NH Executive Council Gets Dose of Youth

The press buzz after Election 2012 was all about New Hampshire having the first all-female congressional delegation. The state has another first: The majority of the Executive Council being under 40 years old.

Colin Van Ostern of Concord and Chris Pappas of Manchester, both Democrats, were newly elected to the five-member council. They join Chris Sununu, a Republican incumbent, as the three under-40 councilors.

The other two councilors are: Deb Pignatelli, a Democrat from Nashua, and Republican Raymond Burton of Bath, who represents District 1.

After two years of a Republican dominated council, Democrats now have a 3-2 edge. Democrats also kept the corner office, with Gov.-elect Maggie Hassan to succeed Gov. John Lynch.

The Executive Council dates its origins to 1679. Councilors approve state contracts and confirm gubernatorial nominees. No other state has an executive-governing sharing and constitutional check quite like it. Read more on it here.