Nugent, Charlwood will face off in November for open Statehouse seat in Belmont

BELMONT — Republican Kevin Nugent, a dispatcher with Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid, beat out opponent Dana Silcock, 382-287, to progress to the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as a candidate for Belmont’s state representative. Nugent will face Democrat Liz Charlwood, who garnered 492 votes.

Nugent ran on a platform of protecting the New Hampshire Advantage, and serving as an advocate for the town as its leaders navigate the creation of a new regional wastewater authority. For years, Belmont has been part of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program, a state-owned wastewater system that's proven to be a thorn in the side of all the 10 member communities.

“I've got to consider the long-term and short-term ramifications,” Nugent said in a previous interview. “Wants versus needs, you know, and that's in every major piece of legislation that's going to cost big money: it's wants versus needs.”

Mental health was also a primary focus of his campaign.

“As a first responder, I've seen the pluses and the minuses. As a person, I've seen it. Where I'm worried about it is some of the stories I'm hearing about from parents about their kids,” Nugent said in an earlier interview. “Not just social media, but kids who need help, that are having a mental health crisis, and the doors keep getting slammed in their parents' faces.”

Charlwood’s platform focused on improving housing affordability and the property tax conundrum, and being a strong representative for voters.

“My feeling is when you go to Concord, you're there to also build relationships and build trust, and that's how we're going to be able to get things done, instead of this, you know, very divisive blaming,” Charlwood said in a previous interview. “Let's try to show up, listen, and deliver. That's really how I feel, and the show up part is a big part of it. Of course, the listening part is really important, too. And then to be at the table, and really be focused on getting some solutions in place. That's the deliver part, you know?”

Nugent and Charlwood were unavailable for comment on Wednesday.

Rep. Travis Toner (R-Belmont) did not run for reeletion.

In other election results, two floterial seats in District 8, which currently covers Belmont, Sanbornton, and Tilton, are up for grabs. All candidates in the Primary Election advance to November. Democrats Donald Giguere earned 423 votes, and Don House 401. They will face Republicans Cameron Thompson, who yielded 514 votes, compared to Rep. Lisa M. Freeman (R-Tilton)'s 482.

Sen. Tim Lang (R-Sanbornton), who’s represented the district for two terms and seeks a third, will head toward the General Election full steam ahead. He garnered 638 votes, and now faces Democrat Kurt Webber, who tallied 489 votes.

“I always feel awkward taking a victory lap” since I didn’t have a primary, Lang said via phone on Wednesday. “We move on to the General Election. I'll do signage and do some advertising. We’ll do some radio ads, and I’m hoping our communities will do a meet the candidates night.”

Webber was traveling for the birth of a grandchild.

In major federal campaigns, Republican John E. Sununu steamrolled the ballot for Senate, garnering 553 votes. He'll face Democrat Chris Pappas, who earned 435 votes, in November. For Congressional District 1, Republican Anthony DiLorenzo, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, took 397 votes. His future opponent, Democrat Stefany Shaheen, landed 231 votes.

In the governor’s race, Belmont voters overwhelmingly voted Republican to support Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) with 710 votes, to Democrat Cinde Warmington’s 431 votes. Both candidates will be on the November ballot.

To see Belmont’s election results, visit belmontnh.gov.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.