Coker, Wheeler plan to use 'team' approach to represent Meredith in Statehouse

MEREDITH — Rep. Matt Coker (R-Meredith) retained his seat in the Statehouse, and Democrat Seth Wheeler received the most votes in the Belknap District 2, beating out Scott Wallace and Dean Cascadden for two seats on Tuesday.

Coker received 1,782 votes, good for second, and entering his third term. He was first voted in as a Democrat, and moved across the aisle two years ago. That came with some criticism from both parties, including from Wallace, a former state representative himself, throughout the campaign.

Coker believes the people of Meredith are looking at a more centrist approach.

“It’s an honor,” Coker said. “It’s humbling to have your neighbors in the community place that kind of trust in you.”

With voters sending him back to the Statehouse regardless of party, Coker thinks they see him as the “local-focus representative” he is. He said he turned down “all the party support,” as he wanted to run his own campaign.

“I think that paid off, and think that is what people wanted in this election,” Coker said.

Wheeler is filling a seat left vacant after former Rep. Matt Lunney (R-Meredith) resigned last year.

“I am feeling like a million bucks,” said Wheeler, who received 1,866 votes to lead the four candidates in the General Election. “I am very happy and honored, really, to be the top vote-getter. I think it is a reflection of where the voters are right now.”

Both candidates were out at the polling station all day Nov. 3, and Wheeler said after 12 hours and months of campaigning, it was a great feeling knowing it paid off. Most of all, he’s happy he’ll be able to directly help the community he loves, and has lived in for more than three decades.

Wheeler and Cascadden ran a “team” campaign, using a platform of “getting along, getting stuff done and focusing on what we can do to help.”

“We tried to keep it at that level the whole campaign,” Wheeler said. “I think people liked that, putting aside partisan differences, and getting stuff done, for once.”

Wheeler thanked the Meredith Democratic Committee. Being his first time running for office, he said he “had no idea” what he was doing when he first started campaigning in the spring. He said so many volunteers helped with their expertise and support, and believed in his candidacy along the way.

“I can’t thank them enough,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler is especially happy to bring more Democratic representation to the county, noting the Belknap County Delegation — made up of the county's representatives to the Statehouse — is now even between nine Democrats and nine Republicans. He knows this isn’t something that's happened in a long time, and said when it is when it is 17-1, it becomes “one-party leadership.”

Being the newcomer to politics, Wheeler knows he has a lot to learn, and plans to do a lot of listening. That doesn’t mean he plans to sit back, however.

“We have fair representation on the delegation that actually reflects the population of Belknap County," Wheeler said. "I’m looking forward to get stuff done now that the Democrats have enough representation to be an influence.”

Wheeler believes the “overwhelming message” from the election is that elected leaders weren’t paying attention to issues directly affecting voters. He said this starts at the president, and works its way down to local legislation.

“I think the voters were awarded basic competence,” Wheeler said. “First of all, we are decent people. Second of all, we don’t need to come at it in a political way. It’s more of a job, and I’m not trying to advance party interest.”

Wheeler said he more aligns with being an independent, but through campaigning he found unless you are funding your own race entirely, attaching to a party is necessary for financial support. He values the party for that reason, but also thinks party identity isn’t what voters are looking for.

“I am a Democrat, but me and Matt Coker make a good team, I think,” Wheeler. “He is a centrist Republican, and I think we can provide an example to the rest of the Legislature.”

Coker is also looking forward to working with Wheeler.

“In my view, at 7:01 yesterday, as soon as the election ended, Seth and I are a team to represent Meredith,” Coker said Wednesday. “He’s a good community guy, and I’m sure we will work well together.”

Coker thinks his experience, in Concord, will help immensely, saying he has “deep relationships” with representatives on both side of the aisle.

“At the very least, I can make sure that Meredith’s interests are heard in Concord,” Coker said. “At the best, I know who to talk to, to form blocks of votes when I have to vote against things that aren’t in Meredith’s best interest.”

Despite the Democrats holding a “super majority," Coker said it will be interesting with the reelection of Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), as she can still have a lot of say on the budget. This is where the Democrats will have some constraint, he said.

“That’s what makes me hopeful about where we can get stuff done, especially with education funding,” Coker said.

While Cascadden certainly wanted to join his fellow Democrat in office, which would have tipped the scale to a Democratic majority on the county delegation, he didn’t consider this a loss despite, receiving 1,643 votes and coming in fourth.

“I was on a team and the team won,” Cascadden said. “The team accomplished what we set out to do, and even more so, when you look at.”

Cascadden was excited to see Democrats take the majority in the U.S. Senate and House, the NH Senate and House, and sweep the executive council.

Cascadden said there is plenty of work to be done over the next few years, and while the Statehouse wasn’t his place this time, he hopes to be able to contribute somehow. He said this could be to testify about bills in Concord, and “be a critical friend of the Legislature.”

He gave credit to Coker for running a great race, saying he got to know him, and appreciates what he brings to the table. He also got to know Wallace, saying he “came to respect his position.”

Most of all, he was happy to be able to help Wheeler get into the Statehouse, and contribute to the “blue wave.”

“This country and this state needed that, and that is the goal,” Cascadden said.

Wallace, who received 1,666 votes, didn’t return requests for comments by deadline.