Ballott Law Commission turns down Bearse
By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com Reporter
Peter Bearse: Campaign PhotoCONCORD--The Ballot Law Commission met to hear appeals from the state recounts conducted last week.
The Commission voted 5-0 against putting independent candidate Peter Bearse on the ballot. Bearse argued that the Secretary of State office did not properly count his ballot petitions. The State office said that Bearse fell short of the required 1,500 signatures needed to gain access to the ballot.
The Commission also overturned the Secretary of State Bill Gardner's decision on two ballots involved in the Rockingham District 4 state representative primary. State Rep. Jason Bedrick (R-Windham) appealed to the commission to approve a ballot that was ruled to be an "over vote" by the Gardner. The commission ultimately ruled that the ballots be approved; however they did not change the primary results. Bedrick finished one vote short of making the final list of Republicans to move onto the general election.
"If I hadn't brought it before the Ballot Commission I would have always wondered what would be the decision of the commission," Bedrick said after the decision.
This was Bedrick's first appearance before the commission. In 2006 Bedrick appealed the results of the primary and the general election.
Update: Story has been updated to reflect that Mr. Bedrick lives in Windham, not Salem as was reported earlier. Also, this was Bedrick's first appearance before the Ballot Law Commission.
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two small corrections
FYI: While I represented both Salem and Windham, I reside in Windham, not Salem.
Also, while it was my third recount, it was my first time before the Ballot Law Commission.
a third correction
Also, in the last two recounts, I was the one who was ahead, so it was my opponent who requested the recount. In all three recounts, the final results remained the same.
next time
you'll learn not to write to the papers backing up dj bettencourt against Mike Dennehy. look at this state, dennehy owns it... foolish.
Salem and Windham lost today
Salem and Windham lost today - moreso than Jason Bedrick. Jason is a terrific Rep and a great example as a true Republican. I hope he runs again next time.
Jason was hurt by a negative rating by a gun group who actually rated his as anti-gun. Huh? They got that one wrong and I hope their membership suffers as a result.
And Dennehy most certainly does not own this state. Maybe in his own mind, but not in reality.
Bedrick, Bettencourt, and Dennehy
Salem GOP,
Lets not create a controversy where none exists. Everyone who followed the New Hampshire Primary is aware that the McCain campaign and I got into a public disagreement over illegal immigration that spilled over into personal issues. The politics around our primary is heated and can at times be personal. Thus was the case with our situation. However, following the primary I reached out to Mike and offered my congratulations and between us we cleared the air and resolved the main area of strife. Last I talked with Mike, he and I agreed that after the election we would sit down for lunch.
With regards to Jason Bedrick: Jason wrote a letter to the editor defending me only after Wayne Barrows wrote a grossly misleading and personally demeaning letter attacking me. It was not necessary that Jason defend me but as a loyal friend, colleague, and as someone who knew the situation, he decided to respond. Jason set the record straight (Barrows later privately acknowledged that he had been bested) and that was the end of the issue. Besides, if Mike Dennehy was the issue and defending me so dangerous than why did I finish second overall out of 22 candidates in our primary? However, for McCain's sake and for the well being of the country, I do hope Mike owns New Hampshire enough to win McCain the state. In an election this tight New Hampshire could prove to be very important.
I could not agree more with Another Real GOP. New Hampshire (specifically Salem and Windham) lost a great Representative. My post could span several paragraphs should I try to express my respect for him or his abilities. Jason is a great person who I hope will stay in the fray.
Jason Bedrick Has Been A Decent Legislator
I'd like to add that I'm sad Jason Bedrick didn't quite make it for re-nomination. We're not in the same party, and on philosophy we're often quite apart, but I listened to his logic as he spoke his views, which he did very well, and his obvious intelligence and passion came through.
A decent Legislator isn't someone who is always "right" all the time. It's one who takes the job seriously, who shows up, who speaks up when necessary, and who has good purpose. Jason Bedrick has been a decent Legislator.
His loss hits home the value of everyone voting. When just 15 out of every 100 voters show up at an election, just a few of our neighbors make decisions that really affect our lives. Who knows what Jason might have accomplished in the Legislature during the next two years, but now won't have that opportunity. Who knows what bill he might have been able to stop becoming law during the next two years -- perhaps a bill that I might have joined him in opposing.
Good things are done by good people every day, and in politics even those of us who don't often agree do agree sometimes. So it's a loss for all of us when a good person who has intelligence and passion loses a seat. Fortunately, Jason has't lost his voice, and I expect we'll hear from him often, and he'll probably be back two years.
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