Will Gatsas Step Down?

Part II, Article 34 NH Constitution (4.00 / 1)

All vacancies in the senate arising by death, removal out of the state, or otherwise, except from failure to elect, shall be filled by a new election by the people of the district upon the requisition of the governor and council, as soon as may be after such vacancies shall happen.


"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:07:16 PM CST

Bob Backus ran against him and you couldnt do much better than that. (4.00 / 1)

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:11:39 PM CST

I called in and asked this on The Exchange this am (0.00 / 0)

Pindell said on the air that Fatsas told him that he would resign upon his swearing in on Jan. 2 That would put the special in March 90 days later.

Rep. Jeff Goley of Manchvegas and David Nixon and Jim Craig names have been bandied about on the Dem side. Terry Pfaff and others for the R's

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:27:40 PM CST

Of course (4.00 / 1)

Gatsas doesn't want to resign until then? Of course, leave 1/24th of the state without representation during most of the session. He wants to see a big Republican turnout at town meeting.

Dave Boutin has been running for weeks on the r side.


"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:34:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

thank you ...could not remember his name n/t (0.00 / 0)

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:36:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

How about resign effective Jan 2., or whenever, (4.00 / 1)

Thereby allowing a special election to be scheduled for, let's say January 5.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 19:54:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

from the RSA (4.00 / 4)

RSA 655:81 addresses the timing issue.  The governor and council set the date: it must be on the Tuesday which is no less than 80 and no more than 87 days following Gatsas's resignation.  (Luckily Christmas & New Year's Day are on Friday this year.)

The primary is 5 weeks before the special election, i.e., 45 to 52 days after the resignation.

If no primary is needed (because no more than one candidate files per major party) then the special election is moved up to primary day.  The filing period is 43 to 36 days before the primary (i.e., just a few days after the resignation.)  A 3rd party candidate, however, would have till one week before the primary day (i.e., 38 to 45 days) to submit petitions: 750 are needed.

Assuming Gatsas resigns his Senate seat when he takes over as Mayor on Saturday, January 2nd, and that there is a contested primary, the timeline is (and I apologize if I got this wrong):

Filing period (for primary): Tuesday, January 5th-January 12th, 2010
Deadline for submitting petitions: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Primary day: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Election day: Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The winner could be sworn in as soon as the election is certified: that would take just a few days, barring a recount.  I seem to recall that Jeb Bradley was sworn in on the Friday after his bye-election.

It is a rather drawn out process, which potentially leads to the seat being vacant throughout the first half of the session.  If Gatsas resigned 2 weeks earlier, the special election would coincide with town meeting day: most of Gatsas's district is in the city of Manchester, however.

It would make more sense for him to resign ASAP, getting the new Senator in place by early February, or even before the New Year if there are no contested primaries.

Legally, Gatsas can hold both offices: the same law which allows Sen. Betsi DeVries to serve as an Alderman allow him to be Senator and Mayor.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 21:51:08 PM CST

BTW (4.00 / 1)

His district is Manchester Wards 1,2 & 12... plus Hooksett (right next to Manchester) as well as Bow, Candia and Dunbarton.

The most likely Republican candidate is David Boutin who in fact was already running for State Senate (on the theory that Gatsas would not run for re-election.)

There are some interesting Democratic state reps in that district: the Manchester contingent includes Jeff Goley and Jim Craig (as mentioned) as well as Joel Winters and Jane Beaulieu (amongst others.) Maureen Mann and Susi Nord are from Candia.  Mary Beth Walz is from Bow.  

Speaking of Bow, Bow is the home of Dick & Katrina Swett.  

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 22:05:58 PM CST

Jane Beaulieu (0.00 / 0)

lives in ward 10, which is in District 20 (Lou's district).  Joel Winters would not be able to raise much money at all due to his ties to the Freestaters.

The other candidates may all be very viable, but I'm not sure if Mary Beth Walz, Maureen Mann or Suzi Nord have the name recognition outside of their own towns to be strong candidates.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bob decided that the third time might be the charm! Has anyone heard him comment on the matter?

"He who loves correction, loves knowledge.  He who hates reproof is stupid." - Proverbs 12:1

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by: jdblanch @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 10:48:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Bob Backus (0.00 / 0)

Bob Backus wd be a strong candidate-- and he did do pretty well against Gatsas last time he ran.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 12:23:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Eileen Ehlers (0.00 / 0)

Hooksett is the key to winning this seat, and Eileen is easily the best known and most popular Democrat in town. She might not carry it against Boutin or Hess or whoever, but she would keep the race competitive there while tapping the Democratic vote in Manchester.


America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. -Harry Truman

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by: Peter Sullivan @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 13:24:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

the word is: (4.00 / 1)

Gastsas was seen cleaning out his office at the State House. No word yet on when he resigns or who he may be endorsing.  He is reoortedly NOT endorsing David Boutin (who was already running even before the Manchester mayoral race.)

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 12:20:29 PM CST