Candidates at odds on politics' role
Republican says he won't compromise
By Tricia L. Nadolny / Monitor staff
October 11, 2012
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/360647/candidates-at-odds-on-politics-role?CSAuthResp=1349960508%3Amm4qbq2cne0cmd94rni7v77u80%3ACSUserId|CSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A661D6EF091567626CCA37124C4DDCDAB&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 (http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/360647/candidates-at-odds-on-politics-role?CSAuthResp=1349960508%3Amm4qbq2cne0cmd94rni7v77u80%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A661D6EF091567626CCA37124C4DDCDAB&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1)
The candidates for the Executive Council's District 4 seat scuffled over politics' place in the job yesterday, with Democrat Chris Pappas pressing for a bipartisan approach while Republican Bob Burns called the council's "kumbaya, let's all work together kind of attitude" a problem. In a heated exchange, Burns went on to accuse Pappas of hiding his own political agenda, saying his endorsement by a gay advocacy group comes with strings attached.
"Why would an organization that focuses on things like transgender issues even want to get involved in an Executive Council race?" Burns said during yesterday's debate in Manchester. "And as we've seen recently down in Massachusetts, a federal judge even ruled in favor of the state paying for a transgender sex change. I have to wonder why these organizations and these lobbyist groups would want to get behind Chris if they don't have an actual agenda."
Pappas, who is openly gay, has been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that says on its website it is committed to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates win offices. The organization has made a $500 contribution to Pappas, according to his campaign finance reports.
"I'm very proud of who I am, Bob, and proud of the campaign I'm running," said Pappas, who co-owns the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester.