By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — A recount of ballots Friday in Concord confirmed the election night victory of John Callum of Unity over Newport’s Virginia Irwin for the District 6 seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
On election night, Nov. 6, Callum’s total in the Newport-Unity District was 1,109. Irwin lost by 30 votes with a total of 1,079 and requested a recount.
The recount closed the 30-vote gap to 24 votes. While there was no change in Irwin’s original count of 1,079, she did close in on Callum’s total when he lost five votes in Newport and one in Unity, finishing with 1,103.
The final four-way District 6 election had Newport Republican Skip Rollins leading the way with 1,523 votes after losing one vote in Newport. Callum, another Republican, will now replace Irwin, a Democrat, when the new House officially meets.
The fourth candidate in the District 6 race, Larry Flint, a Newport Democrat, stayed the same at 923 votes after gaining one in Unity and losing one in Newport. Irwin also lost one vote in Newport while gaining one in Unity.
Friday’s recount was held in the Archives Building in Concord.
Irwin represented District 9 in the House from 2012 to 2016 before moving over to District 6 in 2016. She was a member of the Public Works and Highways Committee during her current term. Irwin currently serves as chair of the Newport Revitalization Committee and is the Newport Town Moderator. Previously, she served on the Newport Board of Selectmen from 1993 to 2014.
Irwin is vice chair of the Newport School Board.
As for the future, Irwin said the School Board would keep her busy enough. “I also plan to keep my hands in politics,” she stated.
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