Voice of the Voters' guest on May 16, 2007.

NEW HAMPSHIRE'S OWN SECRETARY OF STATE,      

THE HONORABLE WILLIAM GARDNER

Secretary Gardner is currently serving his 16th consecutive two-year term as NH's Secretary of State. The youngest elected (he was 28 yrs. old when first elected), and the longest serving, Secretary Gardner has earned the respect of his colleagues nationwide, who refer to him as "the Dean." As a Democrat elected to 15 consecutive terms by a Republican majority, Secretary Gardner exemplifies the nonpartisan approach that he intentionally brings to his service. A true hero of grassroots democracy, Secretary Gardner entered office with the self-described goal of "bringing more people into the process." The large welcome mat outside his ever-open door gives testimony to this goal. Under his leadership, New Hampshire passed the first-in-the-nation REAL paper ballot law, mandating that no machines may be approved for use in NH that do not read the voter's mark on a paper ballot, initiated election day registration, preserved the first-in-the-nation presidential primary as a public event, making accessible to any eligible citizen the dream of running for President of the United States, maintained financially accessible recounts and a tradition (now made into law) of hand counting every recount.