The following is the Press Release from Frank Guinta on the Laconia Town Hall meeting that Carol Shea-Porter is having on Thursday, April 1^st (April Fool’s Day)

At least she seems to have picked the right day…..

Carol Shea-Porter’s Town Hall Strategy: Small Venues, Limited Access and Few Questions

MANCHESTER, NH – Tomorrow Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter comes home to explain her vote for a government takeover of healthcare. Shea-Porter has announced eight evening forums in Bedford and Merrimack tomorrow with additional stops in Alton, Laconia on Thursday, with the rest coming next week. These town halls have a goal of creating an illusion of being open. When in reality it appears that Shea-Porter is using small venues to limit participation and only allowing questions from those with tickets. When a City Councilor in Laconia asked the City to offer Shea-Porter a much larger venue at the local high school, or even the library (within eyeshot of City Hall), her office declined the offer, saying they prefer the smaller venue at city hall.

 “Our city of 17,000 has multiple venues that could accommodate what’s expected to be a much larger crowd and really allow the citizens of this community to be heard; no matter how they feel on health care reform. It is my view this city is being used as a prop as the Congresswoman does her victory lap around the district,” said Greg Knytych, City Councilor Ward One.  He continues “Bad enough she is holding it in a small limited space, but refusing to hold it in a venue that will allow access to no more than simply 0.0035% of Laconia’s population is outrageous.”

“On the heels of passage of this partisan healthcare reform bill, fraught with sweetheart backroom deals like the, “Louisiana Purchase” and “Gatorade” Carol Shea-Porter owes it to the citizens of her district to hold open and honest town halls not just create the illusion of doing so,” said Congressional Candidate Frank Guinta. “Like so many New Hampshire voters, I oppose this bill because it hurts our local businesses and cuts Medicare.  We deserve an real New Hampshire town hall to hear from our elected official who supported such a disastrous plan.”

Mayor Guinta has held eight open town halls since August. His original challenge and the scheduling of his Exeter Town Hall is what finally caused Congressman Shea-Porter to meet with her constituents at all. Following the only town hall held on the issue of healthcare reform by Mayor Frank Guinta, candidate for Congress.  As part of his listening tour, candidate Frank Guinta launched an online listening post, with the publishing of voter’s comments that have yet to be heard.  This listening post was a “petition drive” and promoted by the campaign sub-website: www.honesthealthcarereform.com

The highly partisan charged atmosphere has left most in the dark, including the national press which will be banned from attending any of the currently scheduled town halls.