State Senate to convene Friday for what could turn out to be Senate President Tom Eaton's last day as the Senate's top officer. Fourteen of Eaton colleagues requested the meeting Wednesday. Their stated purpose: the election of new officers.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.
NHPR News coverage of the State Senate leadership struggle was awarded an Honorable Mention in 2005 Best Spot News by the New Hampshire Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
Tom Eaton's three year run as Senate President started in 2002 with plenty of seeming advantages -- strong GOP majorities in both legislative bodies, and a republican in the corner office……….In a speech before presiding over his first session as President, Eaton cast himself as a leader who'd inspire people to reach their pontential.
"I have always been a firm believer that when people are faced with challenge of having to make changes, they not only rise to the occasion, but in the process they also find innovative ways to do so -- even if it means taking risks."
Those words have proven prophetic -- but not in the way Eaton intended. On Friday moring, the former funeral director could be hearing his own last rights as the Senate President…….Veteran senator Democrat Lou D'Allesandro struggled when asked to put Tom Eaton's possible removal in context.
"I've never seen anything quite like this. I've been around this legislature since 1972, and as I say I've never seen anything quite like this."
And D'Alessandro isn't alone…….No NH Senate president has apparently ever been removed from their post mid-term…. In order to make that a possibility, a majority of 9 republicans and 5 democrats majority forced the issue. Typically, the senate meets at the call of the Senate President…….Tomorrow's meeting was not Eaton's idea -- it called when the majority invoked a constitutional provision that allows the Senate to assemble as "they may judge necessary." Raymond Senator Jack Barnes.
"The majority of the senate, which is in article three if your read a copy of that letter, the majority of the senate called that meeting for 10 o'clock on September 9th -- it's public knowledge and it's going to be in the calendar and what have you."
But if the time and date of the meeting are clear -- its precise cause remains murky……..When speaking for attribution most Senators say a different leader would improve the Senate's effectiveness…….and essentially leave it at that……But Eaton's presidency has been beset with tension for months-- over leadership style and staffing decisions, to his move to freeze the money used to reimburse Senators when they travel to conferences……. Most of these disputes have remained in behind the scenes, but have increasingly flared up in public……Here's senator Dick Green assailing Eaton on the Senate floor in May for restricting the rank and file members use of legislative budget workers.
"You need the tools to do the job, and if they are denied to us by leadership, that leadership should not be sitting in leadership any longer….I would hope that would not come to pass. Because I think if we push that button any further we are going to a have a real revolt in this body."
The bad feelings towards Eaton increased last month, when Bob Clegg, his closest Senate ally,…..stepped down as majority leader…..Clegg said the resignation was over Senate policy…….Eaton meanwhile called it personal…….The next day he called a press conference where he accused Clegg of lying to him about e-mails Clegg had allegedly seen where top Eaton staffers were said to be urging Clegg's removal. Eaton asked Attonrney general Kelly Ayotte to investigate the matte. She found no secutiry breech. An emotional Eaton then told the statehouse press corps he found Clegg's behavior unethical.
"I have been put between a rock and a hard place by a man I consider my friend……and confidant………But I had to make a choice between that friendship and the integrity of the institution and I made that choice."
Over the past three weeks the wisdom of that choice has been the subject of rampant speculation…..At the time, Clegg said it showed Eaton valued his staffers more than he did fellow elected officials……..Manchester Republican Andy Martel says that's how he sees it as well……Martell was among the senators who delivered the letter to Eaton requesting Friday's session……He claims Eaton's top staff routinely "oppresses" other senate emploees. He told Eaton the senate could work things out if Eaton fired his top staff, but Eaton refused to do so.
"His first comment was you're the first senator whose ever made that comment to me…..I know that's untrue --becasue there have been about three who made the comment when he was first brought into office….And since then about 10 others….And I kept on asking him yesterday. I asked him five time to to please comnsider it and he wouldn’t budge.
The senate President was unavailable for comment on this story…….The full senate is scheduled to meet to take up his fate Friday……Both Republicans and Democrats parties are scheduled to caucus on the matter later today…….Senators on both sides of the asile say the front runner to succeed Eaton should he be removed is Manchester republican Ted Gatsas
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