Strong Feelings, Scant Attention Mark District 19 Primary

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Politicians for offices ranging from selectmen to President have long made Mary Ann's Diner in Derry a regular campaign stop. And customers there aren't strangers to fielding reporters questions about coming political races…..But on a recent afternoon…..most patrons -- even those who self-identified as Republicans seemed oblivious to the coming senate primary.

"It doesn't interest me. I just cant get into it, honestly."

"I haven't paid attention, so I'd rather not make a vote that's uneducated."

"I'm probaly not voting for anybody that's in their already. I mean, what have they done for me. Look at the gas prices."

"I don't know anything about any of them, so I'd have to research about them and see what their views are before I decide."

I don't even care. I don't pay attention. It's a waste of time, a waste of time."

The apparent apathy, though, doesn't reflect the intensity of the battle for the 19th Senate District Seat. Both candidates -- TV repairman Bob Letourneau and financial planner Frank Sapereto -- are waging a bitter campaign for GOP support. In 2004 Letourneau derailed Sapareto's bid for a Second Senate term. Sapareto says the public would be well served if he turned the table in 2006.

“We have a lot of ahhhh, fiscal problems in the state. And my opponent just is constantly a part of the problem, and hindering a lot of the progress.”

Sapareto's criticism of Letourneau hasn't been subtle…..He's prone to calling Letourneau dishonest and suggesting the incumbent isn't up to the job intellectually. He adds he'd like to prove it to voters though public debates. Bob Letourneau, meanwhile, says he'll take a pass.

“Frank Sapareto is not going to set the agenda for my election. My record speaks for myself.”

The obvious tension between the candidates has some local Republican officials worried.

“I am a little concerned about the tone and tenor of the campaign in the last month or so. We seem to be getting away from the issues…and it’s beginning to be a bit of a personal attack campaign, which is not anything I want to see Republicans do.”

That's Jim Foley, Chairman of Derry's Republican Town Committee. If he's looking to mend fences he's got his work cut out for himself...By all accounts, Sapareto and Letourneau have rubbed each other the wrong way for some time…….Their tough 2004 primary didn’t help…….Nor did a more recent clash at a local GOP meeting in June -- where the candidates reportedly had a near fistfight. According to Frank Sapareto, the altercation started when he called Letourneau's senate record a joke.

“He just blew up. He lost it. He turned a beet red, he threw his chair back, threw the table up, climbed over the other four reps…storming up to me with his face red and his fists clenched, comes right up to me and says ‘let’s step outside, we’re going to settle this out."

Letourneau, for his part, doesn’t deny tempers flared. But he does deny Sapareto's charge that he was on the verge of violence……

“This election is about the people of District 19; if we have a heated discussion in a private room at a private meeting, it should stay there, that’s all it is.”

But since then the both candidates have lobbed further attacks. Both men stress that their opponent is out of touch with voters…A look at their positions, however, reveals generally similar stances…..Both describe themselves as fiscal conservatives and both staunchly oppose new broad-based taxes. The candidates both promise to defend gun owner's rights, and to oppose gay marriage. That said, they do have their policy differences.….And their biggest split comes over the seemingly never-ending issue of school funding. Frank Sapareto, says he's has a plan that could hold the key to both his election, and resolving the Claremont lawsuit.

“We need to use a level-rate statewide property tax, and we need to exempt NH residents from it – which we can do easily, and it is entirely constitutional…and then, we need to use another revenue source, and I would accept a very limited form of gambling that would generate another $300 million. What you would do if you did that, you would take a chunk out of my district’s property taxes, roughly about a-third of their property taxes.”

Senator Letourneau disagrees about the constitutionality of Sapareto's plan and doesn't approve of gambling…….He also claims his rival has a track record of opposing increased education aid for their District.

“A good example is Senate Bill 302 that we passed several years ago, one that my opponent voted against, taking 12-million-dollars away from our district. It was constitutional, was challenged to be constitutional. I was named on that lawsuit for the challenge in the courts…but we prevailed. The plan was broad; it reduced the property tax and knocked off most of the donor towns so to speak.”

The candidates also differ on newer issues -- like the real ID act, which sets federal standards for state drivers' licenses. Sapareto says the law smells like big brother. Letourneau says it's a needed security measure in a post 9/11 world…..Whether primary voters will take note of such issues remains to be seen……

The few voters at back at Mary Ann's diner who confessed familiarity with the race…….weren't talking about anything other than the bickering.

“I think that’s pretty pathetic, if it’s nasty on either side. I think we’re all adults in this situation and mud-slinging is just going to hinder the campaign."

"I think it’s a big waste of time. They ought to pay attention to the problems and stop arguing with each other.”

In the meantime, don’t bet on it.

“He’s already labeled Pac-man…gets all his money from special interest groups that oppose me."

“The only one who’s called me PAC-man is my opponent. And if he was sitting in my seat, he’d be taking that same PAC money. I mean, that’s the way the system works.”

The primary is September 12.