Jasper and Party clash over Speaker election

There are four Republicans running for New Hampshire Speaker of the House: Shawn Jasper (the current speaker), Carol McGuire (a libertarian-leaning Representative), Laurie Sanborn (a conservative focused on business issues), and Frank Sapareto (a somewhat moderate Republican who favors marijuana legalization).

Traditionally the Speaker is chosen at a caucus of the majority party before the legislative session officially starts.  The full House of Representatives then elects the Speaker on its first day.

Last time Republicans chose Bill O’Brien for Speaker, but Shawn Jasper worked with Democrats and a small number of Republicans to win election as Speaker when the whole House voted.

This year Jasper says he will not challenge the Speaker chosen at the Republican caucus.

However, Jasper has still clashed with the party over how the caucus will run.  Jasper and House Majority Leader Richard Hinch told Republicans that the party will caucus November 30.  Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Horn then sent an email to candidates explaining that she would not attend that day, although the party chair has presided over the caucus for decades. 

Jasper says that Horn was not cooperative in choosing a date.  Horn says that Jasper knew she was unavailable on that date for weeks. 

Former NHGOP Chairman Steve Duprey will preside over the caucus instead.

The November 30 date is also controversial because it is the same day as an orientation for new Representatives.  Jasper will preside over that orientation, giving new Representatives a chance to become more familiar with him.

Do you have an opinion on next year’s Speaker of the House?  Let us know in the comments.