New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper:
Ex-Auburn Rep. James Headd wins GOP primary for NH House seat

Follow-up to UL: Opposing RTW views for GOP primary candidates

For the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper, Kevin Landrigan reports:

AUBURN — Republican primary voters chose between two former incumbents in a three-way race Tuesday, and ex-state Rep. James F. Headd of Auburn won the nomination for the vacant Rockingham County nomination in the New Hampshire House.

Headd took all three towns in the district.

The primary Tuesday was for a vacant House seat representing the towns of Auburn, Chester and Sandown.

The vacancy occurred in early May with the death of Rep. William Polewarczyk, R-Chester.

In unofficial returns, Headd won with 288 votes, or 54 percent, to 133 votes, or 25 percent, for Anthony S. Rossignol. A first-time candidate, Rossignol is a Derry firefighter and U.S. Army reservist who lives in Chester.

James Devine, a former legislator from Sandown who had worked for the U.S. Treasury Department, came in third with 114 votes, or 21 percent.

Chester Realtor Kari Lerner is a first-time candidate and won the Democratic nomination without opposition.

The Libertarian Party chose the uncontested James D. Jarvis of Sandown as its nominee.

The general election is Sept. 26.

"I am honored by the support I received tonight and applaud my opponents and their supporters for running a positive campaign. We focused on the values that matter most to our party and the communities of Auburn, Chester and Sandown," Headd said in a statement.

"Now it's time to turn our attention to the general election and I am proud to run on the pro-business and low-tax Gov. Chris Sununu agenda that is moving our state forward."

Headd had represented the House in a district that included Auburn and Londonderry. He's a retired insurance agency owner and U.S. Air Force veteran.

GOP State Chairman Jeanie Forrester praised the outcome.

"Republican voters of Auburn, Chester and Sandown made a solid choice tonight by nominating James Headd to be their next state representative," Forrester said.

"I'd like to congratulate James and personally thank him for stepping up and fighting for New Hampshire families and taxpayers. I'd also like to thank James Devine and Anthony Rossignol for running honorable campaigns."

Headd decided not to seek reelection in 2012 after the makeup of his district was changed.

Headd was the only GOP candidate who supported Right-to-Work legislation that permits employees to choose not to pay union dues or to pay fees that cover the cost of collective bargaining.

Read more at the Union Leader:

Ex-Auburn Rep. James Headd wins GOP primary for NH House seat