EPPING�� A primary will be held Aug. 20 to determine which Republican candidate will challenge Democrat Naomi Andrews in an upcoming special election to fill Epping�s vacant state representative seat.

Republicans Cody Belanger and Michael Vose are both running for the opportunity to replace former state Rep. Sean Morrison, who resigned from his seat Memorial Day weekend. The winner of the GOP primary will face Andrews in the Oct. 8 special election.

Belanger is a recent UNH graduate and a first-term Epping selectman. He and his fianc�e Emily Frazzoni are raising his young nephew. Belanger said he "always wanted to run" and represent Epping on the state level, and he saw his chance when Morrison resigned.

Belanger, a social worker, is a member of a state advisory group on juvenile justice reform, and he said that and reforming the Division of Children, Youth and Families would be one of his first priorities.

"I want to write legislation that will protect our most vulnerable youth," Belanger said. "I have custody of my nephew and I saw how the system failed him."

Belanger is interested in solving other issues, such as the tension between his town and neighboring Fremont over Epping truck traffic on Fremont's Shirkin Road. He is working with state Rep. Josh�Yokela, R-Fremont, to "get the state on board" and find a way to divert the truck traffic.

While Morrison publicly endorsed the proposed Granite Bridge pipeline and Epping storage tank, Belanger said he's neither for nor against the project, pointing out "it's out of our jurisdictional hands." But the fact remains the project will place liquid natural gas in a residential zone, and Belanger wants to get out in front of it and "make the most of it, the best we can."

He's also a proponent of school choice, noting he graduated from Farmington High School and Frazzoni graduated from Exeter High School. "There's a huge difference in the opportunities we had," he said. He's concerned about the competency-based education (CBE) being implemented in Epping and has met with SAU 14 Superintendent Valerie McKenney. "These people need to be heard and I can do that," he said of the parents concerned about CBE.

Vose served two consecutive terms in the House from 2014 to 2018. He lost to Democrat Mark Vallone in 2018, but said he always intended to run again.

Always interested in government, Vose studied political science and history in college. He ran for the Vermont Legislature in 1971, but did not win. With a young family and young career, he said, "It was probably just as well." He moved to New Hampshire and had a 40-year career in computer software and technical writing. But when he retired, "I knew I was going to run for office," he said.

Vose is interested in improving Epping's aging infrastructure. He said the water and sewer system is failing because the town hasn't been able to do enough regular maintenance on it. The town is currently under an administrative order from the Department of Environmental Services to update its system, some of which Vose described as "crumbling badly." In addition to the administrative order to close the town's lagoons, one in 2020 and one by 2027, the town needs to replace the 50-year-old sewer pipe running under Route 125 to Brickyard Square. That will cost up to $10 million to repair, he said, but it's not an option: the big and small businesses on 125 will sue the town if they experience losses over inadequate water and poor sewer treatment.

An alternate to the Planning Board, Vose is also concerned about growth, noting Epping is attractive and an easy commute to Manchester, Portsmouth and Dover. While those towns are expensive to buy in, Epping remains affordable, he said. His own neighborhood in West Epping had 20 houses when he moved in, and "now there are 50," Vose said.

Vose said he can bring a fiscal conservatism to the office. "If government becomes too big, people lose the ability to rely on themselves," he said. "Then they stop being productive members of society." He believes in the rule of law, private property and individual liberty, and that's a filter through which he will sponsor legislation.

Belanger said he will look for collaborative solutions, such as the one he's seeking with Fremont. "We're neighbors and you do what you can for your neighbors," he said.

He's also hoping his youth will work for him, saying, "People are interested in having a young conservative represent Epping."

Andrews, an attorney and Epping High School graduate, served as chief of staff for former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and launched an unsuccessful bid for Shea-Porter's seat this past fall.

The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the middle school gym. The special election is Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the middle school gym.

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