'Local government matters': Mayor, councilors inaugurated Monday night

LACONIA — A new era of the Laconia City Council was ushered in Monday night during the city’s inauguration at the Belknap Mill downtown.

Belknap County Sheriff Bill Wright served as master of ceremonies and welcomed the crowd at 6 p.m. on Jan. 5.

“Tonight is more than taking an oath or marking the start of a new term, it’s a chance to come together, recognize the responsibility of leadership, honor the trust placed in those who serve, and reflect on what makes Laconia such a special place to call home,” Wright said. “Local government matters, because it shapes our neighborhoods, supports our schools and our businesses, impacts our quality of life, and it works best when people stay involved.”

The inaugural ceremony was recorded by Lakes Region Public Access, and can be viewed at lrpa.org/video-on-demand.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte appeared at the event and offered her support to newly-elected Mayor Mike Bordes and the 2026-27 Laconia City Council. In her remarks, she noted a history of working with Bordes, who represents Laconia as a Republican in the Statehouse, and said she’s confident he’ll prioritize the city during his service.

“Laconia is a vital part of New Hampshire, and New Hampshire’s success. It’s a city with deep roots, strong people, a proud sense of community. It also plays an important role in our economy, our tourism industry, our quality of life — from the local businesses that I know work so hard, to the schools, to the cultural events that are here, to the outdoor recreation — Laconia is a very special place,” Ayotte told a crowded room. Some 80-odd members of the public attended the ceremony that welcomed Bordes and councilors, some old and some new. “When Laconia succeeds, I know New Hampshire can succeed. Our success is tied together.

“He understands Laconia’s history, he believes in its future, and he's continually shown that he’s going to put in the work,” Ayotte said.

In November, Bordes won a narrow victory in the mayoral race over former Councilor and past Police Chief Bruce Cheney. Jon Hildreth replaces Cheney as councilor in Ward 1. In Ward 2, Bob Soucy retained his seat, as did Eric Hoffman in Ward 3, Mark Haynes in Ward 4, and Steven Bogert in Ward 5. Mike Conant is the other newcomer to the council, he’s replacing Tony Felch in Ward 6. Bogert is also a Republican representing Laconia in Concord. 

In his inaugural address, Bordes told the crowd he intends to create two new mayor’s committees — one on homelessness, which he characterized as the toughest issue facing the city, and said representatives of nonprofits would not serve on that committee — and another on the future of Concord Hospital-Laconia.

“One of our greatest challenges, as we all know, is homelessness. The issue affects our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our sense of community. To confront it directly, my intention is to form a mayor’s committee on homelessness, or homelessness task force,” Bordes said. “We want to make this up of taxpayers and business owners, as well as key stakeholders. We do not want nonprofits on this, we want the taxpayers to be part of this.”

Growing the economy and bringing high-paying careers to the city is another of Bordes’ priorities, he said, and emphasized the importance of attracting revenue outside the tourism industry, which is already strong.

“We’re not just talking about bringing jobs to Laconia. I want to bring careers to Laconia, I want to bring new business to Laconia,” Bordes said. “Oftentimes people say, ‘I can’t afford to live here.’ That needs to end.”

Bordes thanked outgoing Mayor Charlie St. Clair, Felch and Cheney for their dedication and service to the city. Cheney was ill and did not attend the event, but City Manager Kirk Beattie relayed a message from Cheney, wishing Bordes and the new council success over their term.

“I look forward to working with [Bordes] and the council because, as you said, there’s a lot of things going on in this city, and it’s very important that we all work together as much as needed, and it really is needed a lot,” said St. Clair, who represents Laconia in the Statehouse as a Democrat. “Thank you all very much, it’s been a real pleasure being the mayor for these last four months, and see you around.”

And Bordes extended his gratitude to the people closest to him, too.

“I want to thank former Gov. Chris Sununu for his service to our state, and his constant support of myself and my campaign. He was one of my first supporters, and I truly appreciate it,” Bordes said. “I also want to send a heartfelt 'thank you' to my campaign manager, Preston Young. Without you, we wouldn’t be standing here today.

"To my fiancée ... Tracy, you are my rock. You stood beside me through long nights, through tough decisions, even told me to eat when I didn’t eat for days.

"To my daughter, Hannah: you are a shining light.”