Friends gather to say goodbye to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, at the Mountain View Grand on the first leg of her retirement tour. PAULA TRACY photo
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
WHITEFIELD – From climbing up towers in howling wind on the summit of Mount Washington in winter, to walks at Pondicherry during bird migration or enjoying ice cream on a hot summer day at the Bath country store, Jeanne Shaheen has been to the North Country a lot the past 30 years as elected governor and U.S. Senator.
Over the years, she came to listen to ideas, console losses, hold meetings and look creatively at ways to preserve a way of life, in the woods.
On Thursday night Shaheen came again, this time to say goodbye, on the first leg of a state retirement tour.
Sworn in as the first elected female governor in 1997 and U.S. Senator for most of the time since, Shaheen will retire in a matter of weeks just before her 80th birthday.
She will be succeeded by Congressman Chris Pappas, D-NH, who handily won the election against former U.S. Senator John E Sununu.
Sununu defeated Shaheen for the job in 2002 but in a rematch in 2008 he lost the seat to her, and she has held it ever since.
Shaheen told the gathering in retirement she plans to find a hobby, get a dog, keep an eye on her husband (she will need to hire two for that, he said) and find other ways to serve the state she so loves.
Shaheen laughed a bit and noted the election Nov. 3 made subletting her condo in Washington very easy as one of her three daughters just got elected to be a U.S Congresswoman from NH District 1.
And while she said she could not yet disclose anything in the offing, the former governor urged all to stay tuned.
Those who came to the ballroom at the Mountain View Grand to celebrate her many years of service expressed ways she made a difference over the years.
But it was she who thanked them.
The room was an appropriate venue for a farewell celebration as Shaheen told the story of the first time she had been in the grand ballroom. There was a big hole in the ceiling and water dripping on the floor.
It was one step away from a wrecking ball, but there was a developer who wanted to save it.
She said she went down into an old apartment in the hotel where it is said that President Dwight Eisenhower once stayed.
“We said ‘we cannot let this gem get demolished. We’ve got to preserve it.’ And its been so exciting to see what has happened here,” she said of the grand hotel which has returned, https://www.mountainviewgrand.com/offers, surrounded with mountain views off an elegant veranda and still serving guests from across the world.
In addition to thanking everyone for coming, she offered advice for those just elected:
“Work for compromise,” she said. “We’ve got to be able to work across party lines,” she stressed.
Shaheen thanked all for attending as she said it was an opportunity to thank them in person for being a part of all that has been done.
What has been most gratifying, Shaheen said, is getting to know people and what she said she will miss most.
The grand ballroom was filled with friends and community leaders, including newly elected legislators.
Attending the party among others were Executive Councilors Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield, and Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, former Fish and Game Director Scott Mason of Stratford, developer Les Otten of Dixville Notch, former Pittsburg Selectman Steve Ellis, former State Rep. and reporter Edith Tucker, D-Randolph, and former Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier.
Many of those present said they came to thank her for her years of service and recalled stories of past bills, battles and trips.
Shaheen told the gathering she enjoyed many of their reply letters some of which included notes that “were like a walk down memory lane.”
A video shown before her remarks encapsulated some highlights of her career and reminded the viewer that after being a two-term state senator and elected governor, Shaheen expanded public kindergarten, expanded children’s health insurance, overturned a century-old ban on abortion and opened adoption for LGBTQ parents, took on the big utilities to lower electric rates and set off for trade missions that brought new business and jobs to New Hampshire.”
Republican Jim Steiner is in the video and noted that one of the things he admired most about Shaheen is her ability to work in a bipartisan manner with Republicans.
Many Democrats who worked with Shaheen over the years on environment, healthcare and business concerns for the North Country also attended and expressed thanks.
Shaheen recognized her staff for much of the work getting things done.
“I have been blessed,” she said, particularly noting North Country liaison Chuck Henderson, who she said is vying for the late Executive Councilor Ray Burton of Bath’s record of attending the most events in the North Country.
She said her constituent staff has been outstanding and “if we can’t figure it out, we are trying to find someone who can,” she said.
She recognized those who were just elected to an office on Tuesday, Nov. 3 who were in attendance.
“Thank you all so much for being willing to put your names forward and for your work to make a difference for New Hampshire. One of the things that is most special about New Hampshire and particularly the North County is how much people work together,” she said.
“We’ve got to work to make a difference for people. That is what we have tried to do since I got elected to office,” Shaheen said.