After only one month on the job, John Shea has a challenger for his seat on the Executive Council.

Republican Tony Soltani, the longtime Epsom lawmaker who lost his House seat in November, announced yesterday that he plans to form a committee in connection with a council bid.

Gov. John Lynch's recent commissioner maneuverings apparently prompted Soltani's candidacy.

"It is already apparent that Gov. Lynch intends to make appointments to important agency positions based not on experience and merit, but on cronyism and politics," Soltani wrote in a press release.

This week Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray announced she would resign after Lynch had expressed concerns about her leadership. Lynch recently said he did not plan to re-nominate longtime Safety Commissioner Dick Flynn next month.

As for Soltani's credentials, he's touting his tenure on the House Judiciary Committee. "Soltani is arguably the most qualified candidate to run for Executive Council in terms of its constitutional role in deciding whether to confirm judges," the press release said.

Shea didn't return a call for comment. Peter Spaulding, the longtime Republican District 2 councilor who lost to Shea in November's Democratic sweep, declined to comment on Soltani's campaign plans.

Popular man

Democratic powerbroker Bill Shaheen, husband of former governor Jeanne Shaheen, is a hot commodity.

Ever since John Kerry announced he would not make a second presidential bid, Shaheen, chairman of Kerry's 2004 New Hampshire primary campaign, has been fielding calls from presidential suitors.

Last week, Shaheen met with Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C.

"She did ask that I get involved in her campaign," Shaheen said, although he declined to specify the role Clinton had in mind. "It was a very good meeting, and I told her I'd make a decision in the near future."

In the meantime, Shaheen is keeping his options open. He plans to meet with Barack Obama Monday and has received calls from the campaigns of Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and John Edwards.

Here they come

Speaking of 2008, presidential visits are picking up.

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