House Speaker honors retiring Rep. Steve Shurtleff

NOT OFFICIALLY THERE YET. A SPECIAL HONOR THIS WEEK FOR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER STEVE SHURTLEFF, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 20 YEARS AS A STATE REP. CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER SHERM PACKARD GAVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO SHURTLEFF LAST WEEK, ALLOWING HIM TO PRESIDE OVER THE HOUSE ON THE FINAL SESSION DAY. VIETNAM VETERAN, WHO SPENT HIS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. SHURTLEFF IS THE ONLY STATE REP IN THE LONG AND STORIED HISTORY OF THE HOUSE TO HAVE SERVED AS MINORITY LEADER, MAJORITY LEADER, SPEAKER, AND SPEAKER EMERITUS. YOU KNOW, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY ALWAYS ARGUE WHAT THE BEST VIEW IN THE GRANITE STATE IS. AND SOME SAY IT’S STANDING ON HAMPTON BEACH AND WATCHING THE SUN RISE IN THE EAST. AND OTHERS SAY THEY SAY IT’S STANDING ON TOP OF A MOUNT WASHINGTON AND WATCHING THAT BEAUTIFUL SUN SET IN THE WEST. BUT FOR ME, MR. SPEAKER, THE BEST VIEW IN THE GRANITE STATE IS HERE AT THIS PODIUM LOOKING AT THE BEST LEGISLATORS AND THE BEST LEGISLATIVE STAFF IN THE COUNTRY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND. WELL, SHURTLEFF IS LEAVING THE HOUSE. HE’S NOT PLANNING TO LEAVE PUBLIC SERVICE. HE’S RUNNING FOR OFFICE ON THE COUNTY LEVEL. THAT WRAPS UP THIS EDITION OF CLOSE-UP NEW HAMPSHIRE. HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY.