By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Gov. Kelly Ayotte said the state has a very important role to play nationally as being the first in the nation to vote for a president and hopes the election for Secretary of State is not politicized for the sake of that role.
Meeting with the press for the first time since her re-election she said her approach to policy has not changed now that her party has been voted out of the majority in Concord, that there are many bipartisan issues that can see progress from housing, to childcare to lowering utility costs.
In addition to that, she announced news that the state will receive another $204 million in federal dollars for the rural health transformation grant program known here as GO-NORTH and said she will work aggressively to get more federal assistance for low income heating funds this winter from Congress, among other measures.
Ayotte bucked a national trend which saw Republicans booted out of elected office both up and down the ballot last Tuesday.
She won by 27,100 votes over Democrat Cinde Warmington, statewide.
With 99 percent of the votes counted, the governor received 324,934 votes or 51.4 percent while the former Executive Councilor received 297,834 votes or 47.1 percent. About 1.5 percent of the vote went to Stephen Villee.
AYOTTE HOPES ELECTION FOR SECRETARY OF STATE IS NOT POLITICIZED
Governor Ayotte said she is hopeful that the race for the election of Secretary of State is not politicized.
Members of the legislature nominate a person from either party to run and vote on that position along with the State Treasurer.
David Scanlan, who holds the position now and was elected by the Republican majority, is running for re-election and a number of people have indicated their interest in the job.
“We have had a tradition in New Hampshire to make sure that the secretary of state’s office is not a partisan office. This is one where we put the needs of the state first and as we think about protecting the First in the Nation Primary, I believe that we should continue to have someone there… And I think Secretary of State Scanlan has done that. He has conducted himself in a way that has been even-handed to protect our primary. He stood up even to the Trump Administration with information they were seeking with regard to our state. So I just think it would be the wrong thing to do to politicize the Secretary of State’s office.”
Ayotte noted that Scanlan’s predecessor, Bill Gardner as a Democrat, did the same as Scanlan.
DECISION ON NOMINATION TO THE HIGH COURT
Ayotte reiterated she is going to work with the judicial selection committee to find a replacement for the vacancy on the Supreme Court and offered no timeline.
This fall, Gordon MacDonald resigned as Chief Justice as part of an agreement with the Judicial Conduct Committee which found he violated codes of conduct.
Democrats asked her to wait until after the election on a nomination and allow the new council to vote on her selection. Currently, the Republicans hold a majority on the council and will until January.
She did not commit to when or who would get to vote on her nomination, though she will have a 5-0 Democratic council in January.
MORE LIHEAP FUNDS SOUGHT
Ayotte said another bipartisan issue she is working on to benefit the state is asking Congress to double the LIHEAP funding for fuel assistance. A letter from all New England governors went to the Congress, Monday asking for more funding.
“We hope that they act quickly. Certainly, with the colder weather coming on it is important that we know we have those additional resources to get out to those who need our help,” Ayotte said.
PRIORITIES WITH A NEW MAJORITY
With a super majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives and a majority of Democrats in the Senate for the next two years, Governor Ayotte said she is up for working with a new sort of legislature to get things done.
“We have an exceptional state. I think there are challenges we have. We are uniquely positioned in New England with our sort of ‘New Hampshire Advantage’ and that draws people here. That is something traditionally there has been bipartisan support for that and I hope that continues. But also the challenges that we talked about in the campaign. I think both sides of the aisle talked about the same challenges, whether it is housing, childcare, energy costs that we just talked about. So I will certainly be looking for ways for us to work together on those areas where we know we can do better for the state,” she said, including lowering energy costs.
Ayotte noted she has bipartisan experience and noted she was hired by both Republican and Democratic governors as attorney general. In Washington as a U.S. Senator, Ayotte noted that Democrat Barack Obama was president her entire tenure.
“We have to work across the aisle to do the people’s business and I think that the people of New Hampshire expect us to find ways to work together.”
Asked if her re-election had anything to do with her efforts to distance herself from Republican President Donald Trump, Ayotte said she is grateful for the confidence the voters showed in her.
“I have worked just to put their interests first. And so I will continue to do that. And that meant sometimes opposing my own party when I vetoed legislation that I disagreed with and didn’t think is right for the state as a whole.”
“My perspective is this: I get up every day. I work for the people of this state. And will work with anyone if it is something good for New Hampshire. And if it is bad for the state I am going to stand up against it.”