At the recent N.H. Legislature “veto day” held at UNH’s Whittemore Center, several Republican representatives were not wearing masks in violation of Durham ordinances and some were also drinking alcohol in the Whit, against UNH rules. While some blame the speaker for not notifying the reps of these rules, obvious questions arise. Do our Republican reps really need notice to refrain from alcohol while conducting the people’s business? Secondly, do they drink at the State House when in session? These Republicans are not the leaders we want.
Also, Gov. Chris Sununu and Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut have failed to provide meaningful guidance and support to schools as administrators and local boards develop their safe reopening protocols. Sununu and Edelblut abdicated all responsibility, in the name of flexibility, leaving communities to fend for themselves, resulting in confusion and infighting among parents, administrators, teachers, and school boards.
The absence of leadership led to personal threats during school reopenings and is standard operating procedure now for these two. These are not the leaders we need.
Lastly, Sununu let us all down when he failed to enforce his own emergency order No. 62 that requires large crowds to remain 6 feet apart or wear masks. At Trump’s Manchester airport rally, instead of protecting everyone’s health and safety, he turned a blind-eye to the problem by staying away from the rally. He took no action to enforce his own executive orders and remain, in his own words, “a Trump guy, through and through.” This is not the leader we demand.
JAMES NEWSOM
Contoocook