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September 12. 2012 11:03PM
Hillsborough County attorney race between LaFrance, Hogan
MANCHESTER — Having already defeated a former boss in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County attorney, Patricia LaFrance faces her current supervisor in the general election.
LaFrance’s victory over Bob Walsh in the primary secured her a spot on the November ticket to challenge Republican incumbent Dennis Hogan for the post he has held for two years. While that could make for a testy work environment, it certainly makes the race to be the county’s top prosecutor an interesting one.
“I’m running on my record. I plan on contrasting myself with Dennis’ background. It doesn’t need to get personal. It doesn’t need to get dirty,” said LaFrance, who has been a prosecutor with the county for nine years. “I have endorsements. I have the record.”
Hogan was elected in 2010 after working in private practice and serving on the state Board of Education.
LaFrance said she chose to run for the position earlier this year, knowing full well it could mean a showdown with her boss.
As a veteran prosecutor, she feels she is better suited for the job professionally.
“This is not about a political party,” LaFrance said. “When you’re the top prosecutor in the county, what political party you are shouldn’t matter.”
LaFrance said she informed Hogan of her decision before she filed and he “did not appear too happy about it.”
She accused him of demoting her for political reasons, a charge Hogan denied in an interview with the New Hampshire Sunday News last week. Hogan said he could not elaborate because it was a personnel matter.
Hogan did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday, the day after LaFrance’s victory over Walsh in the primary by a margin of about 2-1.
Walsh was running to regain the post he lost to Hogan in the 2010 election.
Hogan was not challenged in the Republican primary Tuesday.
LaFrance, who works out of the county office in Nashua, said she hadn’t spoken to Hogan since learning of her primary victory.
“We’re both professionals. We’re both polite to each other and try to keep it out of the office,” said LaFrance, 43, of Hollis. “We have not discussed the election in the office. I don’t feel the need to discuss it with him in the office.”
Doug Alden may be reached at dalden@unionleader.com.
LaFrance’s victory over Bob Walsh in the primary secured her a spot on the November ticket to challenge Republican incumbent Dennis Hogan for the post he has held for two years. While that could make for a testy work environment, it certainly makes the race to be the county’s top prosecutor an interesting one.
“I’m running on my record. I plan on contrasting myself with Dennis’ background. It doesn’t need to get personal. It doesn’t need to get dirty,” said LaFrance, who has been a prosecutor with the county for nine years. “I have endorsements. I have the record.”
Hogan was elected in 2010 after working in private practice and serving on the state Board of Education.
LaFrance said she chose to run for the position earlier this year, knowing full well it could mean a showdown with her boss.
As a veteran prosecutor, she feels she is better suited for the job professionally.
“This is not about a political party,” LaFrance said. “When you’re the top prosecutor in the county, what political party you are shouldn’t matter.”
LaFrance said she informed Hogan of her decision before she filed and he “did not appear too happy about it.”
She accused him of demoting her for political reasons, a charge Hogan denied in an interview with the New Hampshire Sunday News last week. Hogan said he could not elaborate because it was a personnel matter.
Hogan did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday, the day after LaFrance’s victory over Walsh in the primary by a margin of about 2-1.
Walsh was running to regain the post he lost to Hogan in the 2010 election.
Hogan was not challenged in the Republican primary Tuesday.
LaFrance, who works out of the county office in Nashua, said she hadn’t spoken to Hogan since learning of her primary victory.
“We’re both professionals. We’re both polite to each other and try to keep it out of the office,” said LaFrance, 43, of Hollis. “We have not discussed the election in the office. I don’t feel the need to discuss it with him in the office.”
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Doug Alden may be reached at dalden@unionleader.com.
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