Claremont
Andrew O’Hearne has worked for the city police department for 30 years and after he retires at the end of this year, he hopes to begin the new year as the county sheriff.
O’Hearne, 48, the Sullivan County District 3 state rep. representing Claremont’s Ward 1, said Tuesday he was motivated to seek the position for a number of reasons and believes his longtime working relationship with law enforcement throughout the county makes him a strong candidate for the job.
“I have worked with pretty much everyone in law enforcement,” O’Hearne said. “I know everyone and everyone knows me. I believe I am well-respected and well-known.”
When longtime Sheriff Mike Prozzo announced he would not seek re-election in 2014, O’Hearne, who had served as a part-time deputy under Prozzo, said he was approached about running but declined, saying he had already decided to run for a second term in the New Hampshire House.
Though he did not run for sheriff, O’Hearne said, he was often asked his opinion about the Republican primary candidates at the time — Simonds, Sunapee Police Chief Dave Cahill and Deputy Sheriff Denis O’Sullivan.
“It got me thinking that people must respect my opinion,” said O’Hearne, the senior officer and day-shift supervisor with the Claremont Police Department. “In conversations with people the last two years, I asked people what they thought about me running and everyone I spoke with said they would vote for me.”
O’Hearne has a lifelong connection to the area. He grew up in North Charlestown and graduated from Fall Mountain Regional High School before going into the police academy and joining the Claremont department in 1986.
He also served briefly on the School Board with an appointment in July 2014 to replace another member who resigned, but he did not seek re-election the following March.
Simonds, 46, worked for the Claremont Police Department with O’Hearne for 12 years before becoming chief deputy under Prozzo in 2012.
In reaction to O’Hearne’s announcement, Simonds said having a choice on the ballot better serves voters.
“It is his prerogative to run and I think it is healthier (for voters) for there to be a race,” Simonds said.
The duties of the Sheriff’s Department include prisoner transports, court security, serving paperwork in civil cases, evictions, extraditions and working with the New Hampshire Drug Task Force on drug investigation and related work. The department, including Simonds, has 10 full-time and part-time sheriffs.
Simonds, whose current salary is $62,868, said one of the accomplishments in his first term is the establishment of a “drug intelligence network” that he said extends “up and down the Connecticut River Valley,” covering both sides of the river.
“It allows us to share intelligence because that doesn’t always happen,” Simonds said. “I believe we needed to do this to improve communication.”
Both candidates said it is important to have a clean race.
“I am looking for a positive campaign on both sides,” Simonds said. “That was how it was in 2014 and I hope it will be this year.”
O’Hearne said he agrees.
“There won’t be bad mouthing. We will say what we will do and let the people decide,” he said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached pogclmt@gmail.com.