New Hampshire House speaker dies of COVID
The speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives died of COVID- 19, a medical examiner ruled Thursday, a day after the Republican’s unexpected death, raising concerns that other members of one of the world’s largest legislative bodies might have been exposed at their swearing- in last week.
Dick Hinch, who was sworn in Dec. 2 as leader of the state’s newly Republican- led, 400- member Legislature, died Wednesday. He was 71 and had been starting his seventh two- year term in the state House.
His death was announced Wednesday night by his office, which did not give details of what it called “this unexpected tragedy.” Hinch is the f irst New Hampshire speaker to die during session, according to
House Clerk Paul Smith.
The swearing- in of the House and the 24- member state Senate was held outdoors last week at the University of New Hampshire because of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Hinch was photographed wearing a mask, though it did not cover his nostrils.
More than a quarter of
House members, most of them Democrats, skipped the ceremony after learning the day before that several Republican lawmakers had tested positive for the coronavirus after attending an indoor GOP caucus meeting Nov. 20, at which many attendees weren’t wearing masks.
At least one Republican blamed Hinch’s death on a culture pushed by antimask forces.
“I believe the peer pressure exerted by those in the Republican Party who refuse to take reasonable precautions is the ultimate cause of Speaker Hinch’s passing,” Republican Rep. William Marsh, a retired doctor, said in an email to the Associated Press.
Acting Speaker Sherman Packard and Senate President Chuck Morse issued a statement Thursday saying they were “committed to protecting the health and safety of our fellow legislators and staff members who work at the statehouse in Concord.”
They said they would consult with the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Legislature’s administrative office regarding any additional steps needed beyond contact tracing and current COVID- 19 protocols, “to ensure the continued protection of our legislators and staff.”
Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette would not say if Hinch had tested positive for the coronavirus before his death and couldn’t say when he began showing symptoms. The state will investigate, she said.
“Part of the case investigation is to investigate the date of onset of symptoms, and then we go back a couple of days from there and do all of the contact tracing,” Shibinette said.