Concord, NH — Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead), Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), Senator Harold French (R-Franklin) and House Speaker Pro Tem Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) issued the following statements:
“New Hampshire’s Bill Gardner is the nation’s longest-serving Secretary of State and one of our most regarded and well-respected public servants,” said Senator Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead), Chair of the Senate Election Law & Internal Affairs Committee. “As an official who is elected by the Legislature every two years, term after term he has a track record of earning support from both Republicans and Democrats and working in a bipartisan manner on a range of legislation each year.”
“I’ve had the distinct honor to work alongside Secretary Gardner to ensure and protect the integrity of our state’s elections and continue to believe he has our state, the Constitution and our citizen’s best interests at heart, regardless of party affiliation, in every well-informed decision he makes,” added Birdsell.
“Attacking the integrity of Secretary Gardner is reprehensible. He has always maintained a non-partisan stand on election related issues and should be commended for his work for New Hampshire over many years. I agree that he is one of the most respected public figures in our state who has been consistently dedicated to ensuring fairness in our elections,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry).
“There is no place for these recent attacks on his role as Secretary of State and his bipartisan track record over the years speaks for itself. Secretary Gardner has always been well-revered and trusted to uphold the sanctity of our state’s elections year after year,” said Senator Harold French (R-Franklin). “I will continue to stand in support of Secretary Gardner as I have every reason to believe he will continue to protect our rights to fair elections now and in the future.”
“I’ve known Secretary Gardner for over 30 years, and I’ve never known him to be anything but an honest broker who does what he believes is right for the State of New Hampshire,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry). “He deserves better than being attacked for his public service on a presidential commission. His decades of experience and his non-partisan objectivity are an asset to the State. Any board or commission he is chosen to serve on is lucky to have him.”