New Ipswich residents have the opportunity to hear from candidates, including Republican challengers to Gov. Chris Sununu, during a candidate forum scheduled for Aug. 30, ahead of the upcoming primary elections.
Primaries for posts including governor, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, the state Senate and House of Representatives and Executive Council are scheduled for Sept. 13. On Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Mascenic High School auditorium, registered candidates have been invited to address the public on their platforms and take questions.
More than a dozen candidates have confirmed their attendance, according to New Ipswich Town Administrator Debbie Deaton. Three of the five Republican challengers for Sununu’s seat as governor have confirmed attendance: Thaddeus P. Riley, Karen Testerman and Julian M. Acciard. Jay Lewis and Richard A. McMenamon II, who have not confirmed attendance, are also on the Republican ballot.
The sole candidate on the Democratic ballot is Tom Sherman, a current member of the state Senate, who has also not confirmed attendance.
Among the field of 11 candidates vying for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, as of Monday, only Donald C. Bolduc had confirmed attendance at New Ipswich’s candidate night. On the Democratic side, incumbent U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan is up against challengers Paul J. Krautmann and John Riggieri, none of whom have as yet confirmed attendance for Tuesday’s event.
There are three seats available in House Hillsborough County District 32. Current Democratic state Rep. Kermit Williams has confirmed attendance to the event, as have Richard Swanson and Michael DeLoria, who are also on the Democratic ballot.
Running on the Republican side for the state representative seat are incumbents Diane Kelley and Jim Kofalt, as well as Shane Sirois and Philip Andrews, all of whom will be represented at Tuesday’s event. Kelley, Kofalt, and Sirois have confirmed they intend to attend in person, and Andrews will have a representative read a statement in his stead.
The event will be recorded and posted to the town’s website, townofnewipswich.org, for those who cannot attend in person.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.