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What’s your most important consideration when approving contracts? The most important consideration in approving a contract is that the entity can deliver the service or product for the approved cost.
How big a role should a nominee’s political leanings play in the confirmation process? It possibly can play a role, but in looking over the many hundreds of appointments in my two years on the Council I think it is small compared to whether the person is qualified and if they will do a good job.
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What’s your most important consideration when approving contracts? With a looming $530 million deficit in fiscal year 2020/21 it will be critical to hold the line on spending and seriously review each contract for its cost effectiveness. State department heads should have an open bid process of at least 2 to 3 bidders for each contract and to stop sole source awards. Earlier this year, the governor and Council awarded a sole and lengthy contract with Interstate Logos for the management of the DOT’s Specific Service logo sign program. This is a 10-year contract with up to 2x five-year renewals (a max of 20 years). As the contractor, Interstate Logos incurs all the costs for the administration, marketing, fabrication, installation, operation, and maintenance of the program. Interstate Logos will pay NHDOT $50,000 or 5% of the participation fee payments collected by the contractor, whichever is greater. Three shortfalls in this contract: sole source, length of contract and potential revenue loss. I prefer NH vendors to get a crack at a contract award first as out-of-state vendors will unlikely hire NH workers and the money will cross the border. Also, NH state departments should not contract services outside their agency if they can do it internally and save the state taxpayers money.
How big a role should a nominee’s political leanings play in the confirmation process? During a board or commission nomination process I never look to see if a man or woman is a Republican, Democrat or other. I go into the process open-minded and ask what I think are important questions for a nominee to answer prior to confirmation. During a judicial nomination it is important to know about their family, community involvement, legal education and experience. I do ask questions about their legal philosophy and how they might interpret the law. It’s important to match the nominee’s legal experience with the right level and position within the judicial system. It is a major disappointment to see that the judicial system has had a vacancy on the State Supreme Court for a year because of DC-style politics. Critical decisions need to be made at the State Supreme Court level and New Hampshire people are being short changed during a COVID-19 pandemic. It is important for citizens to know the Council places fair-minded people on the court benches who represent New Hampshire laws and values, not their politics. Judicial placement has been my greatest responsibility as a Councilor in the past and I know it can impact citizens’ lives forever and it is important to get the right people on these benches.