Meet the Laconia House of Representatives 2022 Candidates
District 5
Laconia Wards 1,3,4,5,6
David (Dave) Huot
David was born on April 4, 1942 in Laconia, the son of J. Oliva Huot and Irene R. Huot. He attended Sacred Heart elementary and high schools, graduating in 1960. After graduation David studied at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH receiving a B.A. degree in business in 1964. He completed his formal education at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1967, at which time he returned to Laconia.
Upon returning to Laconia, after being admitted to the NH Bar, David joined the law firm of Normandin, Cheney and O’Neil, where he practiced law until 1979. Governor Hugh J. Gallen nominated David to be Justice of the Laconia District Court, and after his confirmation by the Executive Council he was sworn in on Law Day, May 1, 1979. He served until April 4, 2012 when he retired as required by Part Two, Article 78 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
In August, 1967, enlisting in the NH Air National Guard, he served as an administrative clerk until he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 157th Support Squadron in 1970. In 1973 he became the squadron Staff Judge Advocate. He later held the same position for the 157th Air Refueling Group and then for the Headquarters, NH Air National Guard, until his retirement in August of 1998.
David served as a call firefighter/EMT with the Gilford Fire Department; as a director and counsel for the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association, and as a member of the District C-2 Emergency Medical Services board. He also served two years as Chairman of the NH New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board.
A candidate in this year’s November election, David, a Democrat, has previously served five terms in the NH House of Representatives, all but one of them on the House Finance Committee, serving as Vice Chair during his most recent term following the 2018 election. He is a member of Laconia Council 428 Knights of Columbus, a former member of the Laconia Lions Club and serves on the board of trustees of Granite VNA.
Charles (Charlie) St. Clair
Born and raised in Laconia. Served Two terms in the NH House. At the time his District covered both Laconia and Belmont. As a member of the Belknap county delegation, he voted for the funding that was asked for by the County Commission for the needs of the County. During the last two years he has been dismayed what the Delegation has done to the County nursing home, and the interference with the Gunstock Commission. This would include appointing commissioners to the Gunstock Commission strictly to move their agenda. The micromanaging of the individual county departments should not be the job of the delegation. That should be left to the county commissioners.
Good Reasoning and common sense should go a long way when a member of the delegation, that obviously has not taken place for the last two years. If elected that would be my goal to bring to the Delegation and the state house in Concord.
Patrick (Pat) Wood
Patrick Wood is a retired attorney. A native of South Dakota, Patrick earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1971 and his J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1974.
Patrick currently is a Commissioner on the Laconia Housing Authority, a member of the Mayor’s Human Relations Commission, and a Deacon and member of other committees at the Congregational Church of Laconia. He has previously served as the chair of the New Hampshire Personnel Appeals Board, the Lakes Region United Way, the Belknap Mill Society, Main Street Laconia, the Laconia Downtown TIF Advisory Board, and the Laconia School Board.
He is married to Jane Wood, a former three-term State Representative from Laconia. They have five children, Nicole, Michelle, Matt, Ethan, and Brendan, thirteen grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Donate to Patrick's campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/committee-to-elect-patrick-wood-1?
Proudly Endorsed by:
- Progressive Turnout Project
- Rights & Democracy
- 3.14 Action Fund
- 350 New Hampshire Action
- NEA-NH
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT-NH)
- NH Sierra Club
- American Youth 4 Climate Action & Sustainability
Eric Hoffman
Eric Hoffman is 43 years old, has 3 children, and is originally from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. Eric received his bachelor's degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering
from Penn State University. He currently lives and works in Laconia since 2017, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New Hampshire.
Eric is running for State Representative because our current state government has been too focused on hyperpartisan issues instead of focusing on improving the lives of New Hampshire's citizens. Eric believes that voting rights and a strong public education system are essential to a functioning democracy, and that New Hampshire needs common sense legislation to solve the housing crisis, the opioid epidemic and to push the economy forward.
