Grassie, Walker will likely get to duke it out again

Churck Grassie, left, and David Walker

ROCHESTER - Both Strafford 11 candidates locked in a stalemate following the November vote agree that the likely outcome of their 970-970 tie in Ward 4 will be a special election in January.
" I have publicly requested that our race go back to the voters," the incumbent, Democrat Chuck Grassie, said in a statement to The Rochester Voice. "The New Hampshire House Democrats released a press statement shortly after the recount that it should be up to the voters of Ward 4 and not the politicians in Concord who should make this decision."
Both Grassie and Republican challenger David Walker have withdrawn their challenges to individual ballots.
"We mutually agreed that the Ballot Commission outcome would not overturn the Secretary of State's determination of a tie," Walker told The Voice. "The next step is to send it to the Legislature to determine the outcome. They can either vote a person in or vote to send it back to a Special Election. Likely they will send it to a Special Election."
Walker appeared to have won on the Nov. 8 election, 971-970, but a recount found the two longtime Rochester politicians had tied, 970-970.
The House, which has a razor-thin GOP majority, could choose a winner on Dec. 7 by a simple majority vote, but they may have little appetite to play that card.
Whether the candidates plan to campaign heavily during the holiday season is unclear.