New Hamphire Democratic
Party PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Clemons
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
GRANITE STATE DEMOCRATS FORM TASK FORCE TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE NH PRIMARY
Group will meet on February 8 in Concord
CONCORD—New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan announced today the formation of a blue ribbon panel of leading state Democrats to promote the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. The panel will be known as the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Democratic Task Force, and was formed in response to the formation of a DNC commission charged with studying the presidential nominating calendar for the 2008 election. The task force will be chaired by Joe Keefe, former NH Democratic Party chairman and Judy Reardon, former legal counsel for Governor Jeanne Shaheen.
“New Hampshire plays an important role in the presidential nominating process,” Sullivan said. “Candidates who come through New Hampshire must be able to meet one-on-one with voters, look them in the eye and answer their questions directly. When they leave New Hampshire, they are better candidates for the experience. New Hampshire is an exceptional proving ground for future presidents, and should remain first on the primary calendar.”
The task force will meet at the NH Political Library in Concord on February 8th. Sullivan thanked all of the members of the task force for agreeing to serve. “This group is uniquely qualified to help tell the New Hampshire story, and I appreciate their willingness to step forward on behalf of our state."
Task Force members are:
Michael Atkins, Lyndeborough
Attorney
Bob Baines, Manchester
Mayor
Raymond Buckley, Manchester
Vice Chair, NH Democratic Party and former state representative
James Casey, Dover
Former NH Commissioner of Labor
Jane Clemons, Nashua
Deputy House Leader
Lou D’Allesandro, Manchester
State Senator
John Dejoie, Concord
State Representative
James Demers, Hampton
President of the Demers Group, 1986 congressional nominee
Gaetan DiGangi, Merrimack
DNC Member
Anita Freedman, Portsmouth
DNC Member
Joe Grandmaison, Rye
Former Democratic Party Chair
Ned Helms, Concord
Former NH Democratic Party Chair
Sylvia Larsen, Concord
Senate Democratic Leader
Mark McKenzie, Manchester
President of NH AFL-CIO
Ricia McMahon, Sutton
State Representative, Clinton-Gore ’92 State Director
Lilly Ramos-Spooner, Manchester
Community Activist
Mary Rauh, New Castle
1998 Congressional Nominee
Dick Swett, Bow
Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, U.S. Congressman (1991-95)
Katrina Swett, Bow
2002 Congressional Nominee
Jackie Weatherspoon, Exeter
Former state representative