Concord’s St. Hilaire Backs Ovide

A Republican leader has thrown his support behind another attorney in the race.

District 2 Executive Councilor , who is also an at-large city councilor in Concord, endorsed Republican on July 18, praising the candidate’s “real world leadership” in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

“Ovide is a principled conservative and a business leader who understands the importance of creating a pro-jobs business environment while keeping our taxes low and our budget balanced,” St. Hilaire said in a statement, adding that Lamontagne was “a man of integrity and character.”

Lamontagne thanked St. Hilaire for the endorsement, praising him for his “strong law enforcement record” and “strong steward of the taxpayer dollars” at the and City Hall in Concord.

St. Hilaire was the second Executive Councilor to back Lamontagne. Ray Wieczorek of Manchester endorsed Lamontagne previously.

About two hours after the endorsement message was sent out, campaign called on Lamontagne to clarify his position on whether or not , in the wake of accepting the St. Hilaire endorsement. on the Executive Council last year when it attempting to freeze funding for the organization that provides women’s health services as well as abortions.

“Ovide Lamontagne has long had an extreme record on women’s reproductive health care,” she said in a statement. “As he accepts Dan St. Hilaire’s endorsement, Ovide Lamontagne should tell the people of New Hampshire whether he would defund Planned Parenthood and would he cut funding for other family planning services?”