One-third of Belknap House delegation planning to retire after currernt session

LACONIA — Of the 18 members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives elected in Laconia and the 1- towns of Belknap County, all of them Republicans, at least six have chosen not to seek re-election in November and a seventh is contemplating a bid for the state Senate in District 6.

Representatives Jim Pilliod of Belmont, Alida Millham of Gilford, Dave Russell of Gilmanton and Bill Tobin of Sanbornton, all of whom have served multiple terms, have announced their retirement. Tyler Simpson of New Hampton, who was elected to his first term in 2010, has indicated to colleagues that he will not seek a second term. And Jeffrey St. Cyr of Alton, a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire, said that he was leaving the Legislature in pursuit of a career in the hospitality industry.

Representative Frank Tilton of Laconia said yesterday that he and the other four members from Laconia — Harry Accornero, Don Flanders, Bob kingsbury and Bob Luther — all intend to run for re-election in November.

Meanwhile, after serving two terms in the House, Peter Bolster of Alton is eying a run for the Senate in the redrawn District 6, which consists of Rochester and the towns of Alton, Barnstead, Farmington, Gilmanton and New Durham. Yesterday freshman senator Fenton Groen of Rochester announced that he would return to managing the family construction firm rather than seek re-election, creating an open seat.

One of a dwindling number of centrist or moderate Republicans often reviled by his conservative colleagues as a RINO — "Republican in Name Only" — Bolster said that "I think I could be more effective in the Senate. It's a smaller body that makes a greater effort to reach consensus." He acknowledged that that with only 24 members the demands on the time and energy of individual senators "give me a little pause."

Bolster said that Representative Sam Cataldo, a Republican from Farmington, has expressed interest in the Senate seat and suspected that one of the several conservative representatives from Rochester — Susan DeLemus, Laura Jones or her son Kyle, Clifford Newton and Warren Groen, Fenton's brother — might enter the race for the Republican nomination.

Should the newly drawn House districts withstand the legal challenge underway, the departure of six or seven incumbents would leave a number of open seats. Simpson's retirement would leave District 1 (Center Harbor and New Hampton) up for grabs. If Bolster joins St. Cyr and RusselI in leaving the House, there would be no incumbent in District 5 (Alton and Gilmanton) which elects two members while Pilliod's retirement leaves District 6 (Belmont) which also elects two members without an incumbent.

On the other hand, in District 7 — Barnstead — there are three incumbents — Elaine Swinford, Guy Comtois and Robert Malone — vying for one seat, though a Barnstead resident could also run for the one seat in in District 8 (Alton, Barnstead and Gilmanton).