One of the plaintiffs, George M. Maglaras of Dover, said the judge’s order does not necessarily suggest he will rule against the commissioners on the merits of their claim.
“There are a lot of constitutional issues at stake here,” he said. “I don’t know if it will rule against us or not.”
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Maglaras has said the new law was aimed at “destroying” the Strafford County Commission. If the law remains in effect, he could pit him against incumbent Commissioner Deanna Rollo of Rollinsford in the Democratic primary for the newly created 2nd District, preventing one of them from advancing to the general election.
Maglaras, who is serving his 20th two-year term, said he intends to seek re-election. Rollo said he has not yet decided whether he will run again. Both are anxiously awaiting more news from the court.
The judge is scheduled to hold a hearing next Thursday, June 13, on the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, according to court records. That’s the day before the filing period closes.
New Hampshire Sen. James P. Gray, a Rochester Republican who advocated for the change, said he heard from constituents and fellow lawmakers who expressed concern that the voices of conservative voters in northern Strafford County were drowned out by Democratic voters in south county communities. .
The three Republicans running for Strafford County commissioner in 2022 earned about 41 percent of the vote, but did not win any of the three seats.
Gray said dividing the county into three separate districts gives conservative voters the opportunity to elect a commissioner who matches their views. It also makes Strafford County more similar to the other nine counties in New Hampshire, which already have commissioner districts, he said.
“What I’m trying to do is align Strafford County with others and make sure there is fair representation,” he said.
Gray said the judge’s decision late last week was an encouraging development that provided much-needed clarity ahead of the filing period, and the final outcome of this case remains to be seen.
The third sitting Democratic commissioner, Robert J. Watson of Rochester, appears to live in the newly drawn first district, which covers several communities in northern Strafford County. He did not return calls seeking comment.
Democrats have denounced the introduction of district lines, which run through Strafford County’s two most populous cities, Dover and Rochester, as a form of partisan gerrymandering. They tried to undo the change with another bill this year, but failed.
Commissioners, who will earn a base salary of $13,907 next year, are generally tasked with overseeing county government departments and budget matters. Some serve two-year terms. Others serve four-year terms that can be staggered.
While the commissioners of New Hampshire’s other nine counties must live in the districts they represent, not all are elected solely by the voters of their district. Each commissioner in Carroll and Sullivan counties is elected through a countywide vote.
Maglaras said he will review the judge’s final ruling and then decide whether to appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. She said this law shows how state lawmakers have imposed “Washington-style policies” on Strafford County government.
“I just feel sorry for the people of Strafford County who have been disenfranchised by this action,” he said. “I think it’s totally wrong.”
You can contact Steven Porter at steven.porter@globe.com. FOLLOW IT @reporteroportero.
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