Politics & Government

Ballot Law Commission Confirms Havenstein Candidacy

Gubernatorial hopeful says the residency question is put to rest.

The Ballot Law Commission has ruled that Walt Havenstein meets constitutional residency requirements and eligibility to run for governor.

Havenstein, a Republican from Alton, sought the commission review and OK himself, after criticism by Democrats of a tax break he had received for a condominium in Maryland.

Havenstein called the commission ruling vindicating. His statement on the decision:

"The Democrats have been making unfounded claims about this in the press for months which everyone can now see were false. This is politics as usual for them: they know they can't win on the issues, so they want to make the election about anything else.

"Now that this matter has been put to rest, they are going to have to debate the things that matter to Granite Staters: jobs, the economy and the future of our state.

"Since I got into this race I've been working hard to meet voters across the state.  Come November, they will have a clear choice between my ability to grow the economy and create jobs and Maggie Hassan's stagnation."

Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, kept up his criticism on the residency issue.

"During Walt Havenstein’s hearing before the Ballot Law Commission today, he confirmed that he thinks he’s above the rules, admitting that he took tax breaks available only for Maryland residents and didn’t live in New Hampshire most of the year," Buckley said.

Havenstein is running in a primary with Andrew Hemingway of Bristol, Daniel J. Greene of Pittsfield and Jonathan Smolin of Alton. The primary is Sept. 9.


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