I moved to Whitefield in December. Being relatively well-informed about New Hampshire politics and a Democrat, I was happy to learn that my state senator was Jeff Woodburn. I went to his annual birthday barbecue in May, met him, and found him to be very personable and committed to his work as a senator. So when the bombshell dropped on Aug. 2 and calls for him to resign rang out from all corners of the state, I was despondent.
Being new to the North Country, I haven’t exactly become a member of the “small community,” so I’ve been frustrated at the lack of news about the criminal charges brought against Woodburn. I’ve tried to Google the “local papers” to get news, but other than the fact that Woodburn waived his arraignment scheduled on Aug. 20, there has been a dearth of coverage.
Fortunately I’d signed up for the Lancaster Area Democrats and Northern Grafton County Democrats emails, so I was able to learn that a write-in candidate was recruited to run against him in the primary. Kathleen Kelley had less than a month to launch a campaign. After researching her positions and contacting her about some of my issues, I decided I would vote for her in the primary. In fact 32 percent of District 1 Democrats voted for her. In other words, 1,014 votes.
Finally on Sept. 16, the Monitor ran an article about the senator’s campaign for the Senate seat. I learned that he had suspended his campaign during the primary, which explained the silence, but that he was “grateful and humbled” by the “overwhelming support” he received at the primary. Really? Overwhelming? I wouldn’t consider 68 percent to be overwhelming when there is only one name on the ballot.
The only reference to his criminal charges was his statement, “I’m working hard to clear my name.”
I found it disturbing to read in the Monitor article that the vice chairman of the Coos County Democrats resigned his position and intended to un-enroll from the party because, in part, “I cannot participate as a member of a party organization that stood by while the victim of his abuse was publicly excoriated by other Democratic officials.” I had no idea that had happened. Wouldn’t that have been newsworthy?
I don’t know who the alleged victim is, although I suspect many in this area know who she is because, as Woodburn points out: “This is a small community. People know each other, we live with each other.” Not me. I’m semi-retired, live in a remote corner of Whitefield and haven’t broken into the social scene, so I don’t know what is going on. Somebody please tell me.
It is too bad that the trial that will determine Woodburn’s innocence or guilt will not happen until December, long after the ballots have been cast. I would much prefer knowing the guilt or innocence of a charged senator and candidate for office before going to the ballot box. What better way to make an educated decision about a very important election.
Meanwhile I struggle with the prospect of a Republican winning the Senate seat because I cannot in good conscience vote for someone who is suspending campaigning and only working hard to clear his name.
(Susannah Colt lives in Whitefield.)