Ballot Law panel to rule if county candidates must live in districts they're running in

From left, Cliff Newton, Deanna Rollo (Courtesy photos)

CONCORD - The New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission will meet on Tuesday to decide whether or not two candidates for Strafford County Commissioner can run in one district while living in another.
The Secretary of State's Office arranged for the hearing following a complaint filed by Cliff Newton of Rochester, who is seeking a seat on the Strafford County Board of Commissioners.
A newly enacted law ended Strafford County's at-large election of county commissioners, instead splitting the county into three districts like all other counties in the state.
Newton filed the complaint because Sean Leavitt, a Republican, lives in district 2 but is running in district 3, Newton's home district.
Incumbent Strafford County Commissioner Deana Rollo, a Democrat, is also running in District 3 while domiciled in District 2.
In Newton's complaint he cites statutes that say "to hold office a person must have a domicile in the district from which he is elected."
The Secretary of State's office told The Rochester Voice today that, indeed, both Leavitt and Rollo do live in District 2.
The Ballot Law Commission will meet on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Records and Archives office in Concord to rule on the matter.
If the commission allows Leavitt to run in District 3 he will face Newton in a GOP primary on Sept. 10.