Arrogance will cost the GOP in November

It isn’t often that I find myself in agreement with Doug Lambert. Generally his political commentary reflects an adherence to the kind of right-wing demagoguery that I find so damaging to thoughtful political discourse.

Yet his tenacious battle with the Belknap County Convention over the appointment of Craig Wiggin as County Sheriff highlights a serious flaw in the Republican leadership that has guided our county for decades. Indeed, I can think of no clearer illustration of Lord Acton’s maxim that “power tends to corrupt; and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

First, I want to state unequivocally that I have no beef with Craig Wiggin. From everyone I’ve spoken to I’ve heard nothing but positive comments regarding his resume of experience and his qualifications for the position of Sheriff. My impression is that he is, and has been a competent and forceful leader who has earned the respect of the men and women he commands.

A further compliment might be drawn from the fact that he’s currently running unopposed in both September’s primary and November’s general election. None of the initial candidates who contested him for appointment to the position has filed to challenge him in the primary – either as a Republican or as a Democratic candidate. In fact, no one except Craig Wiggin has filed for the office.

The point that seems to be lost by some in the debate over Mr. Wiggin’s appointment is the flawed process followed by the Belknap County Convention in selecting him as the replacement for retiring Sheriff Dan Collis. I suspect that many of Mr. Wiggin’s supporters have leapt to the defense of the Convention more out of a shared distaste for Mr. Lambert than for any real consideration of the issue.

The facts are fairly straight-forward. The Belknap County Convention chose to vet the candidates vying to replace Sheriff Collis behind closed doors, citing concern for the privacy interests of the candidates. Had this been a normal hiring of a county employee, that process would have been appropriate.

However, the position of Sheriff is an elected one, meaning that the public has the right to examine the resumes of the individuals seeking to hold the office. It really is no different than the normal election process which requires that candidates provide information to the public that will enable voters to make a responsible decision.

Mr. Lambert, and his ally former Laconia Mayor Tom Tardif, strong advocates of open government, challenged the Convention in Belknap County Superior Court, claiming that it had violated the public right-to-know by conducting interviews and discussing the appointment behind closed doors. Although they lost initially in Superior Court, on appeal the New Hampshire Supreme Court reversed the Superior Court’s decision, siding with Lambert and Tardif and declaring the appointment of Craig Wiggin invalid.

Rep. Beth Arsenault (D-Laconia) opposed the initial process followed by the Republican majority, arguing that it should be conducted in public session. Her objections were ignored by the majority.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision the minority Democrats sought to rectify the error when the Convention met again to reconsider the appointment. They argued collectively that the process should begin anew in accordance with the right-to-know statutes – not out of any desire to alter the outcome of Wiggin’s selection, but because of their shared commitment to upholding the law and respecting the public right-to-know.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, their efforts were met with the same disdain and contempt that has come to characterize the Republican majority grown arrogant by its years of unchallenged rule. The Convention followed a similar process in filling a vacancy on the county commission arising from the death of Gordon Bartlett in 2006. Republican Richard Long was selected by the Convention behind closed doors to fill the remainder of Bartlett’s term, provoking harsh public criticism of the secret process.

And we’ve still not heard from the County Convention the reasons for the forced resignation of County Administrator Nancy Cook, nor have the Democratic members of the Convention been apprised of the details that led to the firing.

It’s unfortunate that Craig Wiggin has found himself caught in the vortex of a controversy caused by his party’s refusal to abide by the law. But as uncomfortable as that must be for Mr. Wiggin, even more troublesome is the unbridled arrogance exhibited by a Republican Party too long unchallenged.

That judicial relief has been sought by loyal Republican dissidents says reams about the GOP and its future prospects. Until Republican elected officials learn that they are the servants of the people they serve and behave accordingly, voters are unlikely to reward them at the ballot box.

Those Republicans furious that the controversy has further dimmed their party’s chances this November should be careful to direct their anger not at Lambert and Tardif. Although “shooting the messenger” does seem to be a common enough reaction, they should instead be insisting that their leaders cease behaving disgracefully. That’s the most effective way to silence the critics.