Doherty and Lovlien face off for District 3 County Commissioner seat

David Lovelien, left, and David Doherty

David Lovelien, left, and David Doherty —Courtesy

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Monitor staff

Published: 10-15-2024 5:48 PM

Beyond having the same first name and both living in Pembroke, the two candidates for District 3’s County Commissioner seat share the common goal of wanting to give back to their community.

David Doherty, a Democrat, worked for several decades as a guidance counselor at Pembroke Academy and served as a three-term state representative, in addition to spending six years on the Pembroke School Board and the Pembroke Budget Committee. Republican candidate, and incumbent, David Lovlien runs his own real estate business and currently represents his district as County Commissioner while volunteering with the Kiwanis Club and other nonprofits in his free time.

Merrimack County’s Board of Commissioners has three elected officials, each serving a four-year term, who oversee the county’s budget, employees, departments, land, and buildings, including the nursing home, correctional facility, and farm. The commissioners lead county board meetings and work closely with the district’s state representatives, who also serve in the County Delegation.

District 3 encompasses Allenstown, Dunbarton, Epsom, Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Pembroke, and Pittsfield. 

Doherty, who lived in Henniker for 10 years before moving to Pembroke in 2003, described feeling very connected to the county and wanting to be more involved with its operations.

“I think Merrimack County has excellent facilities and also has tremendous workforce, very qualified people working,” Doherty said. “I want to keep Merrimack County running well. I want the facilities to be maintained at the high level that they're at. I want the county employees, first of all, to be qualified and responsible, and secondly, to be able to get adequate compensation for the work that they do in servicing the county facilities and servicing the residents of Merrimack County.” 

Candidate backgrounds

Lovlien grew up in Salisbury and has lived and worked in Merrimack County his whole life. He feels the close-knit nature of the area and appreciates the connections he’s built.

“I want to give back to the place I know and love,” Lovlien said. “I know the land, I know the people, I know the businesses, I know the community. So I'm proud to give back as a joyful and humble servant.”

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As the incumbent, Lovlien expressed pride at the way the board has passed the leanest budget in Merrimack County history in the face of inflation. He also noted that the board has allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to small, local nonprofits.

“I want to keep the momentum up on the good work we're doing, because even though the rest of the world and the rest of the country seems really scary right now, when I look at Merrimack County, it gives me so much hope and faith that we're doing the right thing and we're on the right hopefully we can be a little bit of a beacon of light for everyone else to see,” he said.

Doherty believes his previous political offices have prepared him to do the job of county commissioner. 

“I’ve had some experience with budgets on a number of levels, with the state budget as a state legislator, and also the county budget, because every state legislator serves on the county delegation and has to vote on the county budget,” Doherty said. “I've also had experience with school budgets and town budgets through my other service.”

He explained that much of New Hampshire’s government is run by people who volunteer their time and energy to make the state a better place. Doherty views this as his civic responsibility and hopes to be able to continue such work as a county commissioner.

“A lot of things in the state wouldn't function without people stepping up and trying to do their job. It's really a state that relies on people taking time and trying to help the common good,” he added.

How they view the role

Lovlien says he makes decisions not based on party or politics but on what’s best for the county and its residents.

“It about being a humble, joyful servant and keeping Merrimack County the place in the community we all know and call home,” he said. “My values are simple: hard work, integrity. You've got to have faith. You've got to have optimism, and you've got to be joyous.”

Doherty reiterated that the role of a commissioner “isn’t really a political job, even though we have to run under a party banner.”

“I think it's more of a common sense job,” he added. “I think my experience at the various jobs that I've had in public service previously will help me make the right decisions.”

By talking to as many people – constituents and other politicians – as possible, Lovlien hopes to continue building connections and understanding the needs of the county.

“My belief is we need a longer table, and we need more seats at it,” he said. “We need more perspective, and everyone needs to be heard, and even though we might not always agree all the time, a big quality I have is that I'm open-minded. I'm ready to listen, not just talk. I want to hear people out and gain new perspectives and have an open mind.”

For more information on the general election, visit https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com