By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

It was a struggle, but Lisa Wilber believes she’s made it onto the November ballot.

Wilber, a Libertarian, needed 150 papers signed by Weare and Goffstown voters in order to achieve ballot status in her run for a seat as state representative. She met that goal and raised it considerably, garnering more than 270 signed nomination papers from voters in the two towns.

“I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback, mostly from voters congratulating me for having the tenacity to tun,” Wilber said.

As a third-party candidate, Wilber said she faced more stringent requirements for getting her name on the ballot than major-party contenders. To gather the necessary signatures, she took this complaint to the voters.

In a letter mailed to 8,000 residents of Weare and Goffstown, Wilber protested that Democrats and Republicans need only pay a $2 fee and fill out a form, while third-party candidates must gather the nomination papers and have them certified by the town. Each letter also included a nomination paper and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Along with sending out the letters and nomination papers, Wilber advertised her need for signatures on a sign in front of her Avon business on South Stark Highway, counting down how many more signatures she needed to appear on the ballot.

“We had people stopping by the store to fill out the nomination papers,” Wilber said.

“Beyond that, I had people stopping me at the grocery store and around town. There was a lot of interest in it,” said Wilber, adding that her mother, Virginia Whitten, was also approached by members of the public while Wilber made an attempt for the ballot.

Wilber still has to get her nomination papers approved by the secretary of state’s office, after which they will generate a letter informing Wilber she’s on the ballot.

Wilber said she plans to promote her candidacy by placing 150 yard signs throughout the community, advertising in local media, distributing more than 100 campaign buttons and continuing her tradition of standing in front of the polls on election day.

“Every election, I stand out there. It’s in November, so I usually freeze,” Wilber said.

Wilber has run as a Libertarian for state representative in 2000, 2002 and 2004, but has never been elected.

As the only Libertarian on the ballot, Wilber will not face a primary for her position.

Republicans and Democrats will both have primaries this year, according to Deputy Town Clerk Maureen Billodeau. Those primaries will take place on Sept. 12 at Center Woods School, Billodeau said.

Republican candidates for the state representative seat include Russell Day, Larry Emerton, Richard Fletcher, John Hikel, Randolph Holden, Gary Hopper, Bruce Hunter, Neal Kurk, Pamela Manney, David Martin and Karen McRae.

Democrat candidates include Ivan Beliveau, Fay Greenberg, Al Packard, Mary Till, Denise Walderich and Donald Welch.

Those candidates hope to represent District 7 in the New Hampshire General Court. There are eight open seats for the district.