By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – The state’s five-member Executive Council was sworn in to office Thursday with two new members and a new Governor at the head of the table.
They held a very brief meeting in the afternoon following the inaugural address of Kelly A. Ayotte as the 83rd governor of New Hampshire.
New to the table is District 2 Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon who replaces Cinde Warmington of Concord. Both are Democrats. Warmington stepped aside to run for governor but lost in the primary.
John A. Stephen of Manchester is the new Executive Councilor for District 4 replacing the retiring Ted Gatsas of Manchester.
Re-elected and returning to the table are Joseph D. Kenney of Wakefield as Executive Councilor for District 1, Janet Stevens of Rye who serves for District 3 and David K. Wheeler of Milford who serves District 5. There are four Republicans now and one Democrat.
The council had an obligation to meet on several issues including one from the State Treasury and to set a schedule for the coming half of the year.
There were no nominations made by Ayotte. The next meeting is Jan. 15.
“First I want to congratulate every one of you and look forward to working with you,” said Ayotte, with her voice a bit hoarse after making her address and greeting with well-wishers in a reception in the Executive Council chamber which included skewers of fresh fruits and vegetables and finger sandwiches.
“You all have very important jobs,” Ayotte said.
Liot Hill said the Executive Council is unique to New Hampshire, acting as an additional check and balance on the Governor, approving state spending, voting on appointments, and managing our state’s infrastructure.
“We are watchdogs for the taxpayers,” she said.
“There is no doubt that our state faces big challenges – the biggest one being the cost of housing. I come to the Executive Council with 20 years of experience at the local and county level. And over the past two decades, I have seen the lack of affordable housing grow from a problem to an outright crisis, including a major rise in homelessness. Over the past two years on the campaign trail, I have seen Granite Staters in need – families and working people struggling with the cost of housing, childcare, healthcare, and even groceries.
“We need to make life easier for Granite Staters – not harder. And when the state fails to cover its obligations, life gets harder for local property taxpayers,” Liot Hill said.
“Selectboards and Budget Committees across New Hampshire are in the process of preparing their budgets for Town Meeting Day in March, and we know that local property taxpayers already face a tremendous burden. They cannot afford to pick up even more costs that may be downshifted from the state in order to balance its budget,” she said.
Stephen was the former Health and Human Services Commissioner and said in the private sector in the last 13 years he has been helping other states with government efficiency.
“I want to make sure the NH Advantage grows,” Stephen said after the meeting. “We all want to work together. This is about the state as one, here.”
On every contract, “I will be thinking about the taxpayers, and representing my district, bringing value back.”
Stephen said he has worked in Arkansas, Texas, and Nebraska with the Stephen Group.
“I am hoping to do a lot to help the governor before these issues come up at the table,” related to contracting, pricing.”
He said department heads will be questioned about contracts with his eye on getting the best value.
