The 29-year-old Rhode Island native is in charge of communicating the importance of New Hampshire's role in the national political process and encouraging voter participation through collaborations with local and national media.

The work is not only a professional challenge for Hurley, but also a personal one. Her passion for civic engagement and public participation in politics is evident when she talks about attending the ABC presidential debates on Jan. 5.

"It was just amazing to see all the candidates there and to know that one of them we'll all have to be behind at some point," she said. "My husband always says I can't work for a campaign because I get so emotional about politics."

Hurley worked with WMUR-TV to arrange bipartisan audiences for the station's candidate forums and "Candidate Cafe" series. She helps organize the political library's annual primary awards dinner and has successfully increased turnout and proceeds every year since she started in 2005.

It was while completing her undergraduate degree in urban studies at Fordham University in the Bronx that Hurley became acutely aware of her dedication to community involvement. As a literacy tutor with the America Reads Challenge program, Hurley helped develop new curriculums for urban schools. Those efforts spurred a return to Rhode Island where she volunteered with AmeriCorps for a year before earning a master's degree in public administration from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Much of Hurley's spare time over the past few years has been spent volunteering at the UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center in Goffstown, where the longtime equestrian works with children who have special needs.

"I thought it would be a good way to meet people, being new to the state, and I wanted to do some community service," she said.

The volunteer work offers Hurley an escape from her fast-paced job at the political library, which doesn't slow down simply because the primary's over. Hurley continues to coordinate fund-raising events and programs designed to get children interested in the political process.

"We're already preparing for 2012," she said.

Age: 29

Hometown: Hopkinton

Birthplace: Providence, R.I.

Family: Husband, John Beardmore

High school: Portsmouth Abbey School

College/post-grad degrees: Fordham University, bachelor of arts; and University of Massachusetts, Amherst, master of public administration

Current job: Director of external affairs, New Hampshire Political Library

Key Past positions held: Program associate, Children's Alliance of New Hampshire

Volunteer activities: Board member, Council on Fundraising (CONFR); volunteer since 2003 at UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center.

Most admired person (outside your family): John F. Kennedy

Key current professional challenge: The Political Library holds an annual fundraising event, the New Hampshire Primary Awards Dinner, which honors individuals who have played a role in preserving and promoting the New Hampshire primary. With nearly 600 guests and 40 sponsors in 2007, the evening has grown into our largest source of revenue. This year the challenge is creating a program that speaks to the historical significance of the 2008 New Hampshire Primary

Last major achievement: Working for a non-profit dedicated to preserving the first-in-the-nation primary and encouraging civic engagement, I was very proud to be from New Hampshire on Primary Day, Jan. 8, with the record voter turnout. Over the past year, my work has focused on getting the library's message out to Granite Staters regarding the importance of this political tradition and our role in the presidential selection process. We connected voters with candidates through a variety of events including Politics and Eggs breakfasts with the New England Council and the Conversation with the Candidate series with WMUR-TV. The Political Library communicated to New Hampshire voters through print, television and radio regarding the importance of our state's primary process, and we worked with communities across the state to support the next generation of voters through Kids Voting New Hampshire. Voter interest and engagement are unique in New Hampshire, and the record turnout on Primary Day proves that, and I hope our work at the Political Library continues to support and encourage involvement in the democratic process.

Two peers who know you well: Karen Tebbenhoff, public relations and marketing manager, Currier Museum of Art; Sherry Nannis, marketing department, WMUR-TV.

Biggest problem facing New Hampshire: Today's economy is the biggest problem facing New Hampshire. Rising costs of so many necessities from health care to gas to milk are hurting working families in the Granite State. These hardships are exacerbated for residents in rural communities with the recent string of large employer plants and mills closing as well as isolation from services and jobs. New Hampshire needs to continue discussions on job creation and economic stimulation plans, but we also need to think about long-term solutions that connect the entire state including investments in public transportation and technology infrastructure.

Favorite place in New Hampshire: New Hampshire's state parks. Dry River Campground, Lake Umbagog Campground and Wallis Sands Beach are parks that introduced me to the beauty of New Hampshire when I moved here and places we love to visit often.

What book are you reading now? "Run," a novel by Ann Pritchett

How do you relax? On Saturdays I am lucky enough to exercise horses at UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center, a non-profit organization in Goffstown. There is something about the sights, smells, and sounds of a horse barn that make me relax and forget about almost everything else.

What Web sites do you visit most often: UnionLeader.com and Boston.com

Favorite TV show, radio station or musical artist: "Grey's Anatomy"