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