House Speaker Gene Chandler has announced that he will not seek the Speaker’s position for the next session.
His decision came hours after the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee unanimously decided to charge Chandler with violating the Legislature’s Ethics Guidelines.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
NHPR's series on Gene Chandler's fundraising earned the 2004 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Radio Investigative Reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Bartlett Republican Gene Chandler says it is no longer in the best interest of the House for him to remain as Speaker.
Deputy House Speaker Mike Whalley presented a letter from Chandler informing his colleagues he would remove his name as candidate for Speaker.
Whalley described the moment as uncomfortable.
But he said he believes the Chandler ethics controversy would have taken its toll on House business.
"I think the biggest thing here is that there would be a cloud that would continue to hang over the Speaker's office, and a cloud that would continue to hang over Gene Chandler. And would harm the House and the process we are about to go through. And it would be a difficult two years."
Whalley has announced he will now run for the post.
But just about ten days ago, House Republicans overwhelmingly nominated Chandler to run for a third term as speaker.
Many who voted for him then, said they believed that Chandler was a man of integrity, who cared more about the Legislature than himself.
But more importantly, they said, the tens of thousands of dollars Chandler received from his annual corn roasts did not have a corrupting influence.
Neither the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee nor the Attorney General's office is so certain.
Both announced investigations of the Speaker after Chandler admitted he didn't report contributions he received and spent for his personal use.
Chandler promised if the investigations became a disruption he would do the honorable thing and step down as Speaker.
Merrimack Republican John Gibson has stood by Chandler, and has nothing but respect.
"I think the Speaker has kept to his word, he said if this would become a distraction he would step aside, he's done that. He's done the honorable thing, he's put the institution first. I admire his dedication to the NH Legislature as an institution."
A few hours before Chandler announced his decision, the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee did something it has done only 6 times in its 12 year existence.
It formally charged a legislator with ethical violations.
The Committee cited three specifically: that Chandler failed to report his annual contributions; that Chandler took more than $250 dollars from people with business before the statehouse; that Chandler used his office as speaker to raise the funds.
His attorney Ovide Lamontagne has consistently labored to cut a deal with the Ethics Committee to avoid a formal hearing.
Lamontagne says the fact that the hearings will take so much time convinced Chandler that stepping down would be in everyone’s best interest.
"Just the mere amount of time that it will take to participate in a formal proceeding is significant and would be a distraction for him as speaker, and that does not work to the benefit of the House and that in part is why he will not seek reelection at this time."
The Ethics Committee based its decision on testimony it took from people involved with Chandler's fundraising as well as from his personal records.
But Acting Chair Ned Gordon stressed the charges against Chandler do not mean the Committee has made up its mind.
"What it says is that there is evidence which is substantial enough for us to believe that a formal hearing should be held. And it is only after that hearing that the committee will make its decision if there were ethical violations."
The hearing date has been set for January 13th, but there is no guarantee it will be held.
This session’s Ethics Committee is disolved today.
New members will be appointed sometime in December.
And there is no rule that forces the new Committee to hold hearings on old committee business.
Members will have the option to cut a deal with Chandler, dismiss the case, or follow through with the original plan.
In the meantime, candidates are lining up to take Chandler’s place as Speaker.
Four representatives have announced their candidacy for the job.
Republican Representative Ken Weyler; Chandler's deputy, Representative Mike Whalley; former House Speaker, Republican Doug Scamman; and Democratic leader Jim Craig.
The vote for the new speaker is scheduled for tomorrow.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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