Open Executive Council Seat Sparks Interest

The candidates are lining up to try to succeed Executive Councilor Deb Pignatelli of Nashua, who is not running for re-election to the District 5 seat.

Jennifer Daler of Temple and Diane Sheehan of Nashua, both Democrats, have filed candidate papers with New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner.

Former Executive Councilor David Wheeler, a Republican of Milford, has also filed for office.

The state filing period opened June 4 and runs through June 13. The state primary is Sept. 9.

Others have expressed interest in running for the Executive Council seat. Dave McCray of Merrimack has said he will be a candidate as well, which ensures a primary contest for the GOP.

The territory of District 5:  Amherst, Antrim, Bennington, Brookline, Deering, Dunbarton, Fitzwilliam, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hillsborough, Hollis, Hudson, Jaffrey, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Boston, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Sharon, Swanzey, Temple, Troy, Weare, Wilton, and Windsor, and the city of Nashua.