Pelham student hoping to bring his youthful insight to Statehouse



By Chris Camire

PELHAM -- During the past year, Shaun Doherty tested the political tide of New Hampshire as an unpaid volunteer for the John McCain campaign. Now, the college sophomore from Pelham is taking the first steps to jump-start his own political career with a run for a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Doherty, 20, has filed paperwork to run for state representative in Hillsboro County District 27 as a Republican. The district includes Pelham, Hudson and Litchfield. As Doherty sees it, keeping state spending and taxes low, in addition to working to protect the environment, are key to securing New Hampshire's future. "No income tax and no sales tax are key to preserving what makes our state great," Doherty said. "We're voted the most livable state in the country for a reason. I want to help preserve the ability to raise a family in this state."

Running as a candidate from Pelham is challenging in District 27. Of the district's 13 state reps, only Republican Jean-Guy Bergeron is from Pelham. The others all hail from the much larger Hudson. Doherty said he plans to run an "aggressive campaign" in order to overcome any geographical disadvantages. "I'm going to go door-to-door to try to meet as many people as I can," Doherty said. "Literature is going out to every registered house in Hudson before the primary."

The primary to narrow the field to 13 Republicans and 13 Democrats will be held Sept. 9. The general election is Nov. 4.

Doherty kicked off his campaign on Friday with a series of events. He greeted patrons at Romano's Pizza in Litchfield. He held a campaign event on the Hudson Town Common. His campaign kickoff was at Alvirne High School in Hudson.

Doherty is studying communication at Rivier College in Nashua. He's hoping for a career in political advertising. But if he wins in November, it could be the first step to a career in public office.
 

"I'd like to look at other positions if I can get to the Statehouse," said Doherty.

"Wherever I can bring goal-oriented solutions."


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