Kenney Wins Executive Council Primary

UPDATE, 9:30 p.m.: Joe Kenney has won the three-way Republican primary for the District 1 Executive Council seat, meaning he will now face off against Democrat Mike Cryans in the final election on March 11.

New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement on Kenney's victory:

"I want to congratulate Joe Kenney on his victory in tonight's Executive Council District 1 primary. Joe ran a strong campaign that focused on the traditional New Hampshire principles of smaller government, fiscal responsibility and limited taxation.

"Joe Kenney will be an independent leader and a tireless advocate for taxpayers in Concord. Like Ray Burton, Joe knows how to work across the aisle to get results for the people of District 1.

"Mike Cryans is a typical tax and spend liberal who is bought and paid for by the union bosses and special interests that are propping up his campaign. If elected, Cryans will be another rubber stamp on the Executive Council for more spending and more wasteful projects that are threatening New Hampshire's fiscal stability."

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley also released a statement:

"Mike Cryans is running a grassroots, people powered campaign, and twice as many people have invested in his campaign as have as in all of Republican candidates combined. Voters know as their Executive Councilor Mike’s top priorities will be protecting taxpayers, strengthening the middle class, and investing priorities that grow the economy and create good jobs.

"New Hampshire voters spoke loud and clear when they overwhelmingly rejected Joe Kenney in 2008. His reckless brand of Tea Party ideology would put women's health care at risk, cost the state millions in taxpayer dollars, and cut investment in critical priorities like education and roads.

"After spending nearly $100,000 in the past weeks, today's dismal turnout must be considered nothing less than yet another rejection of the New Hampshire Republican Party. While national Republicans pledged to rebrand their out of touch party after the 2012 elections, New Hampshire Republicans doubled down on the same chilling rhetoric and Tea Party policies and continue to alienate voters."

An earlier story follows:

Tuesday is Primary Day in the North Country in the race to elect a replacement for longtime District 1 Executive Councilor Ray Burton, who died last year.

Running in the Republican primary are Mark Aldrich of Lebanon, Christopher Boothby of Meredith and Joseph Kenney of Wakefield. Running unopposed as a Democrat is Mike Cryans.

The special election will be held on Tuesday, March 11 – Town Meeting Day in New Hampshire.

District 1 represents all of the towns and cities in the counties of Coos and Grafton, the unincorporated place of Hale's Location, the towns of Albany, Alton, Andover, Bartlett, Brookfield, Center Harbor, Chatham, Conway, Cornish, Croydon, Danbury, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Gilford, Grantham, Hart's Location, Hill, Jackson, Madison, Meredith, Middleton, Milton, Moultonborough, New Durham, New Hampton, New London, Newport, Ossipee, Plainfield, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Springfield, Sunapee, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, Wilmot, and Wolfeboro, and the cities of Claremont and Laconia.