New Hampshire Executive Councilor John Stephen has been hospitalized after suffering “a cardiac event,” his team and family said in a statement Tuesday morning.
Stephen, 63, was out for a run on Sunday when the health incident occurred and has since been “receiving excellent medical care while he works towards recovery,” the statement said.
Stephen was in Florida for the holiday weekend at the time and remains hospitalized there, according to fellow Executive Councilor Joseph D. Kenney, who spoke on “The Pulse of NH,” a radio program, about his colleague and friend.
“He’s still in severe condition,” Kenney said, adding that Stephen has stabilized and shown signs of improvement.
Stephen’s family has asked for the public to keep him in their prayers.
The five-member Executive Council is an influential body in New Hampshire government that counterbalances the governor’s power by reviewing contracts and approving appointments to key leadership roles.
Stephen, a Republican businessman who previously served as commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, was elected to the Executive Council in November 2024. He represents District 4, which covers 19 towns and the city of Manchester.
He was elected to the seat vacated by the retirement of Theodore “Ted” Gatsas, and said after the election that he aims to leverage his public-sector and private-sector experience to improve government efficiency.
Governor Kelly Ayotte released a statement saying she and her husband are praying for Stephen, his wife, and their family.
“We’re wishing him a speedy recovery,” Ayotte said, “so he can get back to doing what he loves — serving the people of our great state.”
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.
