Gary Johnson's NH Staffers Quit out of Frustration
Matt Simon, the New Mexico Governor's former New Hampshire communications director, says staff was not "let go" as the campaign said.
UPDATE, 4 P.M.: Eric Jackman, one of the five local staffers Simon referenced, said this afternoon that he has not quit the campaign, but he also said nobody has told him that he had been let go along with the rest of the state team, as Huihui said happened in late October.
Jackman said he hasn't been paid this month, but he did speak with Erik Johnson as recently as last week. But he also acknowledged that there has been "a lot of confusion" surrounding the campaign of late.
Simon, reached again later this afternoon, said he didn't realize Jackman hadn't quit the Johnson team, but said the other four New Hampshire campaign staffers definitely did quit.
An earlier story follows:
The former New Hampshire communications director for Gary Johnson's presidential campaign said all five of the candidate's staffers in the Granite State quit last month over "frustration with the national campaign."
Matt Simon, who joined the Johnson campaign early on, said he was the first to leave, but he was followed by the four other paid New Hampshire staffers, including State Coordinator Brinck Slattery.
Grant Huihui, Johnson's campaign scheduler, said in an interview this morning that all of Johnson's New Hampshire staffers were "let go" in late October, but Simon said that is inaccurate.
"It's more accurate to say everybody quit," Simon said. "We don't want a big public thing like the (Michele) Bachmann campaign had, but definitely the New Hampshire staff quit out of frustration with the national campaign."
Simon said he personally was frustrated with the lack of organization and the lack of money that was being put into the campaign in New Hampshire.
"I was frustrated with the way everything was going," he said. "Obviously, it wasn't the campaign we envisioned running. We said all along the idea was to win, to demonstrate credibility and viability, to build an organization and campaign we weren't building. You have to be honest about that at some point."
The Johnson campaign hasn't been able to get much traction in the polls, even here in New Hampshire, where he has spent a considerable amount of time. He nearly missed last month's filing deadline for the New Hampshire Primary, admitting that he "screwed up" and had to fly in at the last minute to fill out the necessary paperwork.
"They just weren't giving us the resources needed to execute the plan," said Simon. "We drew up a plan back in April or May to do well in the New Hampshire Primary. But there was just a lack of resources – not being able to hire people, not being able to get things like yard signs until September when we needed them in May. A lot of people meet Gary Johnson and like him, but they see he doesn't have a campaign so they're not going to go out of their way to support him. It's too bad."
He said to the best of his knowledge, the New Hampshire campaign is now being run by Johnson's son, Erik. Huihui said this morning that three new people have been brought on board, but their exact roles have yet to be determined.
Simon said he continues to believe that Johnson would make an excellent president, but added, "That's not always what this process is about, though." He said it's too soon to say if he'll ever work for another campaign in the future.
John St Croix
2:32 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Ron Paul is the man... anyway!
Scott E Downer
3:43 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Ron Paul 2012 all the Way !
Dwight
3:26 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
I like Gary a lot, but I hope he drops out before January so all of his supporters can be Ron Paul supporters again.
Heather Glen
11:26 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
I support Gary Johnson love his willingness to include all types of people christian as well as gay rights also legalization & given "air time" im positive things would of went more smoothly save the money & keep filing the complaint over the exclusions in the debates Jay Sekulow well known lawyer for equality ALL over christian radio would be a good place to begin with exclusions on these debates I have yet to watch one cuz my candidate wasn't on there but yes will continue to support RonPaul look how long this man has waited to be heard? almost 30years I recommend Gary Tells his supporters to go this way & ask RonPaul would he need a vice president he'd be more than interested WE NEED ALL the HONESTY in WASHINGTON we can get! praying for Mr Johnson cheer up! you did a super job! you can't help you were treated unfairly you remind me of an ole indian war chief! KEEP TRYING! GodBless
ForThePeople
4:01 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
Your post is unreadable. But anyway, when Michele Bachmann's campaign folds, you will see the exodus of those extremists to the Ron Paul campaign, just like Gary Johnson. All of the extremists will go there first.
