Special Election Preview: Rockingham District 14

by: William Tucker

Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 06:00:00 AM EDT

On July 5, 2011, a primary election to select the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Rockingham County District 14 State House seat will be held. The winners will meet in a special election on September 6, 2011 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Gary Wheaton, who resigned following his arrest in April on charges of driving after his license had been suspended for a reckless driving conviction.

Candidates

The Democratic primary pits former State Rep. Mark Preston, a Seabrook police sergeant who served two terms as a state representative from 2006 to 2010, against 2010 Democratic candidate Ryan Mahoney from South Hampton. Mahoney graduated from UNH in 2003 and has worked in the private sector and in electoral politics.

Five candidates are vying for the Republican nomination. In a strange twist, Gary Wheaton is running for the seat he held before resigning two months ago.

The GOP establishment is supporting Lou Gargiulo, a Hampton Falls businessman and former State House Representative who once ran for the State Senate against Sen. Burt Cohen. Gargiulo has been endorsed by John H. Sununu, John Stephen, Rep. Frank Guinta, Ovide Lamontagne, State Sen. Nancy Stiles and Sheriff Mike Downing.

Seabrook Budget Committee member Albert "Max" Abramson moved to New Hampshire with the Free State Project and is active on the Free State Project discussion board. He has been endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus. Abramson is facing charges of felony reckless conduct following his arrest for an incident involving gunfire at his home.

The others vying for the Republican nomination are Kevin M. Janvrin, an 18-year veteran firefighter/paramedic with the Seabrook Fire Department, and Dennis B. Sweeney, a member of the Seabrook Planning Board.

Seabrook Selectman and Libertarian Brendan Kelly, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in in 2010, is running as a third-party candidate.

Demographics

Rockingham District 14 is comprised of Seabrook, Hampton Falls, Kensington and South Hampton. It typically is a safe Republican district. Republicans have an advantage over Democrats in registration by about 400 voters, although 46% of the district's voters are undeclared. John McCain carried the district in 2008 by a 51.9% - 48.1% margin. Based on voting in presidential elections, the district has a Partisan Voting Index of R+4.

Polling Locations and Hours

Hampton Falls Town Hall, 1 Drinkwater Road – 8:00 AM -8:00 PM
Kensington Town Hall, 95 Amesbury Road – 8:00 AM -7:30 PM
Seabrook Recreation Center, Route 1 south of Lowe’s – 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
South Hampton Town Hall, 3 Hilldale Avenue – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Cross-posted on Miscellany Blue