Donate to Eric's Campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/eric-hoffman-for-new-hampshire-1
Eric's Campaign Website: http://www.erichoffman4nh.com/
District 6
Gilford/Gilmanton/Ward 2 Laconia
Lisa DiMartino
I’m Lisa DiMartino from Gilford, and I’m running for State Representative for Belknap 6: Gilford, Gilmanton and Laconia Ward 2.
Our family has lived in Gilford for 25 years, and our two children attended Gilford schools from elementary through high school. We are fortunate to have established roots in the community and made many friends throughout the years.
I know many of you from working at the Gilford Public Library, and Lakes Region Community Services, when I was a Legislative Liaison and Family to Family Coordinator. I look forward to meeting many more of you while I’m out in the community introducing myself and listening to your concerns!
From 2012 to 14, I was honored to serve as a State Representative for Gilford and Meredith, and served on the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, the NH Suicide Prevention Council, and the NH Long Term Care Committee.
I decided to run again, because I have a sincere interest in public service, and want to help enhance the health, safety and well-being of our citizens. Let’s face it, these are challenging times with problems that affect us all regardless of political affiliation. The economy, inflation, health care, and affordable housing, just to name a few.
Of course, we all know about our dire situation in Belknap County by now. Over the past decade, extremists on our county delegation have eroded essential county and state services, jeopardized our nursing home, and brought Gunstock to the brink of disaster; it’s time for change!
It’s time to bring more diverse, reasonable and responsible voices to the table. It’s time for healing, collaboration and making government work efficiently and effectively again!
I’ve been a disability rights and public health advocate for many years, and although always interested in social justice issues, I became personally and passionately involved in advocacy 27 years ago, when our son John Michael was born with a rare genetic syndrome, Autism and Epilepsy. It has been a challenging journey for sure, but one that has had a profound effect on the way I view the world and life.
I currently serve on the NH Medical Care Advisory Committee, and have also served on numerous other nonpartisan state commissions, boards and nonprofits including the NH Governor’s Commission on Disability, the Brain Injury Association Legislative Group, the NH Coalition of Caring Committee and Chairperson of Disability Rights Center Board of Directors.
One of the guiding principles embraced by all these organizations is nonpartisanship, and I will serve our community with that mindset. I’ve always been known to bring people together to help find common sense solutions to complex issues, and to be a sincere and passionate voice of reason!
If elected, I will be a dedicated, engaged and responsive advocate for our Community! Please consider voting for me on November 8th.
Thank you for your consideration!
Donate to Lisa's Campaign:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lisa-dimartino-for-nh-state-representative-1
Lisa's Campaign Website:
www.lisafornh.com
Bob McLean
I am running for State Representative to ensure that future generations can raise families, vacation, and live in such a wonderful area of New Hampshire. I grew up in Meredith and my wife Jennifer and I have lived in Gilford for 28 years. I have 3 children.
I have worked in hospitality management and construction, and I have been a ski instructor at Gunstock for 10+ years. The destructive actions by the Gunstock Area Commission and the Belknap County Delegation are just one of the many issues that bothered me enough to get involved and run for State Representative.
The issues that I feel need to be addressed are:
- Attacks on democracy-our election system is already secure and accurate and we need to make sure no laws are passed that allow government officials to override the will of the voters.
- Education- gender identity policies and banning of certain curriculum from our schools are threatening our public schools. These issues are driving teachers out of the profession for fear of being sued. The school voucher program is a disaster. It is millions of dollars over budget, and it is mostly going to students already not in the public schools.
- Homelessness and addiction- There needs to be a significant effort to address these issues through treatment options, counseling, and transition housing.
- Other issues that must be addressed by the state legislature are codifying a woman’s right to choose, climate change, affordable housing, and maintaining successful operation of our county nursing home and correctional facility.
Donate to Bob's Campaign:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bob-mclean
Bob's Campaign Website:
https://bobmcleanfornh.com/
Dana Hackett
Dana is excited to be running as a State Hose Representative for District 6 and her bio will be coming soon.
Donate to Dana's Campaign: Coming Soon