Griffin: 'Yellow Sheet' Has Hidden 'Agenda'

The chairman of the Hampton Board of Selectmen said he's not paying much attention to a few harsh claims about his leadership and character in this year's "Yellow Sheet," an annual resident-made voters' guide which typically generates controversy before the annual town meeting.

Rick Griffin said he sees "no" benefit in the document, created by the Rational Taxpayers of Hampton, because he feels the group and its members "harass" and undermine public officials who don't share their stance, rather than encourage dialogue about warrant articles and issues.

Griffin is running for reelection on Tuesday, March 12, and alleges his labeling in the "Yellow Sheet" as a "flip-flopper," among other things, is because he pushed hard to keep Town Manager Fred Welch's job while the Rational Taxpayers and others called for a change.

"This is them getting even or whatever you want to call it," said Griffin. "I could see there was another agenda here.

"I think it's terrible."

The "Yellow Sheet" endorsed Griffin's opponent, Mary-Louise Woolsey, in the two-candidate race for selectman. Griffin said that endorsement is questionable due to the fact that he said Woolsey's views are "in direct clash" with several of the Rational Taxpayers' recommendations on the 2013 town meeting warrant.

Griffin also said he and Woolsey share "similar views" on most of the issues — the most notable difference being their stances on the Lafayette Road-Winnacunnet Road intersection project — which makes him feel most of the recommendation against him is due to personal differences stemming from numerous spats over Welch's contract, among other disagreements.

The "Yellow Sheet" and the Rational Taxpayers of Hampton claim Griffin wants to pass heavy tax rate increases. Griffin said that claim shows, though, that the Rational Taxpayers and their supporters have "total tunnel vision" and "no regard for people's well-being" because rather than break down both sides of the budget and inform the public, Griffin said the group uses their recommendations to attack individuals.

"I don't see myself responsible for a 7-percent increase because it's up to the taxpayers," said Griffin, who said he and the rest of the selectmen heavily scrutinized and altered the proposed budget before voting to recommend a $24.6 million bottom line. "We discussed these articles week after week, and a lot of the things that [various department heads] and the town manager requested weren't put in. We didn't rubber stamp anything."

Despite the attacks, Griffin said he'll "always be friends" with Norm Silberdick, one of the leaders of the Rational Taxpayers and a Hampton-North Hampton Patch blogger, because the two have a personal relationship.

Griffin also said he doesn't think the "Yellow Sheet" will influence locals' vote drastically, as he said most residents understand the viewpoints to which the document speaks. Instead of using the "Yellow Sheet," Griffin urged residents to do their research about his record and that of Woolsey in order to base their votes on fact — not personal differences.

"It is what it is," said Griffin, who said he and Woolsey have both agreed to run a "very low-key campaign" with no signs or advertising. "I don't think it'll hurt me. I think people in Hampton are too smart for that. In fact, I've heard it's helped get me support [because people don't want to vote with the 'Yellow Sheet']."

Hampton's annual elections and town meeting balloting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, in the Winnacunnet High School dining hall.