NEWPORT — Republicans won two seats on the Sullivan County Commission during Tuesday’s election, cementing their control over the three-member body.
Former state Rep. Joe Osgood, R-Claremont, received 12,263 votes to flip the District 1 seat representing Claremont and Cornish. He defeated former state Rep. Ray Gagnon, D-Claremont, who had 10,483 votes.
The District 1 seat is now held by Democrat Jeffrey Barrette, who did not run for reelection.
In District 2, Republican Commissioner Bennie Nelson won 12,180 votes to retain his seat covering Croydon, Grantham, Newport, Plainfield and Springfield. He defeated former state Rep. Virginia Irwin, D-Newport, who garnered 10,437 votes.
In neighboring Grafton County, Republicans picked up one seat on the commission but failed in their bid to win control.
Republican Omer Ahern Jr., a former commissioner, received 8,714 votes to win the Plymouth-area seat, defeating incumbent Marcia Morris, who had 8,336 votes.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Linda Lauer, D-Bath, got 8,568 votes to hold onto her seat representing the northern Upper Valley and North Country. She defeated former Sheriff Doug Dutile, a Haverhill Republican who received 8,175 votes.
Wendy Piper, an Enfield Democrat, was unopposed for her Lebanon-area seat.