Burns announces third run for Executive Council seat

Bob Burns is out to see if, in fact, the third time’s the charm. After teasing supporters the day before (”Huge announcement tomorrow !!”), Burns officially threw his hat into the race for the Executive Council seat held by Councilor Chris Pappas on Monday with a one sentence declaration on Facebook: “I am running for EC4.”

It will be Burn’s third campaign for the executive council seat. In 2012, Burns upset Republican state Sen. Tom DeBlois and Manchester restaurateur Chuck Rolecek to win the GOP primary after garnering endorsements from the Republican Liberty Caucus, Cornerstone and other conservative groups. He then lost the general election to Democrat Pappas, whom he once defeated in a race for Hillsborough County Treasurer, by a 52% - 43% margin.

Burns was also the GOP nominee in 2014 after defeating another establish-backed candidate in the primary. His rematch with Pappas was closer but he fell short of beating the incumbent councilor by a four point margin.

Burns has frequently been at odds with the party establishment. He chairs one of two New Hampshire Young Republicans factions that have been feuding since the group failed to elect new officers earlier this year.

The group Burns leads has been recognized by the Young Republican National Federation as the state’s official Young Republican chapter. The second group, also called New Hampshire Young Republicans, has the blessing of the state GOP. Its chair, state Rep. Joe Sweeney, sits on the party’s executive committee.