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What’s your most important consideration when approving contracts? My first consideration when considering approval of agency contracts is qualifications of the contractor for work to be performed. Does the contractor meet the qualifications of the “Request for Bids.” Resume of previous community or state projects completed within budget and timeframe. Review will include quality for performance and not favoritism.
How big a role should a nominee’s political leanings play in the confirmation process? Let me say “upfront” the position of a member of the Executive Council should not be “political.” Decisions made coming before the Executive Council should consider what is best for the State of N.H., regardless of party affiliation. Actions should reflect voting for appointments of agency heads, judicial and contracts which best serve NH.
The current Council did not honor their commitment. Andru Volinsky utilized his office for a platform to run for governor against Gov. Sununu by blocking several qualified nominations; including nomination of Attorney General MacDonald for NH Supreme Court Justice, Ryan Terrell to Board of Education and Eddie Edwards for Director of Professional Licensure and Certification. Not only did Councilor Volinsky vote against these qualified nominations, he solicited Councilor Pignatelli and Cryans to vote them down without even giving Eddie Edwards a hearing….stating before a vote publicly “he wasn’t qualified” Both Ryan Terrell and Eddie Edwards are Black Americans and conservative Republicans.
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What’s your most important consideration when approving contracts? My most important consideration when approving contracts is that we put hard-earned dollars to work for the people of New Hampshire. Currently, Councilors question state agency heads about the contracts before them, but these questions come late in the process, when the contracts are already fully negotiated. My vision is to communicate with state agencies early – several months in advance, asking questions at a point in the process when it could meaningfully impact the outcome. Questions like whether the contractor pays fair wages, provides health care coverage and paid leave, uses energy-efficient technology, or has diversity in its workforce. A healthy dialogue between the agency and the Council earlier on would not only ensure state dollars are spent responsibly, but it would also be more respectful of our state agency employees. These employees currently operate in the dark, contracting for services with no advance communication with the Council which must ultimately give final approval.
I consulted with current and former Executive Councilors and state agency leaders about whether this bold vision was possible. I was told unequivocally that not only could this happen, but it should happen.
How big a role should a nominee’s political leanings play in the confirmation process? The minimum criteria to confirm a nominee to a state agency, board, or commission, is that they believe in the mission of that organization. Judicial nominees must be committed to upholding our constitutional rights, including reproductive rights and voting rights.
Unfortunately, under this governor, the Executive Council has been presented a number of nominees that do not meet these standards. This is why we have a Commissioner of Education who does not believe in public education, but rather seeks to undermine it at every opportunity. The most controversial issue that came before the Executive Council in the last two years was the nomination of Attorney General Gordon MacDonald, whose record on choice and voting rights is very concerning, as chief justice of the N.H. Supreme Court. Fortunately, our Democratic majority on the Council rejected that nomination. But Gov. Chris Sununu has refused to nominate another candidate, in the hopes that next year he will have an Executive Council majority who will confirm MacDonald.
We need state leaders who are competent, qualified, and committed to the work of the agency they are appointed to lead. We need judges who will protect our fundamental rights. That shouldn’t be considered political.