Heavy turnout helped GOP to victory in Rochester state rep races

Clockwise from top left, Fenton Groen, Susan Delemus, Thomas Kaczynski Jr. and Mac Kittredge (Courtesy photos)

ROCHESTER - Rochester's legislative delegation to Concord will be powered by Republicans in the upcoming session with its District 6 Senate seat remaining in the hands of State Sen. James Gray and six of nine Republican state rep candidates from the city's six wards wresting control from Democrats on Tuesday.

That number could grow to seven if a recount bid requested by Harrison deBree proves successful against Ward 1 Democrat Timothy Fontneau, who led deBree by just 10 votes, 1408-1398, after the ballots were counted on Election Day.

The most notable Democrat loss on the day may have been that of longtime District 23 representative Sandra Keans who lost to Republican Fenton Groen, a former state senator, who said he was thrilled to be returning to Concord.

Fenton defeated Keans in Ward 2, 1,416-1,353, and in Ward 3, 1,529-1,313.

He credited a strong GOP ground game for his victory, and said his priorities in Concord will be to push for pension system reform for state employees.

"We have to develop a system similar to private companies, and use defined contributions instead of defined benefits," he said on Thursday.

He said he wanted to continue to ensure New Hampshire has among the lowest taxes in the country, to monitor the budget closely and preserve the New Hampshire advantage with no broad-based taxes.

"We can have a lean budget and still meet our citizens needs," he added.

Another Republican lawmaker making a return to Concord is District 24 rep Susan Delemus, who defeated Jerry Minihan for the seat held last term by Republican Mona Perreault.

Delemus, who will be returning to Concord after stints in 2011 and 2015, defeated Minihan 1,324-1,223 in Ward 4 and 1,552-1,170 in Ward 5.

Delemus, a strict Constitutionalist, said she'd be working to trim fees and regulations and let business operate free of government overreach.

"I like the requirement that if you add a regulation you have to take two others off," she said on Wednesday. "

Republican Cliff Newton, who will take over the Dist. 9 state rep slot also defeated his Democrat challenger, Tom Ransom. Newton was the Ward 2 contest handily, 1492-1225.

Newton also said he was keen on keeping the New Hampshire Advantage.

Besides making sure the state continues without any broad based taxes, Newton also said revenue loss due to the pandemic must be confronted.

"I think we can care for those who need it, but sill remain fiscally restrained," Newton declared. "We can't spend money we don't have."

Other city Republicans who won house seats on Tuesday include District 22 rep Thomas Kaczynski Jr. who defeated Democrat incumbent Peg Higgins, 2,591-2,449; Mac Kittredge who held his District 12 seat vs. Anni Devito, 1,451-1,288; and in Dist. 10 where Aidan Ankarberg ran unopposed.

The other two Democrat state reps among the Rochester delegation are Dist. 8 rep Donna Ellis, who defeated Kalmen Barkin 1,206-1,021; and Dist. 11 rep Chuck Grassie, who defeated Jonathan Clement, 1,324-1,245.

The Rochester City Clerk's Office said city turnout was around 70 percent, only bested by 2012's election turnout at 78 percent.