NEW HAMPSHIRE UNION LEADER – 01-27-2022

Ed Naile, founder of NH taxpayers coalition, recalled as tireless anti-tax advocate

1. Dies after complications from COVID-19 in hospital emergency room

By Kevin Landrigan

New Hampshire Union Leader

CONCORD — Friends and po­litical allies recalled Ed Naile as a tireless fighter against higher taxes and greater accountability for public officials.

Naile, a 69-year-old resident of Deering, passed away last Friday in Concord Hospital after con­tracting COVID-19, getting com­plications and spending several weeks in an intensive care unit.

The New Hampshire Crema­tion Society confirmed that Naile, born on Jan. 14, 1953, had passed away on Jan. 21.

Naile had been one of the original founders of the Coalition of New Hampshire Tax­payers and helped build it into one of the most politically powerful, grass roots organizations in New Hampshire.

“It was way too soon. Great guy,” said Gregory Moore, state director of Americans for Prosperity, a fis­cally conservative group.

A prolific writer and blogger, Naile was a frequent contributor to GraniteGrok, the conserva­tive news service website and for several years he had his own talk show on FM radio.

GraniteGrok was the first to re­port on Naile’s death.

Manchester radio talk show host and mayoral candidate Rich Girard said Naile anchored “A Question of Voter Fraud” seg­ment on his long-running show, coming in every Wednesday at 6:20 a.m. to do the segment live, Girard recalled.

“To work with Ed was to learn from a master; a happy warrior whose purpose was to see that laws were followed, government was accountable, taxpayers were respected, and elections were clean,” Girard said.

“I can think of no other per­son who has done more for these causes than Ed Naile.”

A mentor to many

Many also note that while Naile was passionate about issues, he didn’t allow debates to become personal or nasty and had a great sense of humor.

“This is a devastating loss for our state and especially those of us who had the privilege and honor of being his friend. It will take many, many feet to fill his shoes,” Girard said.

In every election cycle, Naile and his group had a prominent role as candidates were invited to sign the group’s Taxpayer Protec­ tion Pledge.

“Some folks you just think will be with us forever, and then they are gone. RIP Ed Naile. One of the best,” said Chuck McGee, a campaign consultant and former executive director with the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.

Two-time Republican congres­sional candidate Steve Negron of Nashua said Naile was a mentor to him.

“It was under Ed I learned of his decades-long fight for the New Hampshire voter and all his work as a tireless advocate to stop voter fraud. There was none better. RIP my friend,” Negron said.

klandrigan@unionleader.com

ED NAILE