Press Release | Social Media | Quick Facts | Locations for Live Shots, Interviews & B-Roll| Presidential Primary Speakers/Local Experts
Press Release
Manchester Celebrates 100th Anniversary of First in the Nation Primary
New website outlines FITN events, tours and exhibitions
Manchester, N.H. -- Today, Manchester announced its plan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of New Hampshire’s First in the Nation (FITN) Primary. For the next month, exhibits, tours and events will encourage Queen City residents and visitors to engage in the political process and celebrate Manchester’s pivotal role in American political history.
“As the largest city in New Hampshire, Manchester receives a lot of attention during the First in the Nation Primary,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “It’s an exciting time for Queen City residents, presidential candidates and the national press – and this year for the 100th Anniversary, we’ll host events across the city to commemorate the political role Manchester has played over the last century.”
Small business owner and active citizen, Liz Hitchcock stated “Bookery Manchester is proud to host political candidates for talks and book signings. We believe that civic discourse allows citizens to be part of the political process and better community members. It is an exciting time. This partnership with Orbit Group and the city is an important one.”
“At the Manchester Historic Association, we know that the Presidential Primary is a statewide affair, but we also recognize that, as election day draws closer, Manchester becomes more and more of the focal point for the media, the candidates and the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers who come here,” said John Clayton, executive director of the MHA and Millyard Museum. “Our exhibit, ‘Manchester and the Path to the Presidency,’ clearly demonstrates Manchester’s role as the crucible for this process, and by working with this great group at #MHTFITN, we are bringing both content and context beyond the walls of the museum and into the streets of Manchester.”
Manchester residents and visitors are invited to stay informed on all things FITN by visiting our website at https://mhtfitn.com/. This is where you can gain up-to-date insight on visiting candidates, upcoming events, and how to vote on February, 11, 2020.
Participate in a scavenger hunt by exploring political hot spots and exhibits and using the hashtag #MHTFITN on Twitter and Instagram. Join in on the fun, win prizes, and learn more at https://mhtfitn.com/explore.
Notable items include:
Trolley Tours: Hosted by Manchester Historic Association Director John Clayton, participants will explore Manchester’s history, exhibits and political hot spots. Tour schedules can be found here.
FITN Trivia Night: On January 31, join us for Trivia Night Live with Bill and Cody, featuring the Alli Beaudry Band, highlighting Manchester’s role in the FITN process. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., events begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Rex Theatre. Register a team here.
Voter Checklist: Find your polling location, voter requirements and more. Voting information can be found here.
Social Media
To commemorate 100 years of being First In the Nation for the primaries, we created this website to keep you in the loop. We invite you to join in the celebration of our pivotal role in American political history by visiting: https://mhtfitn.com/ #MHTFITN #FITN #NHPolitics
Are you a political junkie when it comes to the New Hampshire Presidential Primary? We challenge you to identify the candidates in this sequence of photographs! How many can you name? #MHTFITN #FITN #NHPolitics
Want to be the first to hear about campaign functions, local gatherings, political exhibits, and more? We’re posting information for all of the must-attend events in Manchester here:https://mhtfitn.com/explore #MHTFITN #FITN #NHPolitics
Are you ready to explore Manchester’s History, Political Exhibits and Hot Spots? Mr. John Clayton will be leading trolley tours throughout January 2020/February 2020. The tour schedule will be announced shortly here: https://mhtfitn.com/explore #MHTFITN #FITN #NHPolitics
Participate in this year’s #MHTFITN scavenger hunt and be entered into a raffle to win official FITN swag! Just Snap a photo next to the items listed on our website with the hashtag #MHTFITN! You can find the items here: https://mhtfitn.com/explore #MHTFITN #FITN #NHPolitics
The next Presidential Primary Election is taking place on February 11th, 2020. Do you have everything that you need? It’s best to double check! Here’s your ready-to-vote checklist: https://mhtfitn.com/vote
Locations for Live Shots, Interviews & B-Roll
Downtown Manchester
Along Elm Street there are businesses, restaurants and shops where people work, eat and shop each day. This is an ideal location to capture B-roll as well as to capture interviews.
Doubletree by Hilton Manchester Downtown
Offers a scenic overlook, the hotel will provide press access to a large deck that looks out over the City and its skyline. Please contact Shawn Monahan at 603.206.4215 to determine availability and schedule shooting time.
St. Marie’s Church
On Manchester’s West Side. Cross the Bridge Street Bridge and go through the two sets of lights. Ste. Marie’s is on your left, atop a large hill. It’s a beautiful representation of the French-Canadian history of Manchester’s West Side.
Manchester Restaurants
The Red Arrow Diner – at 61 Lowell Street, off of Elm Street, in downtown (www.redarrowdiner.com – check out their “Diner and Politics” link – the diner is another “must-visit” for candidates).
Additionally, Elm Street and many of the side streets downtown are filled with restaurants and cafes.
The Queen City Bridge
Offers a great riverside shot of Manchester. The bridge connects Elm Street with the West Side’s Second Street.
Aerial Photos
Frame of Mind Photography
Phone: (603) 493-4013
Email: jhastings@frameofmindphoto.com
Concord Our State Capital
Concord is about 25 minutes north of Manchester (take 93 North to Exit 14, then take a left off the exit into downtown Concord) and another political hub. The State House is on Main Street in downtown Concord and would offer ideal B-roll.
