BATH, N.H. (AP) - Ray Burton, New Hampshire's longest-serving member of the Executive Council and a tireless advocate for the North Country who kept a rigorous travel schedule in the sprawling district, has died at age 74.
Burton spokesman B.J. Perry said Burton, who had been suffering from kidney cancer, died at his home in Bath shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday.
On Oct. 26, Burton said he would not run for office again.
In February, he announced he had been diagnosed with cancer and expected to undergo treatment for two to three months. He focused on helping people from home and connected to council meetings in Concord electronically.
A Republican, Burton was first elected to the council in 1977. Aside from a brief time in 1980, he's been re-elected every two years since then.
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