Road to the White House: Day 4
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Merrimack/Manchester/Concord, NH
We started the day bright and early with the opportunity to attend the Climate Town Hall in downtown Concord!
Most of the Democratic primary candidates would be there speaking and answering questions from students from the state of New Hampshire who have worked around the climate crisis. First up that morning was Amy, so our entire class got to go and listen to her speak. She even told her blizzard joke!
We then ran up the street (literally, ran) to the State House where we went with Bill Gardner, Secretary of State. He has been the longest Secretary of State ever, so his experiences and wisdom are priceless. He discussed the history of the first in the nation New Hampshire primary, what are the requirements to get your name on the ballot ($1000 or signatures from all wards), and what impact he thinks New Hampshire plays in the presidential primary. Such a cool experience -- just standing in his office, you could feel the history surrounding you!
We were then invited to sit in the Senate Chambers where we met with three of New Hampshire's Executive Council members, including the one and only, Deborah Pignatelli! We also got to sit in on a bit of their Executive Council meeting, which included live music, and we got to meet Governor Sununu.
Governor Sununu meeting future voters from a nearby Elementary School
We then got the opportunity to walk over to the New Hampshire Democratic Party where we had the pleasure of hearing Ray Buckley speak. He told us some funny stories he had with Dr. JSM and the role he sees the NHDP playing in the 2020 presidential primary, which included a heartwarming story with President Obama and his niece. After we got a class picture with him, I felt compelled to go up and introduce myself. I told him thank you for all of his hard work, because without people like him, people like me would feel really hopeless, and we need more people like him. He told me I was making him emotional and we had a nice moment. He took a few of us to his office where he had an incredible amount of memorabilia and awards, which really allowed us to see the impact he's made.
A few of us then had a nice walk back to the Climate Town Hall with Dr. JSM. We of course had to stop for a photo op! Shout out to Jazzy for setting up the self-timer and propping up Dr. JSM's phone so we could get this picture.
At the Climate Town Hall, we got there just in time to listen to Tom Steyer speak, which was really cool! We also got to meet him afterwards, which the three pictures below will show you how we felt after meeting him...
Elizabeth Warren's surrogate, Dr. Ayana Johnson
We then head back to Amy's Concord field office, where we made more phone calls. I made 178 just in a few hours! Some were hang ups, some were a bit rude, but the one kind person makes your whole night. I think people forget that those who are making those political calls and texts are real people, too.
We were also treated to a yummy quesadilla, too. :-)
Wait. This also happened. Let me set the stage for you.
*Jazzy and I are sitting in the Concord field office, making phone calls, when Jazzy gets a phone calls from Sondra*
Jazzy: Hello?
Me: *waiting as the call I'm making rings to see if they pick up*
Jazzy: The debate? Um, I don't know, watching it with our class or going to a watch party? UM... YES. Sondra, I might have to scream right now. I'm just kidding. Are you serious? Wow. ...
Me: What? What's happening? The debate? WE'RE GOING? Shut up. Jazzy. SHUT UP. Jazzy?
Jazzy: *hangs up* ... We're going to the debate.
To be continued... Tomorrow!!!
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