Leadership group meets with Governor Sununu

CONCORD — The Leadership Lakes Region Class of 2022 recently traveled to Concord where they met with a number of state officials including Gov. Sununu. The Governor spoke about the State of the State and took numerous questions in the 45 minute session. The visit was part of the group’s annual Political Issues Day which was sponsored this year by Grappone Automotive Group. One of the featured speakers was Amanda Grappone Osmer, CEO/President of the family business and herself a graduate of Leadership Lakes Region. The day began at Laconia City Hall with comments from Mayor Hosmer, a panel discussion of how local agencies interact with County Commissioner Peter Spanos, Gilford Town Administrator Scott Dunn and Laconia City manager Scott Myers. Former Gunstock Commission Chair, Brian Gallagher, then spoke about the politics involved with Gunstock. After that, the group traveled to the State House where Visitor Center Director Virginia Drew gave her very well received visitor walking tour. Ms. Drew is a treasure trove of historical facts about New Hampshire and our State House. Ms. Osmer followed and spoke about her company’s community involvement, most notably their “Take the Wheel” initiative partnering with Franklin Savings Bank and Lakes Region Community Developers to get reliable, fuel–efficient cars into the hands of hard working New Hampshire families whose credit scores are challenged. District One Executive Councilor Joe Kenney then described the role of the Executive Council in state government, Secretary of State David Scanlan explained the functions of his office, especially leading up to the First in the Nation Presidential Primary every four years and Neil Levesque, Executive Director of the NH Institute of Politics located at St. Anselm’s College spoke of his organization’s role in NH politics. Levesque touched on the importance of political polling in advance of an election which is one of the Institute’s primary roles. The day concluded on a fun note as Leadership Lakes grad and current board member Donna Kuethe facilitated a Granite State Challenge team game of important political facts, current and historical, which the group had learned about during the day. The entire day’s agenda was planned by Ms. Kuethe and Program Coordinator Jennifer McLean.