Board of Aldermen Vote to Hold Special Election
Request will be made to hold an election to replace State Rep. Stacie Laughton in Ward 4.
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The Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to request a special election in Ward 4 to replace Stacie Laughton as a state representative.
Laughton, who was elected in November to serve as a state rep in Ward 4, has since resigned the seat amid controversy over her status as a convicted felon.
Laughton and her ex-wife, Lisa Laughton, were convicted and served time for conspiracy to commit fraud in 2008, information that did not come to light publicly until after the November election.
A resolution was unanimously passed during the Dec. 11 Alderman's meeting to hold a special election, after the board suspended the rules by introducing and approving the resolution within the same meeting, to expedite the process.
During public comment Tuesday night, prior to the vote, Laughton spoke against the resolution, saying she did not support a special election, or the costs to the city that go along with holding a special election.
"A special election will get low voter turnout. I don't think it would be wise to expend the money we'd need to have this election because it wouldn't really be worth it," Laughton said.
"We're only in this mess now because of dirty, nasty politics. To call for a special election is a waste of money, and from what my supporters have said to me, on Nov. 6, they had their say and voted for me," Laughton said.
Both Stacie and Lisa Laughton, both previously elected to serve as a ward selectmen as write-in candidates, are awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State on whether they were eligible to run based on the current language of the state voting code.
One Man Wolf Pack
9:38 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"We're only in this mess now because of dirty, nasty politics" That is a crock of it. We are in this mess because YOU Ms. Stacie Laughton decided that the law does not apply to you! You and your ex-wife have not completed your sentencing as ordered in a court of law. The law is clear that no felon currently serving sentence can hold elected office. YOU AND your ex-wife should resign as Ward 4 selectman also and take ownership of your past acts and finish your debts to society BEFORE you hold NAY elected office AS THAT IS THE LAW!
RESIGN AS WARD 4 SELECTMAN NOW!
Atlant Schmidt
9:59 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
So, did you get your J.D. since the last time you posted this?
As the story clearly states, the law on this whole situation is not yet settled.
One Man Wolf Pack
11:08 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
You mean as Carol Robidoux clearly states, and she rarely puts out a spin free article.
I have illustrated this over and over to more than just you Atlant, the law is the law, get over it.
Judith Hogan
1:46 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
What amazed me about Laughton's appearance at the BoA Mtg last night is that I was fully prepared for Laughton to issue an apology to the Mayor, the City Clerk and the citizens of Ward 4 for the negative publicity this matter has had on the City of Nashua. However, Laughton insisted that the seat remain unfilled and that the citizens of Ward 4 have only 2 state representatives rather than the 3 it is entitled to, thus putting the city of Nashua at the distinct disadvantage of being unrepresented in Concord. I will never cease to be amazed at the selfishness of some people.
Selectman Lisa Laughton
3:43 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Charlie W we have obayed the law you need to read it again my friend we have asuspended time and that is not part of the sentence.
One Man Wolf Pack
11:10 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
And your fine? And period of good behavior?
Finish your sentence, have your sentence amended too if you want; but clear it up with your sentencing court BEFORE holding office NOT while holding office.
Dan
5:22 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
What part......the restitution in full, or the 10 years of not being arrested?
I have never seen you EVER answer that question....
Dan
1:40 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
Lisa: You "obayed" the law. Thank you for telling us that. Apparently a dictionary isn't one of your favorite books. I would have to question if you really knew if you were OBEYING the law, because you cannot even spell it correctly. Also, the State AG didn't make that ruling regarding whether your suspended sentence was making Stacie inelligible for run for office, or for that matter whether you broke the law running for Ward Selectperson.
Furthermore, you keep dodging the restitution question. That is a court-ordered mandate, meaning you don't pay you go back to jail. That is covered under the RSA 607, Paragraph 1, Section B.
One Man Wolf Pack
9:49 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
RESIGN AS WARD 4 SELECTMAN NOW!
Dan
5:19 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Alant and Lisa Laughton: Charlie is correct. Basically put, if she could run again if she is eligible. While the NHDOC may be done with you both, the Judicial System, with regards to restitution and period of time under the suspended sentence, is the issue. That doesn't make you eligible for the office of State Representative. Furthermore, considering your past history of fraud charges, I am surprised that the Board of Aldermen hasn't questioned your ability to be inside a polling place other than to vote. As a former Town Democratic Chairman, knowing of such a background would leave me no alternative to make a replacement. That is good ethical standing. So I think Charlie W. has a point for what ever reason he has. The only reason that the AG's office hasn't taken this matter up, is that it hasn't gone to court, and unless you have a small fortune, for legal fees and court costs, he won't make a decision, which leads to the last part. Seems funny that your Facebook site had Stacie trying to get rides to Obama events, or money therein. If she can't afford that, how is she going to get to the State Capitol everyday they are in session???
One Man Wolf Pack
9:55 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
Hoenstly, I don't care if Atlant is appointed ward 4 rep until they can hold an election. I hear Stacie is running again in the special election, that piece played on WMUR last night. That gives grounds to sue the city of Nashua and state of NH for allowing a currently serving criminal to even register as a candidate. That will get the AG off his keister.
Also selective enforcement is common, Holder has been doing it for a while; that is the nasty politics here. If this were a R next to her name she would already be arrested over the matter. It is the hypocracy of it, and her illustrated absolute lack of respect for the law both then AND now, that really angers me. The fact that you have zealot liberals like Atlant willing to do, say, or back anything liberal with zero regard for even the legality of the situation is a sad statement of partisan politics.
Dan
1:25 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
While I do differ with you regarding the Holder issue, I have to agree that amount of politics in this case regarding "The Laughtons" is a legal joke. It is funny that when I was living in Maine, at the Request of a Republican Candidate for the State Senate (who was a relative of the Walker Family i.e. George H.W. Bush), the case was adjudicated (with help of a DEMOCRATIC SAG, and it was heard quickly.) I think that the SAG doesn't even want to touch this with a 100 foot pole.
Furthermore, I stated this earlier today: The Board of Aldermen in Nashua, could have simply at this meeting could have IMPEACHED them. Yet, they sat and listened to her as if there were to say "We're thumbing our noses to State Law.
Yet, what is this woman/man going to do? She has no transportation. Is she going to get the H.E.A.R.T.S (a mental health group in Nashua...Ward 4) to drive her to Concord?
It's like HELLLLLLLLOO MR SAG.....ARE YOU THERE? type of problem. Please act before it taints the State House of Representatives.
steve forte
10:43 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Excuse if Im wrong , I dont think I am. But beinmg convicted felons who obviously have not completed their sentance , didnt they break the law just by voting?
I also hope the victom they stole from was not elderly as even a young person having to wait 40 yrs to get their manoey back is disgusting.