Now batting, Millham for Boyce

CONCORD — Although taken aback by the sudden resignation of Representative Laurie Boyce (R-Alton) just 20 days before the general election, the New Hampshire Republican Party quickly recruited Rep. Alida Millham of Gilford, who announced her own retirement last summer, to fill the empty slot on the ballot.

Boyce, who represented Belknap County District 5 — the towns of Alton, Barnstead, Belmont and Gilford — for five terms and was seeking a sixth, announced her resignation on the floor of the House of Representatives when it met on Wednesday. She confirmed her decision in a letter delivered to the leadership of the Legislature yesterday.

In August, Boyce was turning on to Route 111 in Alfred, Maine when her sport utility vehicle struck a motorcycle. The motorcyclist died instantly and his wife was injured in the collision.

Frank Tilton, chairman of the Belknap County Republican Committee, said that Boyce intended to move to a retirement community in Concord on or about October 23, which would disqualify her from taking her seat should she be re-elected.

Tilton said that several of Boyce's fellow Republicans urged her to defer her resignation until after the election on November 2. There are seven House seats in District 5 and the Republicans and Democrats have each fielded a slate of seven candidates. Boyce was a strong favorite to hold the seat for the GOP. Her re-election and resignation would trigger a special election. On the other hand, if Boyce disqualified herself before the election and her place on the Republican ticket could not be filled, her seat would go to the Democrat with the most votes. Nevertheless, Boyce refused to delay her resignation, telling Millham "that would not be the honest or right thing to do."

The willingness of Millham to bid for a another term and an obscure provision of the election law saved the GOP's bacon. Despite her earlier decision to retire, Millham said yesterday that when, after the filing period closed in June, her husband asked her how she felt, she replied "a little sad." She said that she chose to retire in order to gain time to pursue several projects that had been languishing only to find that she made much greater progress on them during the summer. Millham said that although Boyce's resignation came as a surprise, she did not hesitate to fill the breach. "It was something I felt I should do and something I really want to do," she said.

Millham is currently chair of the Belknap County Convention (House delegation).

State law provides that if a declared candidate fails to qualify "because of age, domicile, or incapacitating physical disability acquired subsequent to the primary," the Secretary of State may remove the name from the ballot. Within three days of disqualification the party committee may submit the name of another candidate, whose name will be placed on the ballot. If, as in Boyce's case, the ballots have already been printed, the law provides that "adhesive strips or pasters" bearing the name of the substitute candidate can be affixed to the ballots.

Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan said yesterday that once Boyce confirmed her change of residence by registering to vote in Concord she could be disqualified and steps taken to replace her on the ballot set in motion.

Tilton said that Boyce intended to move on October 23, a Saturday, which would enable her to register on the 25th, when city hall reopens, and the party to name Millham by the 26th, a week before the election.

After representing the district for 10 years, Millham does not lack name recognition. Unlike Boyce, who aligned herself with the House Republican Alliance, the most conservative element of the Republican caucus, Millham is a more moderate or centrist lawmaker. In 2002, Millham unsuccessfully challenged Boyce's ex-husband Rob, then a state senator known for his ultra-conservative positions and pronouncements.