BIA launches business PAC

The Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire has taken steps that it says will increase businesses’ participation in the state’s political process by launching the New Hampshire Business Political Action Committee.

While the BIA said the new PAC will offer financial support to pro-business state incumbents and candidates, it will not contribute to federal election campaigns, according to a statement released by the BIA.

Among the roles of the PAC will be enabling effective statewide participation by the business community in the political process to promote a favorable business climate and quality of life in New Hampshire, the BIA said.

“Business owners and managers want to support and elect candidates that understand the challenges they face on a daily basis and are committed to promoting public policy that strengthens New Hampshire’s strong business climate,” said Richard Ashooh, chair of the New Hampshire Business PAC board of directors and vice president of strategic relations and homeland security for BAE Systems. “The New Hampshire Business PAC provides a means for business leaders to elect pro-business candidates that will ultimately shape future public policy affecting business.”

The New Hampshire Business PAC will support state and local officials with public policy positions compatible with PAC’s purpose and mission.

In addition to Ashooh, board members include Harold Turner Jr., vice president of the HL Turner Group; Jim Roche, president of the BIA; Scott Ellison of the Devine Millimet law firm; Terri Bayer of Terri C. Beyer Associates; Fergus Cullen of CertaPro Painters; Richard Jenkinson, Fisher Scientific International; and Mike McInerney, Waste Management of Northern New England. – TRACIE STONE