Executive Councilor Ray Burton (R-Bath) has represented the northern part of New Hampshire for almost 30 years and is witnessing a demographic trend that will affect his district for years to come.

A trend that has seen a decrease in the number of young people but an increase in the number of registered Democrats.
 
Burton said he is worried about the changing demographics of Coos County and the loss of younger working people who decide to leave the North Country.
 
"We need to have all levels of government working to keep young people in New Hampshire," Burton told PolitickerNH.com in an interview.
 
According to a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, Coos County has 33,019 people, which is a .3 percent decrease from 2000.
 
Burton also said he has seen an increase in Democratic candidates in recent years, as well as a growing base of Democratic activists.
 
"No question that we now have a two-party system in my district and I welcome that," Burton said.
 
When asked if he thought that John Stephen, whom Burton endorsed during the Republican primary, would be in a better position to defeat U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) than former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), Burton said, "I don't know."
 
A recent Boston Globe poll showed Bradley trailing Shea-Porter by 5 percentage points.
 
Burton added, "I have tremendous respect for John Stephen as an administrator, but we have not heard the last from him."