Circuit Court

Sununu Nominates Circuit Court Justices, Other Appointees at Controversial Council Meeting

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Paula Tracy photo

From left: Executive Councilors Joseph Kenney, Cinde Warmington, Janet Stevens and Gov. Chris Sununu at Wednesday's Executive Council meeting at Police Standards and Training Council. Not pictured but present were Ted Gatsas and David Wheeler.

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Amidst an outpouring of anti-vax protesters, at the Executive Council meeting on Wednesday Gov. Chris Sununu quietly nominated two new circuit court justices and is requesting new terms and new faces for a number of key state commissions.

The meeting went ahead despite disruptions that ended with nine people being arrested.

Daniel J. Swegart of Warner and Philip D. Cross of Portsmouth will be considered for two positions as justices of the New Hampshire Circuit Court. If confirmed by the five-member Executive Council following what is traditionally a public hearing process, both men will have terms that end on their 70th birthdays.

Carleton B. Simpson of Hampton has been nominated to the Public Utilities Commission, succeeding Kathryn M. Bailey of Bow with an incoming salary of $120,354.

Timothy Flaherty of Franklin and Michael J. O’Connor of Swanzey are both being nominated by the governor for the Juvenile Parole Board. If approved, O’Connor would be succeeding Donald Nary II of Dover and Flaherty would replace Susan C. Kelly of Manchester.

On the recommendation of the New Hampshire College and University Council, Sununu is nominating Shawn M. Fitzgerald of Keene to the Higher Education Commission. He would succeed Patricia Lynott of Manchester.

Neil G. Irvine of New Hampton is being nominated to the Fire Standards and Training Commission to serve as the representative from the New Hampshire Municipal Association.

The State Council on the Arts will have three reappointments if the governor gets confirmation of Roger Brooks of Concord, Jason Tors of Sugar Hill, and Peter Warburton of Exeter all with terms ending on Oct. 14, 2026.

The Department of Corrections has four pharmacist positions, all vacancies to fill and the governor has nominated four individuals. Each will receive an annual salary of $136,318.

Matthew S. Urbach of Dunbarton, Kelly Brown of Candia, Iphigenia D. Daukopulos of Concord, and Jeffrey Syms of Boscawen are nominated.

Waste and water councils will see new faces if the governor succeeds in his nominations of Michelle Davis of Concord on the state Water Council, succeeding Thomas W. O’Brien of Concord, and Paul Mouser of Durham, succeeding Nancy Kinner of Lee who resigned.

Most nominations will be voted on at the next Executive Council meeting, scheduled at the State House at 10 a.m.
All the meetings are open to the public.

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