Susan Emerson’s tenure as a state representative for Rindge and Fitzwilliam has come to a close.
Emerson, who has served as a representative of Cheshire’s 11th district since 2002, lost her re-election bid during the New Hampshire state primary. Incumbent John Hunt and John O’Day were the two leading vote-getters, and will advance to the general election.
“I’m still going to help out on a lot of local fronts because I love serving my community,” Emerson said in an interview Wednesday. “Life goes on. I had a grand time and I have no regrets.”
Emerson said she will continue to work with the Rindge Woman’s Club, the Park Theatre, and other community efforts. Emerson said she she will likely go south for the winters to conserve her health.
Without an opposing Democrat in the general election, Hunt and O’Day will likely be elected to the two available seats in the district.
“I’m very excited to work with John O’Day,” said Hunt, who will likely be elected to his 16th term. “The big thing now is to make sure that Republicans win the house.”
O’Day said he was “feeling good” after hearing he had advanced to the general election.
“I think people really want to see more freedom,” said O’Day, in an interview Wednesday. “A lot of people want to see government return to more of a Constitutional government.”
Hillsborough’s District 1, representing Antrim, Hillsborough, and Windsor, had a contested Republican primary, with Joseph Alibrandi, James Fedolfi, and Charles Levesque running for three seats. Antrim was inline with the rest of the towns voting in the district, selecting Fedolfi and Levesque to move on to the general election.
Fedolfi and Levesque will face off against incumbent Democrats Gilman Shattuck and Majorie Porter.
Republicans Edwina Hastings and Merrilee Schwankee won a contested primary against Donnie Sawin, who are seeking election in Hillsborough’s fourth district, which represents Wilton, Lyndeborough, Francestown, and Greenville. The two Republicans will battle incumbent Democrats Carol Roberts and Kermit Williams.
With no contested race in Cheshire’s ninth district, incumbent Democrats Richard Ames and Douglas Ley and Republicans Roger Creekmore and Christopher Mazerall will battle for the district’s two available seats. Cheshire’s ninth represents Jaffrey, Dublin, Harrisville, and Roxbury.
Incumbent Republican Frank W. Sterling Jr. will continue to seek re-election in Cheshire’s 14th district after facing no competition in the primary. Sterling’s competitor, Democrat Les Lamois also ran unopposed. Cheshire’s 14th represents Dublin, Jaffrey, Rindge, Fitzwilliam, Harrisville, and Roxbury.
It appears that incumbent Democrat Jonathan Manley Sr. will retain his seat in Hillsborough’s district three, after facing an uncontested primary, as he will also be a part of an uncontested general election. Hillsborough’s third represents Bennington, Greenfield, and Hancock.
Incumbent Democrats Ivy Vann and Peter R. Leishman will face off against Republican Gary Carpenter for the two seats in Hillsborough’s 24th district, which represents Peterborough. Neither side of the ticket was contested in the primary.
There was no contested race for Hillsborough’s 25th district, which covers New Ipswich, Sharon, and Temple. Republicans Craig Moore and Paul Somero and Democrat Lisa Beaudoin will face off for two seats.
There was no contest for the two seats in Hillsborough’s 26th district, which covers Mason and Brookline. John Joseph Carr and John Lewicke hope to keep the seats red, while Melanie Levesque and Gale Taylor are hoping to turn them blue.
Four candidates will head into the November election vying for two seats in Hillsborough’s 38th district, which covers Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Wilton, Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, and Windsor. Incumbent Democrat Richard D. McNamara, Democrat Bianca Peco, and Republicans Jim Kofalt and John Valera ran unopposed.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.