Concord: Republican legislator crashes Democrats' party

CONCORD – Voters in the Capitol City elected Republican Lynne Blankenbeker (858) over Jim MacKay (838) in unofficial results as a new state legislator in a special election.

Also in unofficial results last night, Ward 3 city councilor Jan McClure (155) won over Juston Kay (41.) In Ward 7, incumbent Keith Nyhan (383) beat Steven J. Sawyer (95).

Voters only in Wards 4,8,9 and 10 elected the new member of the General Court for District 11.

The position was made vacant when Democrat Tara Reardon accepted the position as the state's employment services commissioner.

Concord's entire delegation had been Democratic.

Blankenbeker, a Republican and a commander in the Navy Reserve, had strong support from state Republican leadership.

Mayor Jim Bouley ran unopposed for another two-year term.

At-large counselors serve staggered four-year terms while ward counselors are elected every two years. Two at-large counselors were elected from a pool of four candidates.

Running for the at-large seats were Jim Baer, Michael A. Dello Iacono, Rick Cibotti and Dan St. Hilaire. St.Hilaire was the only incumbent. He was the highest vote-getter with 2381 votes. Taking the other seat was Dello Iacono with 1,153.

St. Hilaire is the former county attorney who stepped down. Dello Iacono is a web businessman and a member of the local chamber of commerce.

Many incumbents ran unopposed, including Ward 1 returnee Councilor Elizabeth Blanchard; Ward 2 incumbent William Stetson, Ward 4's Amanda Gray, Ward 5 Councilor Robert Werner, and J. Allen Bennett, the Ward 6 council incumbent.

In Ward 8, Councilor Dick Patten was unopposed, as was Ward 9 Councilor Candace CW Bouchard and In Ward 10's Councilor Fred B. Keach.

Voters in the Concord School District also elected members of the Concord Board of Education.

Running for Board of Education for the three year term were four candidates for three vacancies. They were Christopher Casko, Clint Cogswell, Doug Magee and Kassandra S. Ardinger. Cogswell was the highest vote-getter at 1,953, Ardinger took the second slot with 1,774 and Casko took the third place with 1,247 votes. Magee received 961.

Ardinger is currently president of the board and both Casko and Cogswell are incumbents.

Running for the one-year term were Bill Glahn (1,436), who beat Thomas J. Croteau (1,241).