Font ResizeCHESTERFIELD, N.H. -- The Republican-nomination races for sheriff and county commissioner will be the only local contests in Cheshire County's primary election Tuesday.
Earl D. Nelson and Jack Zeller are going after the GOP sheriff nod in hopes of besting Eli Rivera, the only name on the Democratic ballot, in the November general election.
Bayard Tracy and Peter Graves are running for the Republican nomination for county commissioner.
Incumbent Sheriff Richard A. Foote, who has served Cheshire County in Keene for the past 14 years, is not seeking re-election.
Nelson, Zeller and Rivera all have mounted online campaigns to try to draw in supporters.
Nelson states on his website that his experience and intimate knowledge of smaller police agencies -- those with fewer than 10 officers, in particular -- was the reason he threw his hat in the ring.
"It is my desire to continue to lead the sheriff's office with a balanced approach to law enforcement and the services we uniquely provide at the county level," the website reads.
He also wants to make sure the department adheres to the budgetary concerns of the county's taxpayers.
Nelson, on earlnelsonforsheriff.com, states his management philosophy is to always seek professionalism within law enforcement while encouraging those around him to do the same.
Zeller, on jackzellerforsheriff.com,
"My law-enforcement career consists of 35 years of law enforcement and command experience with 32 of those years with the city of Keene. The last seven years I was assigned as field operations commander, rank of captain," his website states. "I have been police chief of two towns, Westmoreland and Nelson."
His website states he is a member of The Monadnock Humane Society, Monadnock Conservancy, the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation and the Congress of Racial Equality among other organizations. Zeller is also a member of the International Counter-Terrorism Officers Association and was the Keene Police Department liaison to the Counter-Terrorism Task Force in Boston.
Rivera reports he filed his candidacy with the secretary of state on Wednesday, June 13.
"The support and encouragement I received from supporters, friends and family energized me to seek election as Cheshire County's next Sheriff. My commitment to serving this great community has always been a passion for me," he posted on his website, riveraforsheriff.org.
He also thanked Foote for his years of service and dedication.
Republicans Peter Heed (county attorney), Fred S. Parker (county treasurer) and Evelyn S. Hubal (register of deeds) are all running unopposed in their races while there are no candidates seeking the jobs of register of probate or delegate to the state convention.
John M. Pratt is the only Democrat seeking nomination for county commissioner. Anna Z. Tilton (register of probate) and Bill Lynch (county treasurer) are also unopposed in their races.
There is no name listed under county attorney or register of deeds on Democratic ballots.
The state legislative races in Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Walpole and Westmoreland feature some geographic changes.
Those towns currently are covered by three state House districts and two state Senate districts. For Tuesday's primary, though, voters in all four towns will be looking at the same ballot.
That's because redistricting that takes effect next year has placed those towns in one House district and one Senate district. And that means even incumbent legislators have had to acquaint themselves with many new voters.
"I've been in for six years, and now I have a whole new group to introduce myself to," said state Rep. Tara Sad, D-Walpole.
Sad had represented Cheshire County's District 2, which includes her hometown and several other towns. But she's now in a redrawn House district that consists only of Walpole, Chesterfield, Hinsdale and Westmoreland. She never has represented the latter three towns.
Other incumbents face similar adjustments. And the reshaped Cheshire District 1 means one sitting House member ultimately will lose his or her seat in the general election, since five incumbents are vying for four seats.
There are three challengers in the mix, as well. The eight total House candidates, however, are evenly distributed between the Republican and Democratic ballots with four nominations available in each party, meaning there is no contested primary in the district.
On the Democratic side, Sad is joined by fellow incumbents Bill Butynski and Lucy McVitty Weber. Challenger Paul Berch rounds out the field.
On the Republican ballot, House members Robert W. Moore Jr. and Edwin O. Smith are joined by Whitney Aldrich and Elaine H. Levlocke.
There also is no primary suspense in the state Senate campaign. Incumbent Molly Kelly is the sole Democrat on the ballot, while Richard A. Foote stands alone on the Republican ballot.
Kelly is a three-term senator from Keene whose new district added Walpole and Westmoreland, towns that had been represented by Republican Sen. Bob Odell.
Domenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 277. Mike Faher can be reached at mfaher@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275.
