Packard picked to lead closely divided House
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Dec. 7—CONCORD — House Speaker Sherman Packard will lead a historically divided House of Representatives after winning reelection and securing his first full-two year term.
The Londonderry Republican will preside over the tiniest majority in New Hampshire House history. The House makeup currently sits at 201 Republicans and 198 Democrats, with one seat — Rochester Ward 4 — still to be decided.
"The voters sent us here with a never seen before balance-of-power makeup. The only way we can forge ahead and be successful in this environment is by working together," said Packard, who has served in the House since 1990.
As expected, Packard edged House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm of Manchester, 205-184.
To win, Packard needed 196 votes from the 391 members present for the vote. Two members cast blank ballots.
The nine members absent for the vote included seven Democrats and two Republicans.
And on this first ceremonial day, Packard's leadership team suffered its first hiccup when it tried and failed to block a special election in Rochester to fill that final seat.
State Rep. Ross Berry, R-Manchester, had argued the decision to hold a special election didn't have to be made prior to the holidays and tried to set it aside, but the House voted, 193-187, not to table the matter.
Wilhelm said the House has long had a precedent of settling tie votes by returning this matter to the people.
"It would be a horrible look for the fairness of this body," Wilhelm said.
After that partisan stumble, House Majority Leader Jason Osborne apologized "for the confusion" and asked the House to endorse the special election, which it did on a voice vote.
The resolution asks for the city of Rochester to approve and the Executive Council to schedule a special election runoff between eight-term Democratic incumbent Chuck Grassie and Republican nominee David Walker. The two were tied after a recount of the Nov. 8 vote.
'Reject trench warfare'
Wilhelm used his candidacy for speaker Wednesday to push for reforms, calling on Packard to support equal membership on committees and letting ill members vote by proxy rather than requiring them to be physically present in the chamber to cast any vote.
"Whether you are a Republican or Democrat being sworn in today, Granite Staters are counting on all of us to reject trench warfare and ideological battles and instead come together and work together for our citizens," Wilhelm said.
Wilhelm began his third term in the House after leading a political action committee that helped shrink the GOP's majority in the House.
Packard said he already has reached agreement with Wilhelm on some operational issues, which he will soon announce.
"We will always have disagreements on policy. We may not see eye to eye on some processes, but I will always treat each of you with the respect and dignity you and the office you hold deserves," Packard said.
According to several legislators from both parties who have spoken with him, Packard is giving serious consideration to balancing party membership on many committees and to offer House Democrats a shared leadership role such as having some of them serve as vice chairs.
"I'm looking forward to continuing those discussions in the coming days and weeks to make sure we are putting our best ideas forward," Packard said of these talks to come up new operational plans to deal with the divided House.
Bradley to lead Senate
Over in the state Senate, Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, ascended unanimously to become president of the state Senate, where the GOP has a 14-10 advantage.
Bradley unveiled an experienced leadership team of Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, who replaced him as majority leader; Sen. James Gray, R-Rochester, who moved up to be president pro tem; and Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, who became majority whip.
"Given the economic challenges that hard-working families are dealing with, it must be our top priority to exercise prudent fiscal management with their hard-earned tax dollars," said Bradley, a former GOP congressman. "That means passing a conservative budget with no sales or income tax, as well as continuing to work on lowering energy costs, and creating more workforce housing.
"Our focus must be on growing a healthy economy in which our citizens and small businesses can thrive."
Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy of Manchester will lead her caucus.
