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Councilors who attended the Dec. 9 meeting greet Gov.-elect John Lynch with one of several standing ovations.

Council Gives Governor-Elect a Warm Welcome

What a difference an election makes.

Gov.-elect John Lynch drew an enthusiastic reception on Dec. 9 when he made his first appearance before a large union crowd since his election on Nov. 2.

Elected with a margin of victory that was clearly provided by the strong grassroots organization put together by our union, Lynch demonstrated respect for both public employees and the work we do.

  Improve Services

"I can tell you we are going to sit down at the table together," the governor-elect said. "We'll talk about how we improve state government, how we improve services to the people of New Hampshire."

Council delegates, used to a steady drumbeat of bad news during the two years of  the Benson administration, responded with standing ovations to Lynch's promises of respect and improved communications.

"We definitely brought our brains to the polls," said SEA President Gary Smith, using a phrase originally turned by Beth Campbell, when he introduced Lynch. It invokes memories of a remark that began the long slide in Benson's relationship with state employees.

Although the governor-elect and state employees recognize a challenge in the continuing budget crisis, the mood of the Dec. 9 meeting was one of celebration. Many of the promises made by the governor-elect are not directly tied to the budget. He assured councilors that actions by his administration will be based on merit and devoid of the ethical lapses, fear, intimidation and retaliation that have damaged the morale of the state workforce.

In the meantime, union negotiators are looking forward to a more constructive approach to collective bargaining for a new contract.

 Member Feedback

He clearly came to listen, taking many questions from employees from the departments of Environmental Services, Corrections, Transportation, Education, and Health and Human Services.

On the proposal to ship prison inmates to an out-of-state facility, Lynch said he was appalled to learn that the idea was still under consideration.

The governor-elect takes time to answer numerous questions from SEA Council members. Here he listens to Diana Lacey.

He heard concerns about a proposed reorganization at Environmental Services, a department that became the center of controversy late in the gubernatorial campaign.

In response to a question about a DES employee whose transfer appeared to be in retaliation for doing her job, he responded, "She is on my radar screen."

A Department of Education employee described "interesting" personnel actions that helped people of dubious qualifications advance in the system. (SEA has called for a thorough search for a new commissioner for the department.)

 Not a Dumping Ground

"State government should not be a political dumping ground," Lynch declared. "For those people who are not qualified, who do not have the experience, who don't have the leadership skills, it's not going to happen on my watch. I can promise you that."

Some promises should be easy to keep. We won't see a repeat of "Bunnygate" next spring. (The Benson administration substituted a Web-based "virtual" hunt for the traditional event.)

"I'm not going to stand here this evening and make lots of promises and commitments, because I can't," he said. "But I will commit: We are going to have the best Easter egg hunt in the state of New Hampshire."

In the meantime he extended an invitation to all state employees to join him at his inaugural breakfast on Jan. 6.

"We will celebrate together the dawn of a new age in New Hampshire."