Rep. Worsman will not seek 3rd term in N.H. House

MEREDITH — Representative Colette Worsman, who has represented Meredith in the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 2010 and chaired the Belknap County Convention since 2012, yesterday announced that she will not seek a third term.

In a prepared statement, Worsman, a Republican, said "I believe in term limits, which allow for fresh ideas and renewed energy to serve you." She prefaced her remark by explaining "in order to dedicate myself to you, I chose to give freely of a tremendous amount of time and energy."

Later Worsman, who owns and operates a construction contracting firm with her husband Glenn, said that "it's important for working people to serve in the Legislature, but for someone working full-time it requires a lot. It's time to pass the baton," she continued, adding "the sacrifice was worth the investment in the lawmaking process."

Worsman served two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen in Meredith, but in 2012 lost her bid for a third term by more than 200 votes. Meanwhile, in 2010 she was elected to the first of her two terms in the House, where she held a seat on the Finance Committee. During her first term she was a loyal and enthusiastic member of the Republican majority led by the controversial Speaker Bill O'Brien and called the "balanced budget" adopted under his leadership her proudest achievement as a lawmaker.

Worsman's second term in the House, when the Democrats regained their majority, was overshadowed by her leadership of the Belknap County Convention, which put her at loggerheads with the Belknap County Commission. This year and last Worsman, in an unprecedented show of force, not only significantly reduced but also effectively rewrote the county budgets proposed by the commission, sparking a bitter dispute between the convention and commission over their respective budgetary authority. Along with helping to squeeze the state budget, she counted "holding taxes down in Belknap County" as her major accomplishment.

A staunch conservative, Worsman did not shy from putting herself in the minority, sometimes a small minority. She was among only seven members of the House to vote in favor of legislation requiring that evolution be taught as a political theory and one of five to require all legislation refer to the Magna Carta. "I never considered myself a politician," she said. "I look back at what I've done as a service."

Worsman likened her decision to "taking a sabbatical" and declined to rule out either retiring from or returning to the political arena in the future. "I'm taking time off and playing it by ear," she said.

In the meantime, in her statement she urged "a fellow citizen who possesses strong conservative values and who believes in small government, privacy protection, personal responsibility and personal freedoms to pick up the banner I lay down. I cannot overstate," she closed, "the need for wisdom and steadfastness in upholding the N.H. U.S. Constitutions, or the need for personal and unselfish commitment to work for your constituents."

Worsman is one of four representatives elected commonly by Meredith and Gilford voters. She is currently joined by Herb Vadney (R-Meredith), Bob Greemore (R-Meredith) and Lisa DeMartino (D-Gilford).