A link has just been posted here on the Links page to the GFWC Meet the Candidates recording by HCTV-20.

Please take some time to view before voting!

New Executive Officers

 Hudson Democrats held their caucus, elected delegates to the State Convention and voted in Executives for the Hudson Democratic Town Committee (HDTC). The results are as follows: Katherine (Kate) Messner, Chair; Carol Schumann Stamm, Vice Chair; John Knowles, Treasurer and Grace Kennedy, Secretary. Since recent redistricting, Hudson shares Senate District 14 with Londonderry and Auburn and House District 37 with Pelham.

HDTC Monthly meetings will be held on the 3^rd Thursdays at 7 PM at the Rodgers Memorial Library resuming on 3/21/2013. Meetings are open to the public and all registered Democrats in town are automatically members.

“We are very excited about our party’s successes in the November elections, in general, though not as much for our town, Kate said. “In 2008 we made great gains which were then systematically erased by those elected in 2010. We know mid-terms aren’t as exciting as General Elections, but that doesn’t mean we can stop paying attention. Democracy isn’t a spectator sport” said Kate.

Kate’s political involvement includes running as candidate for State Senate in the 2012 elections, where she won  41% of the vote against a very popular and accomplished two-term Republican incumbent. During her respectful campaign she was noted for saying: “If she [her opponent] were only a terrible candidate this would be a whole lot easier, but she has an excellent reputation of carefully studying the issues and listening to both sides; and that’s just the way I would like to perform the role. But there are big differences in our positions on the issues”. Formerly Kate served as Secretary and Communications Director for the HDTC, which motivated her to run in November. She also holds leadership roles in her church, the UU Church of Nashua.

Carol Schumann Stamm

Carol Schumann Stamm, holds a Masters degree in Learning Disabilities and has a Certification as an Assessment Specialist. A fellow Neighborhood Team Leader with Kate on Obama’s re-election campaign, she worked tirelessly with volunteers of all ages to inform citizens of the issues at stake, mobilize support and “get out the vote” in that role. Having witnessed her abilities in that effort, the Hudson Democratic Town Committee is thrilled that she has accepted the position of Vice Chair.

John Knowles, has a record that speaks for itself, as he was elected State Representative in the House for 2 prior terms.  John is quite well known in town also for his service on the Hudson Budget Committee, School Board, Hills Memorial Library Board of Trustees and Hudson Senior Advisory Council. With his wife, Mary Ann Knowles, re-elected to serve as our Representative in the House for this legislative term, the couple has forged the Hudson Dems through years of hard work.

Grace Kennedy holds a Masters in Education and has been active in politics throughout her 12 years in Hudson. She currently works for Boys & Girls Club in Nashua, has 3 children of her own, the youngest of whom has gone through the Hudson School System since first grade. One of her children suffers from autism, so she is acutely aware of the needs of the disabled. “I think this played a large role in Maggie Hassan’s election,” Grace said. “You didn’t have to fight to convince her about the need for services; having a disabled child of her own told you that she understood their challenges intimately.” Grace said.  Her active participation in  the Sierra Club State Conservation Committee (while residing in another state), also speaks to Grace’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

The HDTC (Hudson Democratic Town Committee) urges all residents to stay informed of the actions of their elected representatives and to participate in town politics regardless of party affiliation, or lack thereof.  Only an active, informed citizenry can produce the best outcome for our town, our state and our country. The Committee’s Facebook page is  www.facebook.com/HudsonNHDemocrats and the website is: www.HudsonNHDems.org

Meet the Candidates

GFWC Hudson Junior Woman’s Club host a “Meet the Candidates” night on 2/21/2013 at 7:00 PM at the Hudson Recreation Center, 12 Lions Ave. Hudson, NH.

Please come out to meet the candidates so you can be informed about those desiring  leadership positions in town.

http://www.hudsonnh.gov/calendar/2013/feb/candidates-night

   Please join us as we celebrate our victories in 2012 and elect leadership to move into 2013 and beyond!  Democrats did a fantastic job throughout New Hampshire last November, but as we all know, our own dear town of Hudson has a way to go to catch up!

Thankfully, Mary Ann Knowles made it in to the House of Representatives and with your help we’ll get many more to join her next time around.  The town deliberative session was held on Saturday 2/2 and there were such close votes that hand-written, secret ballots were required not once, but twice!

Many of those serving on the board said the voter turn out for this session was better than they can remember. We should be proud of these things. But we also need to remember the mid-term election of 2010 and make absolutely sure that those things don’t happen again. There is no time to rest. Instead, let’s re-energize and regroup for the road ahead.

If moving the town forward isn’t enough to convince you to come along, Carol and Kate have baked some goodies to help tempt you…

See you there!

P.S. School Deliberative Session is this Saturday 2/9 – see you there too!

I hope many of you have enjoyed watching the president’s 2nd inauguration today, as have I. But it is with much sadness I want to inform you of the passing of Kevin McGuire, our member and friend Vivian McGuire’s husband.

Kevin passed away late Saturday afternoon/evening on 1/19/2013. He had gone skiing at Loon Mtn. on Friday, which is something he loved. Saturday he complained of some arm and chest pain, but figured it was just the exertion from skiing, since that’s not a regular activity these days. He did not want to go to the hospital, but wanted to rest.  He went into the bedroom and Vivian went in the kitchen to bake a pie. There were errands he needed to do, and Vivian had said she would do them for him.  When she went back in to talk to him about the errands he had peacefully passed away from a heart attack. Her efforts and the efforts of the Emergency Medical Team to revive him were unsuccessful.

