New Hampshire GOP Nominates Packard For Next House Speaker

NH Journal

By Christopher Maidment

Republicans on Friday chose Acting Speaker Sherm Packard (R-Londonderry) to be the next Speaker of the NH House, filling a void left by the passing of Speaker Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) from COVID-19.

On Jan. 6, Convening Day, the House will formally vote to elect a new Speaker. Hinch was elected unanimously on Dec. 2, Organization Day, before passing away suddenly only one week later.

The caucus elected Packard on the first ballot, with the challengers moving to make it unanimous following a decisive majority voted for the Acting Speaker. Helping Packard along was support from Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn), who brought along many of the “Freedom Caucus” Representatives with him.

Following Hinch’s passing, Packard assumed the prime sponsor role on two of Hinch’s key priority issues – Education Freedom Accounts and lowering employer tax rates. Earlier this week, Packard told NHJournal he was running “to be permanent Speaker for the next two years to carry on [Hinch’s] legacy, to carry out his agenda.”

“[Hinch] was like a brother to me,” Packard told NHJournal.

In his 30 years in the House, Packard has served as Deputy Republican Leader, Deputy Speaker of the House, and in other leadership positions. Hinch named Packard his Deputy Speaker for this term just a week before the Speaker’s untimely passing. Since Hinch’s passing, Packard has taken on the heavy workload of a Speaker after Organization Day — only made heavier during a pandemic.

“Congratulations to Sherm Packard on his nomination to serve as Speaker by the House Republican Caucus,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “As Speaker, Sherm will keep the Republican Caucus united, carry on Dick Hinch’s incredible legacy of service, and work with Senate President Chuck Morse to deliver results for the people of New Hampshire.”

Packard, as Acting Speaker, has been working on committee assignments, seating assignments, parking assignments – and most importantly – planning for the Convening Day session on January 6 and Governor Sununu’s inauguration the following day.

As reported first by NHJournal, Packard is eyeing a “drive-in” style session for the Constitutionally required convening day. Currently, the New Hampshire House does not have rules that allow for remote sessions, so the “drive-in” style fulfills the in-person meeting requirement. Committee assignments aren’t yet out, but they will be announced in the House Calendar released on Dec. 30, Packard says.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.