CONCORD – Proposed election maps for the five seats on the Executive Council would improve re-election prospects for Milford Republican Dave Wheeler, while posing a big challenge for Concord Republican Dan St. Hilaire.

The House Special Committee on Redistricting approved the proposed maps Tuesday, which have all five districts in compliance with population shifts since the 2010 census. The plan must win the approval of the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. John Lynch to become law and be applied for the elections later this year.

“It’s harder to work with 400 districts than it is with five, but you still have personalities wanting this town in or that town out,” said Rep. Robert Rowe, R-Amherst, who was on the working group that produced the proposal.

The new plans would force St. Hilaire to run in a Democratic-dominated district, stretching from Keene on the Vermont border to Portsmouth.

Concord Democrat Colin Van Ostern has already announced he’s running to oppose the bid of St. Hilaire for a second, two-year term this fall.

In turn, Wheeler would lose Keene and its Democratic majority, while picking up Republican-leaning towns such as Litchfield, Antrim, Weare and Bennington.

Former Nashua Democratic Councilor Debora Pignatelli is exploring whether she will seek a third match against Wheeler, the two having split their first two battles at the polls.

Newfields Republican Chris Sununu would lose the Democratic cities of Portsmouth and Dover as well as Durham, while adding GOP-leaning towns of Hudson, Pelham, Raymond, Northwood and Candia.

In the open District 4, the seat would remain anchored in Manchester but those seeking to replace retiring Councilor Raymond Wieczorek would have to run in new territory that includes Bow, Goffstown, Hooksett, Pembroke and Pittsfield.

Kevin Landrigan can reached at 321-7040 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com; also check out Kevin Landrigan (@KLandrigan) on Twitter and don’t forget The Telegraph’s new, interactive live feed at www.nashuatelegraph.com/topics/livefeed.

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