Stacie Laughton Resigns: Transgender New Hampshire Rep Steps Down Following News Of Criminal Past

Posted: 11/27/2012 4:47 pm EST Updated: 11/27/2012 11:35 pm EST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/stacie-laughton-resigns-transgender-new-hampshire-state-rep_n_2200297.html?ir=Gay+Voices

New Hampshire's history-making transgender state representative has announced she will resign after news of her criminal record surfaced.

As Nashua Patch is reporting, State Representative-Elect Stacie Laughton decided to step down after it was revealed that she had served four months in Belknap County House of Corrections following a 2008 credit card fraud conviction.

Laughton said she will formally resign her seat via a letter to be sent to the Secretary of State's office, Patch notes. Had she not resigned, she would have been ineligible to take office for six more years.

--------


N.H. Transgender Legislator-Elect Won't Take Office
After news came out that Stacie Laughton had been convicted of a felony, she has decided not to take office as the state's first transgender elected official.
BY Trudy Ring
November 27 2012 6:14 PM ET

http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2012/11/27/nh-transgender-legislator-step-aside

Stacie Laughton, the first openly transgender state legislator elected in New Hampshire, will give up her office in light of the revelation that she has been convicted of a felony, something she did not disclose during her campaign.

"After a lot of thought and after talking with the state party chair and my Democratic caucus director, I've decided to resign my position of state representative-elect," Laughton said today, according to the Nashua Telegraph.

"As far as the stuff that's been going on up until now, and with that in mind, I've decided to resign for now, and leave my options open for future political office," added Laughton, a Nashua Democrat who was elected this month. "There's been a lot of negative news that's been published about me as far as what I've done in my past."

-------

Transgender N.H. state representative-elect to resign
By Michael K. Lavers on November 28, 2012

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/11/28/transgender-n-h-state-representative-elect-to-resign/

A New Hampshire Democrat who earlier this month became the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in the country said on Tuesday she plans to resign after her criminal history came to light.

[...]

The Laconia Daily Sun reported her probation ended in Nov. 22, 2010.

New Hampshire law states a convicted felon cannot seek or hold public office "from the time of his sentence until his final discharge." Laughton received two concurrent suspended 10 year sentences for good behavior in connection with the two other charges.

------

Laughton Will Resign State Rep Seat

Stacie Laughton has announced she will resign after conferring with party leaders.

    By Carol Robidoux
    November 27, 2012

http://nashua.patch.com/articles/gop-pressue-dem-leaders-to-oust-laughton-from-post#photo-10204882

Despite her resolve to take office next week, the case of State Representative-Elect Stacie Laughton has taken a legal turn, forcing her to resign her seat.

Based on the language of NH RSA 607-A:2:1  it appears Laughton, a convicted felon who served four months in Belknap County House of Corrections, would have been ineligible to serve for six more years had she not decided to step down.

The case had just been referred to the NH Attorney General's office. Senior Assistant Attorney General Michael Brown was already in the process of reviewing the case when he was told of Laughton's resignation.

-----


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Nashua Ward 4 state rep.-elect Laughton to resign post

By JAKE BERRY
and MARYALICE GILL

Staff Writers

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/985142-469/state-rep.-elect-laughton-to-resign-post.html

CONCORD – State Rep.-elect Stacie Laughton, a Nashua Democrat who did not disclose her criminal history while running for office this fall, plans to give up her seat in the state Legislature.

"After a lot of thought and after talking with the state party chair and my Democratic caucus director, I've decided to resign my position of state representative-elect," Laughton said Tuesday.

"As far as the stuff that's been going on up until now, and with that in mind, I've decided to resign for now, and leave my options open for future political office," she added. "There's been a lot of negative news that's been published about me as far as what I've done in my past."