Two Nonprofit Leaders Probe Presidential Candidates

Nonprofit leaders David Deziel, Director of Communication & Development
Consumer Credit Counseling Service NH-VT and Cynthia Mills, President & CEO
TCIA, the Tree Care Industry Association posed questions about the impact of the nonprofit sector to one of the presidential candidates, Governor Bill Richardson, this week.

Deziel and Mills were part of the studio audience taping  for WMUR’s Conversations with the Candidates which  featured Gov. Bill Richardson this week. Each submitted questions for the candidate about the importance and impact of the nonprofit sector.

Deziel was selected to ask his question and it will be part of the internet portion of the show next Friday, July, 13, 2007.

Here is how David described his interaction with Candidate, Governor Bill Richardson:

“ I was able to ask my question (it will be part of the internet portion of the program, airing next Friday). Question was…”I work in the non-profit sector, which now makes up 8% of the nation’s GDP and 16% of the New Hampshire’s GSP. Instead of treating non-profits as “charities” what would you do to strengthen and encourage the financial and human resources of the non-profit sector?”

As you know, I was able to ask the same question of Sen. Joe Biden. Richardson provided an answer that had some substance and some specific ideas, such as allowing non-profits to participate in state employee health plans. I was pleasantly surprised that he appeared ready for the question.”

David had previously reported that during the taping for Senator Biden he was able to pose the same question. He had this to say about the response:

“Senator Biden had no specific policy proposals, but told a couple of personal stories about his connectedness with nonprofits, and was very supportive of the notion that nonprofits are economic generators and should be viewed as important contributors to our overall economic well being.”

Mills had the opportunity to personally speak to Richardson and in doing so she reports she , I thanked him for elevating the non-profit issues in the dialogue of his campaign.

Mills and Diezel are joining with other nonprofit leaders across the state and the country in a national initiative to raise awareness of the impact of the nonprofit sector with the presidential candidates. Called the Nonprofit Primary Project and New Hampshire is taking the lead in piloting this effort thought the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits