HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY Attorney John J. Coughlin has received orders to report for active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and plans to resign his position as county prosecutor just 10 months after having taken office. Coughlin, a former Marine captain and a major in the New Hampshire National Guard Headquarters Battery of the 197th Field Artillery Brigade, was among 500 New Hampshire reservists recently told to prepare for mobilization to Iraq. He is scheduled to depart for Fort Drum, NY on Jan. 6, at which time his resignation will likely take effect. (Also activated with Coughlin and heading to Iraq will be Concord attorney Shane Stewart, a captain in the same headquarters.)

Coughlin's replacement as county attorney will be determined by the county legislative delegation, a change from the past, when the NH Superior Court filled the vacancy pending a new election. A law enacted in April shifts the responsibility of appointing a replacement for Coughlin to the members of the county convention, which is composed of the county's state representatives. A majority vote of the county convention is required for selecting a replacement. Coughlin said he is working with the county delegation to fill the vacancy.

Coughlin has indicated that his chief deputy county attorney, Scott Jordan, will also resign on Jan. 6, to allow the new county attorney the opportunity to appoint his own chief deputy. He also said that Deputy County Attorney Howard Helrich will likely serve as the interim head of the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office pending appointment of someone to fill the remainder of Coughlin's term.

Coughlin, 50, of Mont Vernon, is a father of four. He took office in February after defeating longtime incumbent Peter McDonough in an extremely tight race, the results of which were upheld by the Supreme Court following a challenge by McDonough based on the issue of straight-ticket voting.

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