House Republicans

The New Hampshire House Republican Alliance announced last week that it has elected two new co-chairs for the upcoming legislative session.

The group of conservative Republicans said that state Rep. Nancy Elliot (R-Merrimack) was re-elected as co-chair and state Reps. Robert Mead (R-Mount Vernon) and William O'Brien (R-Mount Vernon) were also elected co-chairs of the group.

The House Republican Alliance has sent a letter to House Speaker Terie Norelli arguing that she should remove two committee chairwomen that are responsible for the budget deficit.

"The state's financial troubles are largely the result of irresponsible and expansive spending initiatives and irresponsible revenue projections promoted by the two past chairs of Finance and Ways and Means, Representatives Marge Smith and Susan Almy, respectively," the Republican Alliance wrote to Norelli on Thursday.

House Republican leader state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) has announced his leadership team for the upcoming legislative session.

Packard has decided to keep state Rep. David Hess (R-Hooksett) as the deputy republican leader. State Rep. Shawn Jasper (R-Hudson) will be the Republican whip and state Rep. Andrew Renzullo (R-Hudson) will be the deputy Republican whip. State Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), who ran against Packard for House Republican leader, has been tapped to be the senior assistant Republican leader.

The New Hampshire House speaker picks the leaders for the political party caucuses and Speaker Norelli exercised that right earlier today.

Norelli selected state Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) to be House Democratic leader and state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) will be the House Republican leader. Both Wallner and Packard were voted to those positions by their respective caucuses in November and Norelli decided not to override those votes.

Below is a collection of stories from PolitickerNH.com's coverage of the House Republican leader race.

State Rep. Fran Wendelboe (R-New Hampton) said that she will "honor" the vote for House Republican leader.

Wendelboe ran for the House Republican leader against state Reps. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and John Reagan (R-Deerfield). Wendelboe dropped out after the second ballot and threw her support behind Chandler who lost to state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) on the third ballot.

Newly elected House Republican leader state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) said that he was "humbled" to be chosen leader, but added that the next two years will be challenging for the state.

Packard was elected last night in a close vote against state Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett). State Rep. Fran Wendelboe (R-New Hampton) and state Rep. John Reagan (R-Deerfield) were also running for the leadership position but dropped out after the second ballot.

The House Republicans elected Karen Wadsworth to be the House Clerk and Walter Sword to be the sergeant-at-arms.

Wadsworth defeated Eric Fowler 120 to 26. While Sword defeated Steve Winter 77 to 46.

In addition to being selected the House Republican leader state Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) has also been nominated to be the Republican nominee for House Speaker.

Packard defeated state Rep. Robert Rowe (R-Amherst) by 86 votes to 65 votes. President George W. Bush and state Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) both received one vote.

CONCORD--State Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) has been elected the new House Republican leader.

Packard defeated state Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) in a vote of 82 to 79.

After the vote was made public Chandler moved to make the vote unanimous.