Polling Locations
Members of the press are permitted to film at the polling locations (there are 12 throughout the City). It’s important that members of the press receive permission from the Moderators at each location so that they may film the process and seek interviews.
Manchester’s Millyard
Offers a beautiful scene and a glimpse into Manchester’s birth as a mill town. The Millyard has been refurbished and encompasses Canal and Commercial Streets. The Millyard Museum currently has a NH Primary Exhibit, on display.
Hanover Street
Off of Chestnut and Elm streets, is a beautiful street. Stand outside of the Palace Theatre for a beautiful shot of a tree-lined, lighted street facing City Hall.
Presidential Primary Speakers/Local Experts
New Hampshire State Government & Presidential Primary
Brad Cook, AttorneySheehan Phinney
Email: bcook@sheehan.com
Office phone: 603-627-8110
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Voting Trends/Political Polls/Public Opinion
Andrew Smith, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the
UNH Survey Center
Email: Andrew.smith@unh.edu
Phone: 603-862-2226
Political Advertisements
Jennifer Borda, Assistant Professor of CommunicationUNH
Phone: 603-862-3709 E-mail: jennifer.borda@unh.edu
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NH Primary
Dante Scala, Associate Professor of Political Science, UNH
Email: dante.scala@unh.edu
Cell phone: 603-540-4018Office: 603-862-1519
State and Local History, Lifestyle & Special Interest
John Clayton, Executive Director of the Manchester Historic Association, former Columnist for the Union Leader
Email: jclayton@manchesterhistoric.org
Office phone: 603-641-8192
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Neil A. Levesque
Ex Dir, New Hampshire Institute of Politics/ Assist to Pres for PA, Chairperson of the NH Presidential Primary Centennial Anniversary Commission, History of the NH primary, Head-to-head Matchup Analysis, Mechanics of Polling
Phone: (603) 641-7022. Email: nlevesque@anselm.edu
Quick Facts
Local Taxes Manchester’s local property tax rate is $24.32 per thousand of assessed value (Town Tax: $11.11, Local Education Tax: $9.61, State Education Tax: $2.28, County Tax: $1.32).
State TaxesNew Hampshire is the only state in the continental United States which has neither an earned income tax nor a general sales tax. There are likewise no taxes on inventory, industrial machinery, personal property, or intangibles.
PopulationThe population of the City of Manchester is approximately 110,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the City of Manchester in 2018 was 112,525 (via US CENSUS https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml)
LocationTucked in the center of New England, Manchester offers access to New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Canada and the West Coast.
GovernmentThe City of Manchester is governed by a Mayor and 14 Aldermen who approve the municipal budget, raise and appropriate money, enact and amend ordinances, nominate and elect most city officials and commissions. The Finance Committee of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen has general supervision and control over the expenditure of all money appropriated by the city.
Bond RatingManchester’s bond ratings are strong, having been rated AA by Standard and Poors. The city also received an Aa3 rating by Moody’s, which emphasized the city’s strong fiscal management.(I don’t have an exact update on this, but I think it is still this)
AirportThe Manchester-Boston Regional Airport offers convenient and affordable access in and out of Manchester. Whether you’re traveling to the West Coast for a business meeting, catching a connecting flight to Europe or jetting to New York City for the day, Manchester’s airport provides you with the access you need.
Unemployment According to the NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau (http://www.nhes.state.nh.us/elmi/) the current unemployment rate (October 2019) is 2.7%.
EducationManchester boasts eight area colleges and universities as well as numerous vocation programs. A local school system includes 21 schools, along with technology and vocational training.
HealthcareIn Manchester, healthy living is a focus, as evidenced by the superb healthcare institutions providing cutting-edge service from within the city limits.
HousingA fresh stock of condominiums, upscale and affordable apartments and lots of family homes round out the housing market.
UtilitiesTelephone and telecommunications services in Manchester are provided by Consolidated Communications - and residential cable services by Comcast (www.comcast.com ). Numerous Internet communications firms connect Manchester businesses to the Internet. Liberty Utilities distributes natural gas and propane to southern New Hampshire.Eversource, (www.eversource.com ) provides reliable electrical service to Manchester. Manchester’s water supply is city-owned and controlled, drawn from a surface watershed with an estimated safe yield of 20 million gallons/day. The City of Manchester has over 300 miles of public sewer and a modern 34-million gallons/day secondary treatment plant.
Climate & EnvironmentThe Merrimack River bisects the city. The elevation of the city’s lowest point is 110 feet above sea level and the highest point is 570 feet. The surrounding countryside is largely rural and wooded, with numerous large and small bodies of water. Average daily temperatures range from 14.8 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 70.0 degrees Fahrenheit in July with an annual average of 47 degrees. Rainfall varies from an average of 2.66 inches in February to 3.62 inches in July with an annual monthly average of 3.28 inches. Annual snowfall averages 60.6 inches (60 year mean total). Average year-round humidity is moderate. Manchester’s environmental quality is excellent for business and recreational activities throughout the year. The city’s water supply is of consistently high quality for both industrial and domestic purposes. There are no significant pollution or smog problems, nor are there any recorded hazardous waste disposal sites in the are
In The News. . .
More than 20 reporters will cover the Democratic Primary for Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism (BINJ), which is offering its work through a free wire service at the Shashkeen Pub. The bar-turned-newsroom-but-still-a-bar will also host events BINJ is organizing around the primary.