Jasper Throws Hat Into the Ring for Speakership

The rumor mill that started last night that state Rep. Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, would be running for the Speakership of the New Hampshire House on Dec. 3, is true, according to a number of sources.

Jasper, who was a supporter of state Rep. Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, in the speaker’s caucus last month, previously said he was disappointed with the vote and wasn’t looking forward to the next two years with former Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, at the helm, and has forwarded himself as a potential third option candidate.

The rumor first appeared in email blast that was sent around by 2nd Amendment advocates the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition last night and a post on GraniteGrok around 7 a.m. today suggesting that Jasper was going to make a run. The email claimed that Jasper was “anti-gun” and “an elitist power hungry politician who will do anything for his own selfish reasons.” It noted that gun owners should be concerned by Jasper becoming speaker, since the speaker decides who is on what committee. The email urged supporters of gun rights and O’Brien to contact Jasper and “demand that he stop this mutiny at once.”

Jennifer Horn and the New Hampshire Republican Party have also stated that Jasper should cede his challenge.

Political reporters around the state say that in order to win, Jasper would need all the votes of Democrats and about 40+ Republicans. The GOP currently holds a nearly 79-vote margin over Democrats (there is also a single independent who is politically left-of-center) but with tomorrow’s weather expected to be a bit icy, it’s an unknown how many representatives will be in attendance.

James Pindell of WMUR-TV has a rundown of the possibilities here on how Jasper could potential win.

It is unknown though if Democrats are willing to support Jasper over O’Brien, according to the Democrat’s speaker nominee.

State Rep. Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, said members held a caucus earlier today to discuss Jasper’s candidacy as well as other things and while not commenting on what was specifically discussed, said there were varying comments made by those in attendance about what to do. He confirmed that Jasper did call him on Dec. 1, to let him know that he would also be running. Shurtleff also expects to retain Democratic support on the first ballot. After that, it’s an unknown.

“We’ll see where the numbers are,” he said. “Politically, it’s better for us to have Bill O’Brien in there, based on his previous tenure.”

Democrats effectively used O’Brien’s time as speaker as a weapon against Republicans in 2012 and were able to capture the control of the House. Last month, it didn’t work as well as a strategy and turnout was also lower, due to it being a midterm election.

However, Shurtleff added, Democrats have always looked at their positions as a way of doing “whatever is best for the people of New Hampshire” and he surmised that that would be the intention of representatives this time around.

“We’re going to look at all the options,” he said. “There’s tremendous solidarity (in the party) today … (supporting Jasper) may not be the political expedient thing to do but it might be the right thing to do.”

Neither Jasper nor O’Brien returned emails requesting comment about the speaker’s race.