N.H. Politician Facing Calls to Resign

[paineinthearse]

N.H. Politician Facing Calls to Resign
September 27th, 2005 @ 6:55am
By DAVID TIRRELL-WYSOCKI
Associated Press Writer


CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A member of the powerful state Executive Council is facing calls to resign for hiring a campaign aide he knew was a convicted child sex offender, but he said Tuesday he has no intention of stepping down.

<snip>

The aide, Mark Seidensticker, 45, was arrested last month and accused of inappropriate contact with teenage boys. Based on that arrest, Burton said he no longer will employ Seidensticker, who is being held on $50,000 bail at the Merrimack County jail.

The New Hampshire Union Leader last week quoted court records as showing Seidensticker previously has been convicted of indecent exposure, attempted sexual assault on a boy, failing to register in Maine and New Hampshire as a sexual offender, stalking a former boyfriend and violating probation. He has served several jail sentences.

U.S. Sens. John Sununu and Judd Gregg and both of the state's congressmen have urged Burton, to resign. All four are Republicans, as is Burton. Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, also called Monday for Burton to step down.

<snip>

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=112501

[_dynamicdems]

1. He should resign.

I'm glad that Judd and Sununu are calling for his resignation. One of the few things they have both gotten right lately.

[bee]

2. lol. you can say that again. n/t

[maxanne]

3. he committed no crime

And the bullies from the Congressional delegation have been called in because the state GOP has NO credibility.

Rep. Chris Doyle of Windham, 26 years old - assaulted a female poll worker - who was 61 years old. He shoved her and knocked her to the ground. He was charged with a Class B felony assault. He has not been asked to resign from the NH House.

Rep. JJ Manning of Salem owns a bar at the racetrack. One of his daughter's underage friends wrapped her car around a tree after a night at his establishment. He was charged with serving alcohol to a minor. He has not been asked to resign from the NH House.

Rep. Gene Chandler, who was Speaker of the NH House, had to step down as Speaker, after revelations that donations recieved at his annual "corn roast" had not been reported. Over $64,000 worth of unreported. He claimed the fundraisers were for neighbors who wanted to make donations. People living in the small town of Bartlett, NH (pop. about 2000) weren't aware that Phillip Morris and Anthem/Blue Cross had moved to town. Chandler pleaded guilty. A House ethics committe recommended he be expelled. He wasn't.

Ray Burton showed poor judgement - but he's not responsible for what Seidensticker did. Burton committed no crime. He's the victim of a GOP witch hunt, because he's a very moderate Republican, who has never married and has no children. If he were a bornagain, with a family, you bet your behind the GOP would be singing a whole new tune.

That said, I would like to see Ray beaten by a Democrat next year. He's good on health care, but he's a corporate stooge far too often for my liking.

[jf24]

4. He should resign

Democratic Gov. Lynch and Dem. Executive Councilor Deb Pignatelli said Burton should resign, too. Burton kept hiring this man after he was convicted for not registering as a sex offender, and after he was convicted of another offense in Burton's backyard, Sugar Hill. The Republicans may be hypocrites for not saying Chandler, etc., should resign, but they are making the right call on Burton.

[maxanne]

5. MAY be hypocrites???

The Republicans MAY be hypocrites??

What do Lynch and Pignatelli have to do with this?

[jf24]

6. Not a witch hunt

John Lynch and Deb Pignatelli are the two highest elected Democrats in NH. If they think Burton should resign, then there must be something going on here besides a conservative witch hunt of a "moderate" Republican

[maxanne]

7. yes, there is

there is something else going on, and it's incredibly ugly. Democrats should have no part of it - but John Lynch doesn't behave much like a Democrat. Lynch praised GOP Senator Gallus to the heavens - during the elections, when Gallus had a Democratic opponent. He's been praising GOP Senator Bob Clegg, who most of us consider a strong contender for the Prince Of Darkness. And most recently, he felt compelled to announce that marriage was between a man and a woman.

It's disapppointing to see Democrats jumping on a Republican bandwagon.

Do you live in NH, jf24?

[jf24]

8. Clegg is a bully

I agree that Clegg is not worthy of praise but Lynch is okay. He stood up to Steven on that medicaid waiver, showed a lot of competence and compassion in the flooding three weeks ago, did some good work on health insurance, increased state funding to education while balancing the complaints of donor towns and poor towns, and put an openly gay guy on the gay marriage commission who has stood up to that horrible bigoted chairman Soltani.
Rome wasn't built in a day; give Lynch a chance!
Yes, I do live in NH.

[maxanne]

9. sorry

Lynch is hardly a team player. By continuing to emphasize "bipartisanship" he's alienated people from his own party. Praising John Gallus was a terrible mistake - John Gallus who "can't remember" who asked him to sponsor SB458, leading to a serious loss of local control for the town of Tamworth - and who later recieved a $250 contribution from racetrack developers CMI. This same Gallus who voted against increasing the paltry minimum wage, despite the fact that a number of his constituents are trying to scrape by on it. Praising Gallus during the middle of the campaign against a Democrat was a terrible move.

He may have put an openly gay guy on the marriage commission, but he's not addressing Soltani's recent lunatic behavior, or the travesty taking place on that commission.It's clear that their agenda was decided before they ever did a lick of work. There was no need for Lynch to tell the world about how marriage is between a man and a woman. I wash my hands of him.

Lynch has toadied up shamelessly to the GOP, failing to realize that they'll give him the shiv in a heartbeat.

[MindLikeAParachute]

10. To my understanding...

Burton did not know about the later offense(s)...

[newyawker99]

11. Hi MindLikeAParachute!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: