A Bow Selectman Plans on Heading Down the Slippery Slope by Putting up a “Straw Man” Alternative to SB2
At the very poorly advertised SB2 public hearing SB2 hearing on April 23 Selectman Harry Judd slipped and revealed that he planned on bringing up the possibility of a Charter Commission (RSA 197:b and RSA 49 B and 49 D). The Charter Commission is not new to Bow it was used successfully in 2002 to siphon off enough votes from SB2 to prevent SB2 from getting a super majority of votes (60%)… The Charter Commission “straw man scam” was hatched when SB2 got 59% of the vote for School and 58% of the vote for the town in 2001 (60% majority needed).
Since the last SB2 vote, Bow has experienced several more years of soaring property tax bills. Town meetings have repeatedly failed Bow with poor attendance, dominating special interest, chaotic and confusing town meetings. Because of this SB2 is getting a second thorough and favorable look. The fear that the hard strapped Bow Taxpayers are starting to see the light with SB2 has caused that proverbial bag of dirty tricks to come out of the closet.
People should ask why wasn’t the topic of the Charter Commission brought up when SB2 wasn’t on the ballot. The clear answer is that there is no interest in switching to a Town Charter. There is only interest in stopping SB2’s momentum. This is a clear bait and switch ploy saying that there is something better out there and switching it back so that we end up with the same failed status quo. This is exactly what happened in 2002. What is that old saying? If you fool us once, shame on you. If you fool us twice, shame on us.
One must wonder: What if the slippery slope of putting up competing “straw man like” warrant articles at town meeting, became the norm? The likelihood of articles like SB2 (bond articles) that requires super majorities will become very difficult if not impossible to pass. Is that a path Bow wants to go down? Bow should demand that the bag of dirty tricks be thrown in the trash heap.
I’ll be very honest when I state that I wasn’t even aware of a Charter Commission and what it represented. No doubt there are others.
IF, selectman Judd presents this option to be formally placed on the ballot, I question whether or not it represents the views of those who voted for him 2 years ago. In my opinion this is a means by which Judd can retain his “power.” He is scared to death that SB2 might pass thus robbing him of his role in town government. I still am trying to figure out why Judd moved here from NY. Why did he chose Bow? Why is he against SB2 which will draw many voters out of the woodwork? I fail to understand how this optional form of town management would benefit Judd. It would, as noted in “News and Views” above, draw votes from those who might lean toward SB2. But that is more than likely his intent.
Shame on you Harry Judd.
SB2 should at least be tried before being condemned by a few.
I am sorry that I didn’t go to the public hearing. I meant to but I forgot all about it. You think they would have advertised it in the paper.
I remember 2001 & 2002 when they put up the charter commission. I thought the same thing that they just put this up to take votes away from SB2. Its like that Who Song: “Don’t be fooled again.”
Also I like the idea of putting up competing warrant articles against their big spending bond issues. Perhaps we could put up warrant article to compete with the budget. Well lets wait and see what Harry does.
Harry your little dirty trick may backfire.
I agree with retired Vet (by the way thank-you for your service to our country).
We should try SB2 first before we look elsewhere.
Harry is a lawyer. Anyone who has attended the selectmen’s meetings will attest to the slimy way Harry slips in his legal expertise to push an agenda all while stating that he is not speaking as an attorney.
I am convinced that the majority of Bow voters would put Harry in the Crisper and rid us of him. But with King Leon at the helm and Harry and Jack manipulating the meetings little will change.
come on folks, show up, vote!
I went by the High School today and they were still advertising for the PayT thing. I guess public hearings on issues that the school board is against don’t get billing.
Hey school board, that sign is paid for with taxpayer dollars. Can’t you be fair with what you post. Also I get e-mail blasts from the school for this event or that. This can be a very bad tool if it is politicized.
Here is another side of the above story:
The facts according to Harry:
1. I did not “slip” when I advised the group that the Selectmen had discussed, at Selectmen meetings, forming a committee to review town governance. I noted that this was done in 2001 and that Van Mosher was a member of that committee. Since few people attend meetings of the Selectmen, I thought those present would like to know this.
2. I did not mention, much less advocate, a Charter Commission. Again, I said we would review all forms of governance and the we were inviting public participation, as was done in 2001. Others discussed the history of Charter Commission, but I did not participate in that discussion. I suppose it would be possible for someone to confuse me with Pansy, Deb or Leon, though I don’t think any of them would appreciate the error.
I will appreciate a correction being made.
Thank you.
Harry
The previous post was from Selectman Harry Judd. It is only fair that his side of the story is expressed.
Thanks Harry for letting us that you are intentionally doing the dirty trick. Also based on your info Harry it supports SB2. Busy people can not go to meetings.
Yes to SB2 no to dirty tricks.
BCC, Thanks for posting Harry Judd’s side of the story. I wish the Concord Monitor would do that.
Yes, I agree with BSF; Kudos to BCC for publishing both sides of this story.
Regarding the governance committtee of 2001, if my recollection is correct wasn’t there some strange things going on in that committee regarding the town survey taken that overwhelmingly supported SB2 at the time and wasn’t there a decenting view written and published along with the actual report of that committee?
Does anyone remember that or were around then to shed some light on this? I seem to remember controversy in that committee?
I have also heard rumored talk of a Charter Commission and opening the Town Charter to change our form of government to a town council which unlike SB2, which is only a change in how we vote, is a change in town government entirely taking away town meeting and citizen voting on budgets and warrant articles and relying completely on elected officials calling all the shots with no direct say from the voters except in who you elect to represent you in your particular district of town???
I cannot support this type of change and I am voting YES to SB2.
Yikes! Forget town charter! Now THAT is a radical change you do not want
In the many years I have lived here I have learned to never trust Harry. His sincerity to all things left is noted. But he is a lawyer and I have found him to subtely use this fact to manipulate town politics.
Please vote for SB2. Many years ago I did not support SB2. But I’ve seen the light. Our fellow citizens in the military, defending among many things our right to freely vote, have this right removed because of the current town meeting system. Shame on Bow leaders such as Harry. Ditto for our voting age college students. They too are left out. The triumvirate of Harry, lawyer Crisp, and wanna be town manager Kennison do not represent out military, our students, or the majority of voters.
taxedout,
Three questions:
1) Why are you so scared of lawyers?
2) How do you know the “the majority of voters” are not represented by the people aforesaid? Have you any proof?
3) Speaking of proof, is yours forthcoming? I’m really interested to read it, but it’s been quite some time since you said we would see it.
Thank in advance, and have a nice weekend.
1) Why are you so scared of lawyers?
Mark Twain notes…
“It is interesting to note that criminals have multiplied of late, and lawyers have also; but I repeat myself.”
Isn’t it a terrible shame how 99% of the lawyers give the whole profession a bad name.
Harry Judd and his political machine spotted out in Bow this morming posting Crisp and SB2 NO signs.
Watch for the Judd machine coming to a neighborhood near you soon.
I guess we had that cocktail party at Tom’s house just in time… now we will have to organize our own machine.