Laconia now in line for 4.85 reps in Concord & therein lies a problem

LACONIA — The future of Laconia's five representatives to the N.H. General Court is uncertain because of a 2006 state constitutional amendment requiring that New Hampshire conform as closely as possible with the concept of "one man-one vote."

According to Rep. Frank Tilton, who along with other legislators past and present attended a House Special Subcommittee on Redistricting meeting a the Belknap Mill earlier this week, according to the new formula, Laconia is entitled to 4.85 representatives.

"Our fifth may have to be a floaterial," Tilton said meaning the city many have to share it's fifth representative with one of the surrounding Belknap County communities.

Right now, Laconia has five representatives elected at large — meaning every single voter can cast a vote for his or her five top choices for state representative.

Belknap County has a total of 18 representatives — seven are elected from District 5 which includes Gilford, Alton, Belmont, and Barnstead; Meredith has two representatives, also elected at large; Gilmanton has one representative; Center Harbor and New Hampton share one representative and Tilton and Sanbornton share two — each also elected at large.

The amendment, passed by a plebiscite in 2006, was designed to break up larger districts — like Belknap District 5 — and give all communities with at least 3,300 people their own representative.

In at-large districts consisting of multiple towns it is technically possible for all elected representatives to reside in just one of the member towns.

The final recommendation of the House Subcommittee on redistricting could change all that and the meeting at the Belknap Mill was held to elicit local opinion.

Ideally and mathematically, the size of a voting district is the number of representatives (400) divided into the state population determined by the 2010 census or 1,316,470. The result is 3,291 residents would make a perfect district.

In reality, the numbers are less convenient. To further complicate things for Laconia, the city is divided in six wards and none of the wards has enough people to satisfy the "perfect district."

Tilton said he would like that all of Laconia's five representative to still be elected at large, but committee member Warren Groen (R-Strafford 1) said his interpretation of the amendment is that each piece of the pie or district should be a small as possible.

What this could mean for Laconia is some kind or ward combinations for elections. Larger cities, Nashua, Concord and Manchester already elect their state representative by wards. Tilton said Laconia, which doesn't have any "ward political machines" could find it possible that no one would run for office in one or more wards — something he said has happened before in school board races.

"I also want to be able to represent all of the Laconia residents, not just the ones in my ward," Tilton said.

Barnstead Rep. Elaine Swinford is the only member of the 18-member Belknap County delegation serving on the redistricting subcommittee.

Yesterday she said that she supports Tilton's position. "It seems to me that Laconia has always done well with at-large elections and I hope that doesn't change," she said.

Whether continuing at-large voting is constitutional is a question for the redistricting committee, which will make it's report to the full House for a vote.

Rep. Bob Kingsbury said he would like to have the most representative of one-man, one vote and would ideally like to see Laconia redivided into five wards.

"But I know that ain't going to happen," he said to the five members of the redistricting committee who met in Laconia Tuesday night, accepting political reality.

Laconia's ward system is determined by City Charter and that document would have to be changed for Kingsbury's wish to come true.