The Most Important Position No One Votes For

THE JOB OF MERRIMACK COUNTY ATTORNEY IS WIDE OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS.
VYING FOR THE JOB ARE TWO MEN BOTH WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE STATE?S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE DEMOCRAT, PETER ODOM HAS BEEN THE DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY IN STRAFFORD COUNTER FOR A DOZEN YEARS. ?.
TAPE: I?VE DEVOTED THE LAST DECADE OF MY CAREER TO THE PLIGHT OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THERE ARE TOO MANY CHILDREN BEING PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY ABUSED THERE ARE TOO MANY VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY . AND AS AWARENESS GROWS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE COURT SYSTEM HAS TO RESPOND BY PROVIDING BETTER PROTECTION. ?.()
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF ANY SORT IS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR ODOM. HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT, DAN ST. HILAIRE, IS CONCORD?S ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR. HE BELIEVES THE FOCUS OF THE MERRIMACK COUNTY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE ON DRUG TRAFFICKING.
TAPE: IT SEEMS CASES ARE COMING UP FROM MASSACHUSETTES FILTERING UP THROUGH NASHUA MANCHESTER AND NOW CONCORD. AND I WANT TO HEAD THAT OFF?DRAW A LINE AT CONCORD PERHAPS FURTHERS SOUTH IF I CAN DO THAT AND REVERSE THE COURSE OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IN OUR COMMUNITY. 17 SECS
ST HILAIRE WOULD TRY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM WITH TOUGH SENTENCING FOR DRUG DEALERS?AND ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING FOR FIRST TIME OFFENDERS
BOTH MEN SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO IS, TO SOME EXTENT, ONE OF DEGREE.
BUT MICHAEL SKIBBIE, FORMER DIRECTOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE?S PUBLIC DEFENDER?S OFFICE SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE JOB OF COUNTY ATTORNEY, THOSE DIFFERENCES CAN HAVE A REAL IMPACT.
HE CALLS THE POSITION THE MOST INFLUENTIAL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
TAPE SKIBBIE 1. 18 SECS.
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THE MERRIMACK COUNTY ATTORNEY WORKS WITH LOCAL POLICE TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE FELONY OFFENSES IN SUPERIOR COURT. AND THAT MAKES THE PERSON IN THE JOB OF GREAT INTEREST TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. CONCORD?S POLICE CHIEF JERRY MADDEN SAYS HE LOOKS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO PROSECUTE CRIMES FAIRLY?..AND QUICKLY.
TAPE: MADDEN 2. ?21 SECS
BUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY?S JOB IS NOT ONLY TO PUT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.
SOMETIMES PRISON SENTENCES ARE THE LEAST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH CRIME.
AND FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER MICHAEL SKIBBIE SAYS A COUNTY ATTORNEY MUST FEEL SECURE ENOUGH TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT MAY BE INITIALLY UNPOPULAR.
TAPE: SKIBBIE 2. 18 SECS
BEYOND DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHERE EACH WOULD SPEND THE 2 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OVERSEES, ST. HILAIRE AND ODOM HOPE THEIR PAST EXPERIENCE WILL GIVE THEM THE EDGE IN THIS CONTEST. ST. HILAIRE HAS WORKED IN THE MERRIMACK COUNTY SYSTEM AND KNOWS THE PEOPLE HE WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH. ODOM HAS THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IN A COURTROOM.

HISTORICALLY, FEW PEOPLE FOLLOW THIS RACE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY VOTE FOR EITHER CANDIDATE. AND THE RACE IS EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE.
THE OTHER CONTESTED COUNTY ATTORNEY?S RACE IN THE STATE IS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WHERE REPUBLICAN JOHN COUGHLIN FACES DEMOCRAT PETER MCDONOUGH.
FOR NHPR NEWS THIS IS MARK BEVIS IN CONCORD.