Bob Mead to Resign From House Majority Leader Office (House paid mileage for GOP recruiting)
House paid mileage for GOP recruiting
State employee traveled to events
By Matthew Spolar / Monitor staff
May 13, 2012
Bob Mead, a state employee in the House Majority Office, was reimbursed by taxpayers for traveling to Republican events where he sought to recruit House candidates for this year's elections.
While it's rare that House employees file for mileage, the practice is allowed. State House veterans, however, say the purpose of Mead's activity has crossed into an ethical gray area.
"House employees should be paid with public money only for legislative - not campaign - work," said Rep. Terie Norelli, the House Democratic leader from Portsmouth.
Mead, a former state representative from Mont Vernon, was House chief of staff during Bill O'Brien's first year as speaker. In December, he was moved to a post in the House Majority Office, and rumblings at the State House indicated Mead was unhappy with the demotion. He took a $19,820 cut to his annual salary - he now makes $64,380 - and assumed a newly created position, director of legislative services.
More:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/329233/house-paid-mileage-for-gop-recruiting
See also:
James Pindell (WMUR) @JamesPindell
Bob Mead tells me he has resigned from #NHHouse majority office in the wake of Monitor story #nhpolitics
https://twitter.com/#!/JamesPindell/status/202444199130431489