Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Stephen E. Merrill (1993-1997). Born Hampton, NH. Merrill (1946-) was born at Hampton (NH). He attended high school at Hampton (NH) and the University of New Hampshire (Class of 1969). He received his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center (1972).

Merrill served in the U.S. Air Force as a lawyer (1972-1976), as legal counsel to the Secretary of the Air Force (1973-1975) and as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (1975-1976). He left military service as a captain, and practiced law at Manchester (NH), 1976-1984. Merrill served as legal counsel for Governor John Sununu (1982-1984), and as chief of staff for Sununu (1983-1984). Following these assignments Merrill worked with several agencies, then entered the 1992 Republican gubernatorial primary. He won election on his first try at state office; he was reelected with seventy percent of the popular vote.

Even before he entered office Governor-elect Merrill faced a daunting challenge. Public Service of New Hampshire had appealed a special property tax imposed by former Governor Gregg and the legislature as a way to balance the state budget, and in December 1992 this tax was declared unconstitutional. Governor Merrill therefore had to speak in his first inaugural address about new ways to meet an anticipated $40 million shortfall in state revenues. He proposed changes in state employees' Workmen's Compensation, and in March 1993 a number of changes in other state taxes, as ways to meet the fiscal emergency; in April 1993 he proposed to the legislature that the state's biennial operating budget be revised downward. But by then the state's economy was beginning to improve. Merrill got full credit in national and state media for fiscal responsibility. Merrill declined, to run for a third term, citing family obligations.

Portrait by James Aponovich, 2003