Steve Merrill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 77thGovernor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 7, 1993 – January 9, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph D. Hough (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Attorney General of New Hampshire | |
| In office 1985–1989 | |
| Governor | John H. Sununu |
| Preceded by | Gregory H. Smith |
| Succeeded by | John Arnold |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephen Everett Merrill (1946-06-21)June 21, 1946 Norwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 2020(2020-09-05) (aged 74) Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of New Hampshire (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Stephen Everett Merrill (June 21, 1946 – September 5, 2020) was an American lawyer andRepublican politician fromManchester, New Hampshire. He served as the 77thgovernor of New Hampshire from 1993 to 1997.
Merrill was born inNorwich, Connecticut but moved toNew Hampshire at an early age. He graduated fromWinnacunnet High School inHampton, New Hampshire and theUniversity of New Hampshire.[1] He received hisJuris Doctor degree fromGeorgetown University Law Center in 1972.[2] In 1972, Merrill joined theUnited States Air Force as a lawyer. From 1973 to 1975 he was legal counsel to theUnited States Secretary of the Air Force and from 1975 to 1976 was a special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force.[2] He then practiced law in Manchester from 1976 to 1984.[1]
In 1982, Merrill became legal counsel to GovernorJohn H. Sununu. In 1983 he took on the additional role of chief of staff.[2] From 1984 to 1989 was theAttorney General of New Hampshire. As attorney general, Merrill strengthened child abuse laws, backed tougher environmental regulations, formed a task force to combat addiction, and lowered the age at which juveniles could be tried as adults in murder cases to 13. He maintained a high public profile through public appearances and personally trying several cases.[3] He returned to private practice in 1989, starting a firm with DemocratJohn T. Broderick Jr., whom Merrill would later appoint to theNew Hampshire Supreme Court.[1]
Merrill ran as a Republican the1992 New Hampshire gubernatorial election. He won election on his first try at state office and was reelectedin 1994 with seventy percent of the popular vote.[3] Before entering office, Merrill was faced with an anticipated $40 million shortfall in state revenues after a specialproperty tax imposed by outgoing GovernorJudd Gregg and the state legislature was declared unconstitutional. Merrill proposed budget cuts and changes to state employees'Workmen's Compensation and state taxes as ways to address the fiscal emergency. By April 1993, the state's economy was beginning to improve.[2] In 1993, Merrill signed an executive order celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Prior to Merrill's order, the holiday was known as Civil Rights Day due to conservatives' displeasure with King's opposition to theVietnam War. Merrill signed a similar proclamation each year he was governor and in 1999 the state legislature officially changed the holiday's name.[3] Merrill coined the phrase the "New Hampshire Advantage", which referred to the state's lower taxes and smaller government. He was twice selected as the "most fiscally responsible governor in America" by theWall Street Journal/Cato Institute.[1] Merrill declined to run for a third term, citing family obligations.[2] In 1997 he ran for chairman of theRepublican National Committee, but lost toJim Nicholson.[1]
Merrill served as chairman of Boston-basedBingham Consulting.[1]
Merrill died at his home in Manchester on September 5, 2020, at age 74; his cause of death was not released to the public.[1][4][5]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gregory H. Smith | Attorney General of New Hampshire 1985–1989 | Succeeded by John Arnold |
| Preceded by | Governor of New Hampshire 1993–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New Hampshire 1992,1994 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
