10 Most Newsworthy Bedford Stories of 2012

Top 10 Stories of 2012: Szabo Shenanigans

Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate suggested using deadly force to prevent an abortion. Later, he left the country.

Bedford Patch launched in June of 2011, making 2012 the first complete year of full-time hyper-local online community coverage in Bedford. In the last 12 months, readers have been treated with some uplifting and positive stories and accomplishments. At other times, Patch has been forced to cover local and national tragedies that make us all take pause and remember who and what is most important to us. We thought it only fitting that, as we approach 2013, we look back at some of the most interesting and newsworthy local stories of the last year. After all, where else are you going to get a list that's entirely dedicated to Bedford? Frank Szabo made national headlines in August when he made controversial comments regarding his staunch pro-…

• Photos (2)

New Hampshire Politics

Frank Szabo Leaves Country

Former Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate heads to South America.

Frank Szabo made national headlines in August when he made controversial comments regarding his staunch pro-life platform. Today, the Concord Monitor first reported that Szabo has emigrated to South America. An admitted Free Stater, Szabo, in an interview with Bedford Patch compared abortion to slavery and said he'd condone the use of deadly force in extreme circumstances pertaining to abortion. "I don't think anybody would have trouble with preventing a full-grown human being from being murdered," Szabo told Patch, "so why would anyone object to the use of deadly force to prevent the murder of an unborn human?" Szabo, who apologized and retracted his comments a day later, lost his bid for the Republican nomination for county sheriff …

• Photos (3)

Frank Szabo Loses Sheriff's Bid

Hillsborough County Sheriff's candidate, whose controversial abortion comments made national news, loses big to Republican incumbent James Hardy.

The end came quickly for Frank Szabo, the Goffstown Republican who promised to be "a constitutional sheriff" to protect citizens rights, but found himself under fire for controversial comments on use of force to block abortions. Within 24 hours of making his comments, Szabo walked it back. Or tried to. He told Patch in a statement: "I want to be clear to the people of New Hampshire that I made several comments about the use of deadly force against abortion doctors that I regret, that I apologize for and that I fully retract. Clearly, I feel very strongly about life beginning at conception, and that will not change. But, in making comments yesterday, I let my passionate stance against abortion get the better of me.  What I said was …

•  13 Comments
• Photos (1)

New Hampshire Politics

Candidate Profile: Frank Szabo

Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate made headlines last month with outspoken pro-life stance.

Republican October 21, 1962 BS, Business Administration, LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Management, Personnel and Labor Relations, Health Care Administration)  Sales; business creation and development Entrepreneur None   Developing an organic farm CSA I am running for County Sheriff because Citizens do not currently have an elected public official with the authority and commitment to protect them from unlawful actions.  There are far too many examples of rogue public "servants" violating Citizens' Rights with impunity.  Last month, a rural Oregon man was fined $1,500 and is serving a thirty day prison sentence for collecting rain water on his own property.  A Constitutional Sheriff can protect Citizens from such blatent …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

New Hampshire Politics

Sazbo Says 'Regrettable' Comments Won't Push Him Out of the Race

Following controversial abortion remarks, Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate says he's still in it to win it.

Ever since Frank Szabo suggested the use of deadly force would be an appropriate means to prevent an abortion, both New Hampshire Republicans and Democrats have been quite vocal in their opinion the GOP candidate for Hillsborough County Sheriff should make a swift exit from the race. Szabo, however, says he's charging forward. "The whole reason I got into the race is so people know the true powers of the sheriff, who is suppose to protect the rights and property of the people he's charged to protect," said Szabo. "This has never been about me. The need is still there for someone running who understood the true nature and authority of the sheriff." Though Szabo issued a formal apology, saying he didn't fully understand the context of the …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

Dennis Taylor

1:07 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012

Bob, why would my assumption that she has killed children in the womb be any sort of badge of shame for Sharon? If she truly believes what she says, a murdering woman is really a pioneer for the rights of women, is she not? As far as being mean spirited, please tell us all an alternative way to say "Hey you, stop killing your baby!!!" I really would appreciate knowing how to say this politely and…   more ›

Szabo Apologizes, Retracts 'Unacceptable' Statements Concerning Abortions

Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate says he "let his imagination get out of control" in suggesting arresting abortion doctors, using deadly force.

Less than 24 hours after telling Bedford Patch and other media outlets that he condoned the use of deadly force to prevent abortions, Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate Frank Szabo is backing off those comments. In a written statement, Szabo today said he has reflected on the "unacceptable public comments" he made yesterday, and retracted the idea that he would use deadly force to stop an abortion doctor and apologized to the people of New Hampshire for so carelessly losing track of what he was saying. “I want to be clear to the people of New Hampshire that I made several comments about the use of deadly force against abortion doctors that I regret, that I apologize for and that I fully retract,” said Szabo. “Clearly, I feel very …

•  45 Comments
• Photos (1)

Steve From NH

12:26 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dennis: Just noticed this, sorry for the late reply. In a passive way, I suppose so. For instance, if I transported myself back in time to 1850's Virginia, and I was a sheriff, and a slave ran away, I would not look too hard. I would have let Rosa Parks ride at the front of the bus. But like many facets of life and society, a lot of what you want to paint as black and white is really gray. For …   more ›

New Hampshire Politics

Szabo Compares Abortions to Slavery, Condones Use of Deadly Force

"Just because a law is on the books does not mean that it's lawful," the Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate said.

Update: Frank Szabo, this morning, apologized for the comments detailed in the story below. For more information, click here. Original story: In the face of criticism from both New Hampshire Democrats and high-ranking members of his own party, Republican candidate for Hillsborough County Sheriff Frank Szabo is not backing off his comments that deadly force is an appropriate means to prevent abortion. "Just because a law is on the books does not mean that it's lawful," said Szabo. "I talk about the difference of 'legal' and 'lawful.' It used to be legal to own slaves, but that didn't make it lawful. It used to be legal to restrict someone of color to the back of bus ... Just because a piece of legislation says it's legal to murder the …

•  25 Comments
• Photos (1)

Dennis Taylor

4:02 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012

Would you have advocated helping the Jews in 1939 in Germany hide from their government? To do so would have been breaking the established law. So, are you one of those people who follow all laws, regardless of whether they break God's law or even the laws of decent people? Would you allow your child to be killed by his or her teacher if the law allowed, for example? To talk of a people who …   more ›

New Hampshire Politics

NH Tea Party Leader Endorses 'Liberty-Minded' Candidates

Congressional District 1, Executive Council District 4, State Senate District 9, and Hillsborough County Sheriff among those endorsed by founder of NH Tea Party Coalition

Citing the need for what she called "a new direction in County, State, and Federal Government," education activist and New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition founder Jane Aitken, of Bedford, today endorsed four candidates for the Sept. 11 state primary. Those earning Aitken's support include District 9 Senate Candidate Andy Sanborn, Hillsborough County Sheriff candidate Frank Szabo, District 1 Congressional candidate Rick Parent and Executive Council District 4 candidate Tom DeBlois. "These candidates represent the changes we need and I'm confident they will do what they say they will, once in office," said Aitken. "I am supporting Andy Sanborn for State Senate because he already has a solid record of fighting for small businesses and personal …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Steve From NH

3:14 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Mike, "Sheriff Szabo" is proposing that he be the one to determine what is constitutional - no need for courts. He says that he would be the highest authority in the county. He seems to think that he can make up his own laws (e.g. deadly force to prevent an abortion, which is legal), and then enforce them. That, my friend, is not responsibility - it is the definition of tyranny.   more ›