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Two plus Two does not equal Four for LFDA Members (12/17/14; 346 Citizen Responses)
By Rob Levey
New Hampshire currently limits a Governor’s term of office to two years, which Representative Mario Ratzki suggests should change to four years in his request for a bill in the 2015 legislative session. Such a change would not be supported by the majority of Live Free or Die Alliance (LFDA) members, however, given responses provided by those who recently participated in a discussion on Facebook.
In asking the question, “Should the Governor of New Hampshire continue to serve a two year term of office,” 66 percent of individuals who answered the question responded affirmatively, while 34 percent said they would support a change. Twenty-two percent of all respondents elected to discuss the subject more broadly. In total, the LFDA received 346 citizen responses, including specific comments from 171 individuals supported by 181 concurrences.
Many individuals of the majority opinion cited increased accountability as a major deterrent to supporting an increase in the current term of office. Remarked one respondent, “A two-year term is long enough for the voters to determine if the individual is doing a good job.”
Numerous respondents who advocated for an increase to four years, however, expressed the concern that two years is simply not enough time. “Having a two-year term means that every other year the Governor will be running for elected office,” said one woman, whose comment accurately represented many with the same opinion. “It takes away from the work of the Governor's office and makes for less effective government.”
For those who discussed the subject in broader terms, some expressed support for just one year terms, while others argued for three year terms. One gentleman questioned the state’s legislature, as he rhetorically noted, “Do we need 470 [State Representatives]? Streamline the chambers. Give a Governor a chance to accomplish something.”
The nonprofit, nonpartisan LFDA takes no position on this or any issue, as this report is presented as a summary of citizen testimony. As New Hampshire’s Virtual Town Hall, the LFDA community, numbering over 50,000, provides objective information on state issues, promotes the civil exchange of opinions, and communicates views to elected officials. To learn more about this issue or the LFDA, visit www.lfda.org.
Rob Levey is an Editor of the Live Free or Die Alliance
Live Free or Die Alliance
www.livefreeordiealliance.org
Source: http://townhall.livefreeordiealliance.org/xn/detail/4091641:BlogPost:68136