After the Republicans realize that Ron Paul isn't much of a Republican in his ideals (he just happens to enjoy the ticket audience), they will surely abandon him for Mitt Romney. It will be Romney against Obama for the presidency.
Joshua Rellick
2:55 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
Isn't this the third time this has happened? First Gingrich, then Bachmann, now Johnson.
Katie
4:44 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
It just sounds like there are a lot of holes in this story. From what I heard, Matt Simon stepped down all the way back in September and Brinck Slattery was actually let go last month right around the time that Gary had to fly in last minute to file for the NH primary (coincidence?). I clearly don't know what really happened, but I can imagine that the whole thing was really a two-way street. I just wonder why Matt Simon decided to make these statements now rather than when he first stepped down. Too bad that Gary does not talk about about anyone - we might never know the real story.
Chris Dietz
5:32 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
@Katie - FYI - Brinck Slatery was fired but, as you mentioned before, Gov. Johnson hasn't said anything bad about either of them to the media. This story sounds like a past staffer that's just ranting because he's upset over the fact that someone lumped him together with Brinck who was really "let go".
John St Croix
5:57 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
@ForThePeople: you are hilariously out of touch. NO RON PAUL SUPPORTER WOULD EVER, and I mean *EVER* switch over to Mitt.. and you can take that to the bank.
Ron Paul is the MOST conservative man in this race, and also the MOST HONEST.
ForThePeople
6:56 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
You mean they will vote for Obama given the choice?
John St Croix
7:00 pm on Friday, November 18, 2011
They will NOT vote for any of the others and since he's polling at 19% nationally I think people pushing these washed up RINOs on us ought to take that into consideration.
Andrea Garcia
2:19 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
John, I support Both Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. However I find it appalling,(no pun intended) that Pauls supporters do not fight a little harder for Johnson to have a voice. WHO Do you think will run in 16'? Principles of Liberty do not change, Johnson is Solid on them as is Paul. To not be outraged at Johnsons media blackout just like they did to Paul (and continue) shows a lack of principles.
Andrea Garcia
2:39 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
For The People, If Mitt Romney is who the GOP base puts up against Obama, well then we deserve another 4 years of Obama. McCain or Obama, Mitt or Obama doesn't really matter they are the EXACT same. One steals liberty from the Right and the other from the Left.
ForThePeople
11:14 am on Saturday, November 19, 2011
They're quite different in very many ways. It is this blind extremism that makes people look at Ron Paul supporters as being "unhinged." Having an eye for detail and understanding how politics affects society at large is also important. It's not all about your "liberty."
David Meller
8:26 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011
Gary Johnson should withdraw from the 2012 GOP Presidential race with dignity. Ron Paul is the proper candidate for the GOP this year. He can further infrom himself on libertarian issues, especially monetary policy and the Federal Reserve, a peaceful America-First foreign policy, and ending the war-on-drugs completely, not only with marijuana, important as M's legalization is. If he is more knowledgeable and comfortable with the libertarian parts of Ron Paul's campaign, maybe he can run for President in 2016 or2020. He also could be a valuable voice in Congress, the Senate, or perhaps Governor again.
This year, he would do best for himself, the GOP, and our country, to give his full support to Ron Paul.
Ron Paul for President in '12!
Brinck Slattery
10:21 am on Sunday, October 7, 2012
I quit, and don't have anything further to say about the matter other than it was my opinion that Gov. Johnson would have an embarrassing showing in New Hampshire due to a number of factors (primarily the fact that Ron Paul, an anti-abortion, pro-liberty Republican was running and leaving a very small bite of the republican primary voter pie for Gov. Johnson) and that he shouldn't have been on the ballot for the Republican primary.
I wish him the best of luck in his quest as a Libertarian, and I'm very happy he's picking up steam!