insurance scandal that allowed a Benson associate to pocket over 180 thousand dollars.
For his part, Ray Wieczorek calls the “rubber stamp†accusations, a campaign gimmick.
He charges that Buckley is equally as partisan, on the democratic side.
And Wieczorek likes to point out that Buckley once voted in favor of an income tax.
Track 4 :40 here’s a man whose supported every veto of governor shaheen’s in her six years he was a big part of the 81% spending increase that we had in NH over that period and he talks about independence and integrity, he’s neither
The debate between Buckley and Wieczorek has focused largely on fiscal responsibility even though the executive council does not vote on taxes.
Buckley has sent out mailings listing all the taxes he voted against in the state house.
Wieczorek says he demonstrated fiscal restraint as mayor of Manchester.
And he says that position makes him more qualified than Buckley for the job of executive council.
Track 6 :30 we’ve been trying to find out what his credentials are for the job, can’t find out, a matter of fact if you looked at his web site you can that he had any visible means of support and certainly you can’t live off 100 dollars a year.
Another issue that has come up is commuter rail.
Ray Buckley says if elected to the council one of his top priorities would be putting the issue of rail back on the table.
Track 1 1:12 one of the most disappointing things ray wieczorek has done is to shut down the commuter rail operation of having commuter rail come through Nashua that would connect NH to the MBTA which would be a terrific boon, he voted no on that two years ago and has yet to find some other alternative
Two years ago, Wieczorek voted against funding commuter rail with the state gas tax . The state supreme court later found that such use of the gas tax would be unconstitutional.
Wieczorek says it’s up to legislature now, not the council, to find funding for the project.
The one thing the two Rays do have in common is that they are both well known politicians from Manchester, district 4’s largest city.
Buckley has served 8 terms as a state representative, Wieczorek was Manchester’s mayor for 10 years.
To win, Ray Buckley needs to do well in the largely democratic city.
But the race is likely to be decided outside Manchester, in the surrounding smaller communities, like Londonderry, Pelham and Derry where Republicans and undeclared voters dominate.
Derry Republican Committee Chair Chris Wolfe says although the city has gone democratic in the past, voters there know the name Ray Wieczorek.
:36 This is the third time ray is on the ballot so I think he has a lot of repeat recognition from being on the ballot and every time he has been on the ballot he’s been successful
Only one democrat has taken district 4 in 25 years.
And that was the same year democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen first won.
The Buckley campaign is hoping for a similar boost in the current gubernatorial race.
A recent mailing from the New Hampshire Democratic Party features Lynch and Buckley on one side…on the other it says “Benson and Wieczorek…You’re Firedâ€.
Given the tight governor's race, it makes sense for Buckley to associate himself with Lynch. But whatever payoff there might be would come only if voters pay attention to that place on the ballot where they get to choose their Executive Councilor.
For NHPR news, I’m RK
