NH Supreme Court rules in city’s favor, school charter commission election a go

Sign Up For Our FREE Daily eNews!

Screenshot 2019 11 04 at 4.14.30 PM
Open Source Photo/Michael Sauer

MANCHESTER, NH  – The state Supreme Court has ruled in the city’s favor in an emergency motion, which means that Manchester’s municipal election on Nov. 5 will include the ballot for selection of a school charter commission as planned.

City Clerk Matthew Normand released the decision late Monday afternoon (see below).

“We are grateful that the NH Supreme Court unanimously agreed to allow the special election of Manchester School Charter Commissioners to be held tomorrow, November 5, 2019, as planned.  Both the regular municipal election for city and ward officers and the special election of charter commissioners will proceed without interruption and we encourage all registered Manchester voters to get out and vote tomorrow,” Normand said of the decision.

The emergency motion was filed by the city in response to a complaint filed by State Rep. Mark Warden, a Republican representing Hillsborough-District 15. Warden said he was denied the ability to file his candidacy for the school charter commission due to the city’s filing deadline in July. He applied for the charter commission in October.

Warden initially went to the NH Secretary of State with his complaint about two weeks ago and was referred to the state Attorney General’s office at which time the city was notified of the complaint. The city disagreed with the basis of Warden’s complaint, and that’s when Warden hired an attorney and filed his petition for an injunction in Hillsborough County Superior Court.

This morning the Superior Court gave the city the option of adding Warden’s name to the ballot or calling off the election. That’s when the city requested a stay from the NH Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously (4-0) in the city’s favor by granting the emergency motion. The merits of Warden’s case were not deliberated. It is not yet known which court will deliberate further, or if or when that might happen. According to the order, the election will go on as scheduled, “subject to further judicial review.”

 

 

 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!