Here’s how this year’s election in the North Country – including the September 11th primary - is shaping up, according to filings with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
* Longtime Coos County Commissioner Bing Judd is being challenged by Rick Samson - also a Republican – who is deeply involved in the opposition to the Northern Pass hydro-electric project. There is no Democratic opponent.
* Executive Councilor Ray Burton of Bath faces another Republican, Gerard L. Thibodeau of Rumney in the primary. Democrat Beth Funicella of Jackson has also filed.
* Four candidates have filed for the senate seat being vacated by John Gallus, a Republican from Berlin. Jeff Woodburn of Dalton is the only Democrat. There are three Republicans. They are Frank Dumaine of Colebrook, Mark P. Evans of Berlin and Debi Warner of Littleton.
* Former Grafton County Commissioner Martha Richards, a Democrat from Holderness, is back, running against incumbent commissioner Republican Omer C. Ahern Jr. of Plymouth.
* The three Democrat incumbents in Coos District 3 are unopposed. They are Robert L. Theberge, Gary Coulombe and Yvonne Thomas, all of Berlin.
* Coos County Attorney Bob MeKeel – who has clashed with the Coos County Commissioners over the adequacy of office space - isn’t running for re-election. Two candidates have filed. They are Democrat John G. McCormick of Lancaster and Republican Phillip J. Beiner of Berlin.
* Two men from Errol are challenging the geographic dominance of Republicans Duffy Daughterty and Larry Rappaport, both of whom are from Colebrook. The challengers are Charles Kurtz, Jr., a Republican, and Larry Enman, a Democrat.
* Democrat William A. Hatch of Gorham, the incumbent, doesn't have a Republican challenger despite coming from a district that has sometimes elected Republicans.
* Both candidates for the redrawn and wide-ranging Grafton District 3 come from tiny Easton. They are Democrat Susan Ford and Republican incumbent Gregory Sorg.
* Two candidates from very different areas are facing off in the newly formed Grafton District 2 which now will try to represent diverse interests of farming and dairy along the Connecticut River and resort towns such as Franconia and Sugar Hill. Democrat Rebecca Brown of Sugar Hill is opposing Republican Denis Ward of Monroe.
Here's the line-up:
Executive Councilor Grafton 1:
Republican Raymond S. Burton of Bath, incumbent
Republican Gerard L. Thibodeau of Rumney
Democrat Beth Funicella of Jackson
State Senator Coos District 1 (replacing John Gallus who is retiring):
Democrat Jeff Woodburn of Dalton.
Republican Frank Dumaine of Colebrook
Republican Mark P. Evans of Berlin
Republican Debi Warner of Littleton
State Representatives for District 1:
Republican Duffy Daugherty of Colebrook - Incumbent
Republican Laurence M. Rappaport of Colebrook – Incumbent
Republican Charles H. Kurtz Jr. of Errol
Democrat Larry S. Enman of Errol
State Representative for Coos District 2:
Democrat Wayne Moynihan of Dummer
Republican James W. Tierney, Jr. of Northumberland
State Representatives for Coos District 3:
Democrat Robert L. Theberge of Berlin - Incumbent
Democrat Gary Coulombe of Berlin – Incumbent
Democrat Yvonne Thomas of Berlin – Incumbent
State Representative for Coos District 4:
Democrat Troy Merner of Lancaster
Republican Herbert D. Richardson of Lancaster – Incumbent
State Representative for Coos District 5:
Democrat Marcia Hammon of Whitefield
Republican John E. Tholl, Jr. of Whitefield – Incumbent
State Representative for Coos District 6:
Democrat William A. Hatch of Gorham. Incumbent
State Representatives for Coos District 7:
Democrat Evalyn Merrick – Incumbent
Republican William Remick of Lancaster – Incumbent
Republican Leon H. Rideout of Lancaster
Republican Jeffery P. Young of Jefferson
State Representatives for Grafton District 1:
Democrat Linda Massimilla of Littleton
Republican Lyle Bulis of Littleton – Incumbent
Republican Ralph J. Doolan of Littleton
State Representative for Grafton District 2 (no incumbent):
Democrat Rebecca A. Brown of Sugar Hill
Republican Denis P. Ward of Monroe
State Representative for Grafton District 3
Democrat Susan Ford of Easton
Republican Gregory M. Sorg of Easton – Incumbent
State Representative for Grafton District 4:
Republican Rick Ladd of Haverhill
State Representative for Grafton District 5:
Republican Edmond D. Gionet of Lincoln – Incumbent
State Representative for Grafton District 14
Democrat Douglas Grant of Franconia
Republican Brad Bailey of Monroe
State Representative for Grafton District 15:
Democrat Linda D. Lauer of Bath.
Republican Paul Ingbretson of Haverhill Coos County Attorney (no incumbent)
Democrat John G. McCormick of Lancaster
Republican Phillip J. Beiner of Berlin
Coos County Commissioner District 2
Republican Thomas M. Brady of Jefferson – Incumbent
Coos County Commissioner District 3
Republican Bing Judd of Pittsburg – incumbent
Republican Rick Samson of Stewartstown
Coos County Register of Deeds
Republican Tanya J. Batchelder of Lancaster
Republican Denise C. Fortin of Gorham
Republican Michael A. Neil of Berlin
Coos County Register of Probate
Republican Terri L. Peterson of Lancaster
Coos County Sheriff
Republican Bradley Jardis of Gorham
Republican Gerald Marcou of Gorham - Incumbent
Coos County Treasurer
Coos Frederick W. King of Colebrook – Incumbent
Grafton County Attorney:
Democrat Lara Joan Saffo of Benton – Incumbent
Grafton County Registrar of Deeds:
Democrat Kelley Jean Monahan of Orford
Republican Tyler Drummond Littleton
Grafton County Register of Probate
Republican Rebecca R. Wyman of Haverhill
Grafton County Commissioner District 1
Democrat Michael J. Cryans of Hanover. Incumbent Grafton – incumbent
Republican Bill Sharp of Lebanon.
Grafton County Commissioner District 2
Republican Raymond S. Burton of Bath, Incumbent Grafton District 2
Grafton County Commissioner District 3
Democrat Martha B. Richards of Holderness.
Republican Omer C. Ahern of Plymouth – Incumbent
Grafton County Treasurer
Democrat Bonnie McCrory Parker of Hanover
Republican Carol A. Elliott of Plymouth
Grafton County Sheriff
Republican Douglas Dutile of Haverhill