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Keene to hold primary

September 29, 2011 12:00 PM -- news writing

As published in the Sept. 29, 2011 edition of The Keene Sentinel, and online.

Keene voters go to the polls on Tuesday for the municipal primary -- even though none of the races for city officials has enough candidates for anyone to be eliminated.

This will be the last time Keene holds a primary when it's not needed, due to a change in the charter recently approved by the City Council.

Holding a primary costs the city between $4,000 and $5,000 in printing costs and staffing, according to City Clerk Patricia A. Little.

In future years there will be a primary only if more than two people are running for at least one of the positions.

Municipal elections include races for mayor and city councilor as well as election officials in each of the city's five wards.

Rather than getting shorter, the candidate list is likely to grow in the primary because of write-in candidates, Little said.

The candidates running for the city council seats in Wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 are all unopposed, and there is space for one more candidate for the five at-large seats on the council.

There are also election official positions for which there are no candidates: Ward 1 selectman, Ward 1 checklist supervisor, Ward 2 selectman, Ward 2 checklist supervisor and Ward 3 clerk.

Ward 1 voters should take note that their polling place has changed. After parents at Wheelock School complained that voters were disturbing the school, the city has established a new polling place at 400 Marlboro St.

u Polls will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the following locations: Ward 1, Marlboro Street Community Room, 400 Marlboro St.; Ward 2, Keene Parks and Recreation Facility, 312 Washington St.; Ward 3, Fuller School, 422 Elm St.; Ward 4, Symonds School, 79 Park Ave.; Ward 5, Trinity Lutheran School, 28 Arch St.

tagged with: city government, Keene City Hall, Keene N.H., local elections

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