Our Voice On The Executive Council

Many people don't understand the importance of the Executive Council in New Hampshire politics, if they've even heard of it.

Every single gubernatorial appointment has to go through the Executive Council as well as budget requests over $5,000 from any department as well as many other things spelled out in RSA 4.

Here in Merrimack, one of the biggest issues among voters when it comes to state budgetary issues is the unfair toll practices we have to face, and we've been fortunate to have a champion for us up in Concord in Debra Pignatelli.

Our legislative delegation is not doing nearly enough to fight the tolls, but in the Executive Branch, Deb has been one of the few people to work on the issue outside of the walls of the state house, both with her "toll talker" e-mail list as well as bringing the Executive Council directly to Merrimack to have the rest of the council hear concerns from people here who have been hit by the practice.

We're not alone as I've talked to people from here to Keene who have been served just as strongly we have by Deb.

To me, she's been a mentor and a friend, and I urge everyone in District 5 (here is a list of those towns) to make sure we re-elect Debra Pignatelli to the Council in 2008!