Ardinger to Run for State Senate

Barely an hour after state Sen. Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, announced that she would not seek re-election, the rumor mill about potential candidates began.

Many of the city’s politirati suggested that the late decision by Larsen was done to ensure there wouldn’t be a large field of Democrats running. This would instead, allow activists to coalesce around a single person or two who would have the strongest possibility of ensuring that the seat would remain with Democrats in the fall.

Historically, the district has always been considered a strong, safe Democratic seat, which has many believing that the primary will be the biggest battle. But with the well-known Larsen out, expected turnout to be lower than a presidential election, and redistricting changes last year that took out Pembroke but added in Henniker and Warner to Concord and Hopkinton, most believe it could be anyone’s race.

At soirees and events across the city, celebrating the end of this year’s Legislative session and two Congressional candidate campaign office open houses, a few names also began to pop up as potential candidates.

One, Kass Ardinger, Larsen’s close friend in Ward 5 and a long-time Concord School Board member, was on the lips of a lot of politicos and she confirmed tonight that she would be running.

“Today's a day to celebrate and note the extraordinary public service Sen. Larsen gave to our community and state,” Ardinger said in an email. “She certainly deserves the many accolades she received today on the floor of the Senate, and I can only echo my great admiration for her many accomplishments in state government, which include the establishment of universal kindergarten, marriage equality and recent passage of the pay equity bill. She also played a significant role in helping the Concord School District get in as the last school district to receive state building aid before the legislature put a moratorium on that program.”

Ardinger added that Larsen left “big shoes to fill” and she would be running for the Democratic nomination.

“I intend to work very hard this summer to introduce myself to the communities comprising District 15 and hopefully earn their votes in the Sept. 9 primary,” she said.

Another name that was mentioned was state Rep. Katherine Rogers, D-Concord, who currently represents the East side’s floterial district, covering Wards 8, 9, and 10.

Rogers, who is an attorney, just ended her first term back in the House after serving in the 1990s. She was also spent 16 years as a city councilor.

One of her strengths, a number of people noted, was her ties to working class voters in the city as well as union members such as firefighters and teachers, which could be enough of a coalition to push her into the win column.

Rogers is also known outside of Concord, since she has previously been a county commissioner and county attorney. During the last Legislative session, was able to work across the aisle to get bills passed, a bipartisan approach that would be needed in the state Senate.

Rogers was noncommittal about a potential Senate race but said she would be thinking about it and would make a decision in the coming days.

Another name that was being bandied about was former Executive Councilor and current Ward 10 City Councilor Dan St. Hilaire, a Republican considered moderate enough to potential win the seat. However he denied any interest in running.

“No,” he said, quipping, “I have to work for a living.”

St. Hilaire’s solid rejection of a potential run doesn’t mean that Republicans won’t be fielding a strong candidate this year, according to Kerry Marsh, the chairwoman of the Concord GOP.

Marsh stated that there were at least a few city Republicans considering running for the seat after hearing that Larsen would be stepping down although none had made a firm commitment to run. She said that the Republicans would have a candidate and would be putting together an all-out effort to win the seat.

The filing period for running as a Democrat or Republican for county offices, state Representative, state Senate, Executive Council, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, and Governor, runs through 5 p.m. on June 13, at the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office. 

Campaign 2014 is heating up. Follow along with all of the Patch coverage in our Elections section.