Shurtleff Holds Onto State Rep Seat

It was an old dog hoping to become the top dog in the House of Representatives against a newcomer focusing primarily on local issues.

In the end, the old dog prevailed.

In the District 11/Ward 1 state representative seat, Shurtleff bested Tasker by more than 150 votes, according to the unofficial returns. Shurtleff received 829 votes while Tasker received 674.

Shurtleff focused his race on being the old standby who not only was focused on public service after a law enforcement career but also working in the Concord City Council; Tasker, from the beginning, was intent on working as hard as he could, knocking on doors and talking to voters, attempting to give the old political hand a run for his money.

The two congratulated each other after the results.

“Good for Steve,” Tasker said when hearing the results. “I thank that’s awesome … good for him.”

Tasker said he didn’t think there was anything else he could have done in his race to have won.

“We did a lot,” he said.

While most of the up ticket Democrats bests their Republican opponents by more than two-to-one margins, hundreds of voters blanked many of the lower ticket races. However, Tasker received anywhere from 125 to 170 more votes than the other Republicans in Ward 1.

“I’m very honored to be re-elected to the House by the people of Penacook,” he said. “I’m equally impressed by the strong number of votes of people who voted.

Shurtleff said he was equally impressed with Tasker and his campaign, and commended him for being a young person getting involved in the process.

“He ran good race,” he said. “I hope he runs again.”