FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2008

Contact: Alexis Chininis

(603)669-1050

Concerned Manchester Citizens Call on NH Advantage Coalition to Cease Illegal Activity

Asks Frank Guinta and NHAC to Comply with State Election Law

Manchester – The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition should disclose all contributions and activities according to a petition the Manchester City Democrats began circulating today. 

The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, a Republican political organization acting under the guise of a non-profit, has most recently been operating around Manchester collecting signatures for a referendum and promoting the GOP agenda and candidates.  The group counts in its leadership Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta  and his key strategists, Mike Biundo and Tammy Simmons, who are also candidates for State Representative.

Despite the clear connections between the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's activities and the Republican Party, there has been no disclosure of contributions or expenditures as required by state election laws.  State election laws require any political organization to report expenditures that exceed $500 dollars.  As expressed by Kathy Sullivan in a complaint filed with the Attorney General yesterday, the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition has several paid employees, has made "ad-buys" for future television spots and have pledged support to their fellow Republican candidates – all of which most certainly exceed $500. 

"It's time for Ted Gatsas, Doug Kruse and Frank Guinta to call off the dogs.  The activities of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition are both legally and politically reprehensible," said Chris Pappas, chair of the Manchester City Democrats. 

Furthermore, members of the organization have employed questionable tactics in order to collect signatures to gain ballot access.  An August 6th Concord Monitor article reported the alleged assault of a disabled man by a NHAC organizer outside Concord's City Hall. 

"Not only has the partisan group run afoul of state and federal law, but operatives have sought to intimidate and swindle voters into signing their petitions to gain ballot access," continued Pappas. "There is one alleged assault on a disabled voter, and other examples of voter harassment on the property of at least one local business in Manchester.  Frank Guinta is leading this underhanded effort with the help of his strategists Mike Biundo and Tammy Simmons, and it has got to stop.  That is why the Manchester Democratic committee is launching this good government petition drive to ensure that Guinta's group complies with the law and ceases its deceptive activities."

Text of the petition is as follows and can also be found at www.citydems.com

"We, the undersigned voters of Manchester, demand that Frank Guinta  reject the tactics of his campaign advisor, Mike Biundo, and further demand that Frank Guinta and Manchester Republican State Senate candidates Doug Kruse and Ted Gatsas  join us in demanding that the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition disclose its contributors and comply with all state and federal laws, and disclose which political groups and contributors are behind the "New Hampshire Advantage Coalition".  We also ask Frank Guinta, Doug Kruse and Ted Gatsas to call for an end to all of the dirty tricks that the organization has used to collect signatures."