Nashua Alderman Race Decided by Fewer Than 100 Votes

Mark Cookson (at right) edged Michael O’Brien by fewer than 100 votes Tuesday in a special election for an at-large Board of Aldermen seat.

Cookson earned 2,061 votes to O’Brien’s 1,969—a 92-vote margin.

O’Brien actually captured more wards than Cookson, but Cookson won nearly 500 Ward 1 votes (about double those for O’Brien) en route to victory.

The seat had been occupied by Diane Shaheen, who earlier this year resigned ahead of her move out of the state.

Cookson previously served as an at-large alderman. O’Brien is the city’s deputy fire chief and a four-term state representative.

These are the preliminary vote totals Tuesday:

• Ward 1: Cookson, 474-272
• Ward 2: O’Brien, 186, 174
• Ward 3: Cookson, 297-251
• Ward 4: Cookson, 101-100
• Ward 5: Cookson, 285-251
• Ward 6: O’Brien, 168-136
• Ward 7: O’Brien 161-149
• Ward 8: O’Brien, 250-212
• Ward 9: O’Brien, 330-233

Totals

• Cookson: 2,061
• O’Brien: 1,969

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