Mark Edgington, a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire State House, has suspended his campaign following intense media coverage of his 1989 second-degree murder conviction. Edgington, who recently relocated to Hudson, expressed dismay over what he described as unfair and distressing reporting by the NH Journal, citing mental stress and strain on his family relationships.
In 1989, Edgington, then 17, and his accomplice Carmen Tungate were involved in a robbery at a Florida motel that ended in the death of manager Ballapuran Umakanthan. According to court documents, Edgington admitted to his role in the crime, which included beating and strangling Umakanthan after a dispute over theft accusations.
Following their arrest, Edgington and Tungate pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and received sentences of 8 and 10 years, respectively, due to an early release program that has since been discontinued.
Despite his criminal history, Edgington became involved in the radio industry after his release, co-founding Free Talk Live with Ian Freeman in New Hampshire. The pair also shared Libertarian political beliefs and were early advocates for cryptocurrency.
In a message to supporters, Edgington emphasized his initial hopes for fair treatment from the press and his party, but lamented what he termed as “salacious” and inaccurate reporting. Despite declining to provide specific details, Edgington lamented the detrimental impact on his candidacy.
“35 years ago, at 17, I made some bad choices to hang out with the wrong people. The results were catastrophic,” Edgington told NHJournal via email. “It taught me a lot and I am grateful for the lessons, all of the lessons, that have made me the man I am today.”
“When I embarked on this, I expected fair, respectful treatment by the press and my party, and to serve my constituents,” wrote Edgington in a message following the report’s publication. He said reporting by the NH Journal had been unfair, inaccurate, and “salacious” but declined to give specifics. “(The reporting) is causing me mental stress and affecting my family relations,” he emphasized. “I don’t need this.”
In New Hampshire, individuals convicted of felonies are eligible to serve in the legislature after completing their entire sentence.
Edgington’s name will likely appear on the ballot despite his campaign suspension, with provisions under state law allowing for ballot removal under specific circumstances.
