No one is sure if the man who defeated longtime Executive Councilor Peter Spaulding even knows that he's won: He was on an airplane to Belgium while the results rolled in.

By the time ballots were tallied early yesterday morning, John Shea, a Democrat from Nelson, had eked out a 1,100-vote victory over Spaulding, a Republican who is moderate enough to have earned campaign-sign real estate on Democratic Gov. John Lynch's front lawn.

"I don't know who I've conceded to," said Spaulding. "I did call John Shea and left a message congratulating him and offering any help in the transition."

Shea ran a mellow campaign, without fundraising, advertising or organized volunteers. Spaulding, who spent $38,000 on TV ads and mailers, isn't surprised by his loss. The district's 67 communities are among the most liberal in the state, and Spaulding says New Hampshire's GOP was ill-prepared to handle the discontent that drove many voters to cast straight Democratic tickets Tuesday.

"I got more support from the governor with my sign on his lawn than I did from the Republican state party," said Spaulding, who joined the five-member council in 1983. "The party is in disarray. They haven't concentrated on any organizing or any grassroots effort in years. I think, after last night, they need just a thorough cleansing."

Spaulding plans to help revamp the party, a task he says will require new leadership, candidate recruitment and local organization.

"That's not rocket science," he said.

Shea, 71, is part of a new Democratic majority on the historically Republican council, which reviews most state contracts, vets commissioners and oversees the turnpike system. For obvious reasons, Shea couldn't be reached yesterday, but he's told the Monitor in the past that he ran because he thinks Spaulding has been in office for too long. He also promised to better represent the district, which stretches from Vermont to Maine and includes communities in several counties.

"Concord has held the seat for 50 years," Shea said last month. "Which means no one in the western part of the district and no one in the eastern part of the district has any representation."

Even the most devout local Democrats say they know little about Shea, a retired bond salesman.

Beth Campbell, perhaps Concord's most vocal liberal, was upset by Spaulding's loss.

"He's an inherently decent guy," she said. "He always votes in the best interest of the working people in his district. Truth be known, I don't know who this other guy is."

Spaulding,62, has met Shea a few times and says "he's a very nice guy . . . nothing negative or contentious about him at all."

At their most recent meeting, Shea told Spaulding he'd be flying to Europe on election night.

Nelson town officials said they spotted Shea at the polls Tuesday morning. His answering machine message says he's "taking a few days off."

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