Life is exceedingly difficult for her at this time with her son’s poor health and now her husband (of 39 3/4 years) gone. A close friend is staying with her presently and her daughter is helping her as much as possible with arrangements, and such. Please share positive thoughts, wishes, energy and prayers for our friend, Vivian McGuire as she grieves this loss. I will post details as I receive them, and they will be listed in the Nashua Telegraph as well.

Update: A Memorial Service will be held on Friday 1/25 at noon at Alvirne Chapel in Hudson, NH.

FORWARD, March! – 2013

Thanks to all you wonderful Hudson Dems members, OFA (Organizing/Obama for America) members, candidates, and family and friends thereof, for all of your efforts in the very busy election season, followed by Holiday season of 2012.

Our efforts have paid off …at least at the higher levels if not as well as we would have liked for our immediate town (House & Senate District representation).

Highlights to be celebrated (wins):

• Obama’s re-election to POTUS
• Carol Shea-Porter to US Senate (NH District 1)
• Annie Kuster  to US Senate (NH District 2)
• Maggie Hassan  to NH Governor
• Mary Ann Knowles to House of Representatives (District 37)
• Deb Pignatelli to Executive Council (District 5)
• Patricia LaFrance, Hillsborough County Attorney

And don’t forget the neighboring achievements (which many also supported with time, money & effort):

• Lisa Whittemore to House of Representatives (1^st Dem in over 100 yrs) – Londonderry (shared Senate D14)
• Peggy Gilmore & Bett Lasky (Senate Districts 12 & 13) Jan Schmidt, Syliva Gale, Angie Kopka, Cindy Rosenwald, David Campbell, David Cote, etc.-Nashua, House
• Chris Pappas to Executive Council for Manchester –

See http://www.nashuadems.com/election_2012  for more on Democrats elected in 2012. (Their site shows breakdowns with maps of territories covered by each — more great work by Jan Schmidt).

Of course there were many others we worked hard to get in, who didn’t quite make the cut. Rest assured that these prospective candidates gained a great deal from the experience and came away “much improved” for the future.  Katherine “Kate” Messner, John Knowles, Alejandro Urrutia, John Battis, Stuart Schneiderman, Jeremy Muller and Vivian McGuire were among these in Hudson and Paul Dadak, Hal Lynde in Pelham (our shared House District 37); with Ted Combes, Brian Merrill, et al. for Londonderry (shared Senate D14). Thanks to all candidates for taking the leap!

We worked closely with the Obama campaign, many of us taking leadership roles there as well. This had a superb synergistic effect.  Indeed, many feel that this was the most coordinated campaign in recent history – if not ever — for our state.

So here’s to us!

Raise a toast to yourselves (literally or figuratively)

for a job well done!

Now it is time to join the team and help those who represent us, from both parties, so we can move forward on the objectives we hold dear.

For 2013 we are switching to a first Wednesdays schedule, and our next 2 meetings for the Hudson Democrats (beginning February 6, 2013) will be in private homes instead of at the Rodgers Memorial Library.  This means we can be informal, but it doesn’t mean we won’t discuss business! There will be openings for Executive Committee leaders and we are eager to get back to work.  Plus now with Mary Ann Knowles to inform us directly from the House we will be even better able to stay abreast of important legislative matters.

Please join us 2/6/2013, both former members and new ones at 7:00 PM,

as we march FORWARD together.

We will then decide where the 3/6/2013 meeting will be, and beginning 4/3/2013 we will  resume meeting at the Rodgers Memorial Library in the Community Room.  This room  has been reserved with the goal of 10 – 20 attendees per month, with use of the video screen as needed with hopes that we not only keep the teams of volunteers from Election 2012 mobilized for action in 2013 but add even more numbers to our ranks.

Join us as we make our democracy work here in town as well as at levels above and beyond. Be sure to add the NHDP (New Hampshire Democratic Party) to your “contacts” and sign up for their weekly newsletter.

From their site (www.nhdp.org) you can get the individual sites for these wonderful Democratic leaders above.

Our party has the advantage in our effective utilization of technology, so

let’s keep it up!

“like” us on Facebook !

♥ PERSONAL  Matters ♥

On the personal side, some of our families suffered new health problems after the election season.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to long time Hudson Dem member and House candidate, Vivian McGuire, whose son has been quite ill having undergone multiple surgeries in the last several weeks. Vivian and her husband, Kevin (also a 2012 candidate for the House) may need some help with everyday things for a while, so please contact them if you are able and willing.

Kate Messner’s father (in NJ) had a bad fall and is unable to get around the house (even with walker and cane).  Healing thoughts and/or prayers are needed there also for him and his wife — for 62 years, Kate’s mom. (Though both octogenarians, they are normally quite active in the NYC/NJ area and don’t do “sick” well.)

On a positive note, Stu Schneiderman’s adult daughter, has moved to Hudson.  Wellcome, Samantha (“Sam”).  Hopefully she’ll be joining us soon : )

Other personal updates from members and family of members are welcome.

(We will assume that they can be made public unless clearly stated otherwise.)

Happy New Year!     (…and see you 2/6/2013)

Please join us in congratulating our own Mary Ann Knowles for hitting the mark so she will now be returning to the State House to represent the towns of Hudson and Pelham in the next legislative session!

Mary Ann Knowles, NH House of Representatives