his budget by telling WMUR-TV, "We've got to find ways to be more effective, more efficient so we can keep money in taxpayers' and property owners' pockets." Guinta did not run for re-election in 2009. In the election to determine his successor, Republican Alderman and State Senator Ted Gatsas defeated Democratic alderman Mark Roy. U.S. House of Representatives Elections 2010 Guinta's Democratic opponent, incumbent Carol Shea-Porter, had represented for two terms. The race received national attention because some analysts had rated it as one of the best chances for a Republican pick-up in New England in 2010. In April 2009, Guinta announced that he would run for higher office rather than for a third term as mayor. In May 2009, he filed papers and announced his candidacy for the House. On September 14, 2010, he won the Republican primary election. On November 2, 2010, Guinta defeated incumbent Shea-Porter by a margin of 54%–42%. Illegal campaign contributions In October 2010, the New Hampshire Democratic Party filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and the Clerk of the House concerning $355,000 Guinta loaned to his own campaign from a bank account that had not been disclosed in any previous financial statements, including those filed during his time as mayor of Manchester. The issue was first raised by Guinta's fellow Republicans during the Republican primary. Guinta dismissed speculation that the money represented an illegal campaign donation, stating that the money came from his own earnings and savings but refusing to make public the related bank statements. On December 15, 2011, the general counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct informed Guinta that the committee reviewed his candidate financial disclosure reports "and subsequent amendments thereto, and have determined that they are in substantial compliance" with federal ethics law. In May 2015, Guinta settled the case with the Federal Election Commission involving $355,000 that had been donated to him by his parents during his first House campaign in 2010. The settlement required him to return the donation and pay a $15,000 fine to the FEC. New Hampshire politicians including U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) called on Guinta to resign his House seat in light of the incident, but he refused. 2012 Guinta won the 2012 primary election handily, obtaining 84% of the vote against Republican challengers Rick Parent and Vern Clough. Shea-Porter was nominated again by the Democrats to retake the