Incumbents advance in competitive race to serve Gilford, Gilmanton, Laconia Ward 2 in Statehouse

Priscilla Bean, the wife of the late Harry Bean, former Belknap County Delegation chair, received the most votes in the Republican District 6 Primary Election Tuesday, and will join Rep. Glen Aldrich (R-Gilford), Jade Wood, and Colleen Harkey on the ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, General Election.

“I am extremely humbled,” said Bean, who received 955 votes. “I knew that my husband was one of the top vote-getters, but never imagined I would be.”

Aldrich received 901 votes, followed by Wood with 796 votes, and Harkey with 703.

District 6 represents the communities of Gilford, Gilmanton, and Laconia Ward 2.

In Gilford, Bean received 605 votes to lead the way, followed by Aldrich with 571 votes, Wood with 523 votes, Harkey with 426 votes, Bob Binda with 384 votes, and Heather Ingala with 223 votes. 

In Laconia Ward 2, Bean had 128 votes, Aldrich 96, Wood 95, Harkey 80, Binda 63, and Ingala had 41 votes.

In Gilmanton, Aldrich received 234 votes, Bean gathered 222, Harkey had 197, Wood received 178, Binda had 149, and Ingala had 125 votes.

The Democratic primary was uncontested, and all four candidates will move on to the General Election. Rep. David Nagel (D-Gilmanton) was the top vote-getter overall with 1,272 votes, followed Bob McLean with 1,266; Lisa Rivard with 1,204; and Allan Frank with 1,129 votes.

“Looking at the numbers, I think it will be a tight race,” Bean said. “It seems like, at least in my mind, that the Democrats are out there in full force.”

She said now she’ll have to start working harder to secure a victory in November, with a tough field of competition ahead. Bean said turnout appears to have been high for a midterm primary, and she hopes voters will continue to turn out. While she wants to win, she said it is even more important that voters come out and pick who they want to lead.

“I want the people to get the person to do the best for the county, and if it is not me, I will accept that,” she said.

Aldrich was happy to be moving on, and is hoping for a chance at a fifth term. He said he was concerned recently, feeling Citizens for Belknap could be turning voters against him.

“I think people have seen that they are telling some fibs, and seeing through it,” Aldrich said.

Aldrich said despite Citizens of Belknap sending out questionnaires he didn’t view as nonpartisan, he was happy to be able to talk to Steve Fay at the polls, in Gilford, yesterday. Fay said the Gilford poll divides people, standing and holding signs by party. Being nonpartisan, he decided to stand with both sides of the aisle throughout the day. Aldrich said after taking to Fay, he realized he “was the nicest guy in the world,” and wishes the rest of the group were like him.

“I welcome civility,” Aldrich said. “The Democrats today aren’t the John Kennedy Democrats.”

Wood is optimistic, because she heard on Tuesday that she was on the right side of issues affecting voters. She called the turnout “strong” and “encouraging.” One of the reasons she is running is to encourage like-minded people to get informed, and she hopes voters will come out in November.

“I'm also going to appeal to those who might otherwise be apathetic to the midterms to please, show support and vote on Nov. 3,” Wood said.

Harkey is proud to be moving on, and that voters made the call to send her to the General Election. The highlight of the election process for her has been speaking with constituents and listening to their concerns. Now, the “hard work” begins, and she will continue to knock on doors, trying for deeper personal engagement with voters.

“I am really honored to be among the four, especially being a newbie,” Harkey said. “Grateful and honored.”

The group beat out Binda and Ingala, who received 596 and 389 total votes, respectively.

“The Republicans did offer a contested race with six people, and the voters made their choice,” Binda said. “We gave the voters a choice, and I support the Republican platform and the four candidates moving on.”

Ingala did not respond to requests for comment about the election.

Nagel said he spent the day Wednesday at a hearing in Concord, about a bill to unite stakeholder groups, insurance departments, and insurers. He said this outweighed an uncontested election, but acknowledged this allows for him to make his work possible.

Nagel said they are doing great things, in Concord, to improve healthcare access, and the voters are allowing him to bring people together to solve problems. He said it is frustrating when people don’t work together, and he is trying to make a difference collaboratively.

“Everything we did yesterday allows me to do what is important,” Nagel said. “I feel really positive.”

Frank said an uncontested race is a hard one to lose, but he was happy with the overall results from the federal selections, as well as state races. As far as District 6, he said the Republicans will put up a “formative opposition,” noting Aldrich knows the landscape as the incumbent, and Wood is articulate and has drive.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us, and we will put in that work,” Frank said.

Rivard said she was happy with the turnout, and most of all, was happy to chat with fellow candidates from both sides of the aisle.

“It was civil and polite, and I think civility has kind of been the theme this year,” she said. “There’s been enough fighting for enough years now.”

McLean was unavailable for a comment about the Democratic primary.