Benson withdraws education commissioner nominee

NH Business Review Staff,

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Faced with a lack of support, Gov. Craig Benson has withdrawn his nominee to be New Hampshire’s next education commissioner.

The nomination of Newfound Regional Superintendent John Graziano was scheduled to come before the Executive Council on Wednesday morning, but three of the five councilors said if it did, they’d vote no.

Councilors Ray Burton of Bath, Ruth Griffin of Portsmouth and Peter Spaulding of Hopkinton told The Concord Monitor they would oppose Graziano.

Benson spokeswoman Alicia Preston said after meeting with the council for breakfast Wednesday, Benson decided to pull Graziano from consideration. She said he had no plans to nominate anyone else.

Gov.-elect John Lynch had asked the council to let him choose an education commissioner.

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