When voters hit the polls in Franklin's municipal elections Tuesday, they were witness to part of a new strategy to build the Republican party's "infrastructure" in advance of general elections in 2010.

But the phone calls, flyers and other campaign material paid for by the state party upset some local leaders who say the nonpartisan spirit of their municipal election wasn't honored.

Spokesman Ryan Williams said the party organized a number of volunteer phone banks, including one on election day, to drum up votes for incumbent Mayor Ken Merrifield. State party money also paid for pamphlets dropped off at local homes and a last-minute fundraising letter sent to donors from across the state, Williams said.

Neither Williams or Merrifield knew how much was spent or raised. Merrifield did not take any cash from the party.

"For the first time in a long time, the Republican party has the infrastructure to assist local candidates," Williams said. "We're really gearing up for these local elections."

For some, the party's campaigning was seen as meddling and an unwelcome intrusion on the city's nonpartisan election.

"How can you compete against a political party?" asked Councilor Jay Bowers. "I think that was one of the reasons why we went to a nonpartisan election, so the average person could run for political office."

Bowers, an Independent who was not up for re-election in Ward 2, saw the party's involvement on election day as he waited outside the city clerk's office for results.

"It's just disheartening because it discourages the average person from participating in local government," he said in an interview yesterday. "It creates an aura of 'If you don't have money from one of the big parties, you can't run.' In a community this size, you should be able to get out there and get involved."

By all accounts, Merrifield had strong support going into the election. He pulled off a decisive victory against former mayor Clayton Gassett, 759-377, who spent little time campaigning while taking care of a sick family member, friends said.

Gassett could not be reached for comment.

Even so, Merrifield said he welcomed the help.

"I know that there were people who were making phone calls on my behalf, they were recruited by the party," he said. "They did do one mail piece for me."

"How different from this is Manchester where there are nonpartisan elections, but the parties are very much involved?" he asked. "In Franklin, I think if you look at my results on Tuesday, you'll see that I got a lot of Democratic votes. People, I believe, are really voting for the person and parties in this kind of local election don't matter at all."

Merrifield said he has made many Republican friends after traveling in their circles for years. He agrees the elections should remain nonpartisan but said there is nothing wrong with getting help.

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