Mayor says he’ll resign to take job in Lebanon

LACONIA — Mayor Andrew J. Hosmer intends to resign his position before the November election. He’s likely the next city manager of Lebanon in Grafton County. 

“I feel like I’ve done my time,” Hosmer said Wednesday in an interview. “I’ve enjoyed it a tremendous amount.”

Hosmer said Wednesday the City of Lebanon, the only city in that county and home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, may hire him to fill the office of city manager later this month, and therefore he intends to resign at a future meeting of Laconia City Council in late summer or early fall, possibly in September. 

According to city charter, a vacancy in the office of mayor is to be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a qualified person selected by a majority vote of councilors. That vote must occur within 30 days of the vacancy. Councilors could either record the vote at the next regular meeting, or by calling a special meeting to do so. 

Hosmer assumed office in 2020, succeeding Edward J. Engler. He previously served in the New Hampshire Senate, representing District 7, 2012-16, and on the Laconia City Council. His term as mayor was set to expire at the end of the year. 

He’s expected to take up residency in Lebanon and will move there with his wife, Donna, in order to work for that city.

Hosmer said he became aware of the opening in Lebanon earlier this year, following an announcement that former city manager Shaun Mulholland — who served the city for more than seven years — would become the town manager of Londonderry. People familiar with the workings of Lebanon’s municipal government and with Hosmer reached out to encourage him to apply.

He’ll lean on his experience in both the public and private sectors, navigating the budget process at both the state and municipal levels in managing in Lebanon.

“It’s been challenging, but the education process has been extraordinary,” he said.

"That is both really exciting but daunting, as well, but I’m up for it and I’m excited.”

Hosmer’s time in Laconia coincided with a period of incredible development — under the leadership of people like Engler, Bob Hamel, Henry Lipman and others of the era, the city made massive investments in the Colonial Theatre downtown, which, Hosmer hopes, will continue to spur development and provide an invaluable amenity to the city. 

Staff city also worked hand-in-hand with private and state partners in navigating the forthcoming State School property development, which poses significant challenges in terms of city infrastructure and, frankly, the anticipation of the unknown.

When the state Executive Council initially engaged Robynne Alexander to buy the State School property, a real estate developer recently indicted on federal wire fraud charges, Hosmer said employees at city hall approached state staff with serious questions regarding the viability of her plan, and former Gov. Chris Sununu was not responsive. But city staff were aware something seemed amiss, a testament to their talent, skill and dedication to Laconia.

“I’m particularly proud of that,” he said, noting City Manager Kirk Beattie and the employees who work for him are an invaluable resource.

While the role of mayor is essentially ceremonial, mayors typically have an outsized influence on policy through their use of the bully pulpit. Hosmer said he’s ready to leave politics behind, and will enjoy the challenges that come with serving in an apolitical position, working to solve problems and address issues day to day, in a hands-on fashion.

He’ll likely look back at his time working with Beattie and, before that, Scott Myers — who Hosmer characterized as highly-competent and “trusted advisers” — and try to be as effective in Lebanon as they are here.

“The biggest lesson I’ve been reminded of time and time again — government at the municipal level has the ability to work very well when it focuses on the people in the community,” Hosmer said.

But doing that work has become increasingly difficult, as local governance has become more and more partisan, especially in recent years, Hosmer said. Traditionally, municipal work is centered around apolitical questions, like ensuring property taxes remain fair, infrastructure is improved, investments are made into education and the arts and economic development is facilitated, resulting in tangible returns to Johnny Taxpayer.

He’s noticed a sort of trickle-down effect over the last five years from the culture permeating federal politics down to the state Senate and, ultimately, city politics as well.

“I think that made it more challenging to get some things done,” he said. “But I believe in this city.”

“The ad-hoc committee on housing, in my mind, was a lesson in good governance,” he said Wednesday. 

His reference is to the months-long process whereby a diverse group of residents gathered to review and debate proposals to develop housing on a city-owned parcel at the intersection of Old North Main Street and Parade Road, which ended earlier in the spring. Some opposed development there, while others supported the idea, but the discussion allowed residents and city leaders to interrogate the data and appreciate the issues at hand. 

“It’s still a short- and long-term challenge here,” he said. “It’s OK to have these discussions, it’s OK to be wrong about something.

"I don’t think a mayor should be afraid to step up and take a stand on difficult issues.”

That issue, in particular, was of particular importance to Hosmer through his time as mayor. He said the progress on moving housing development forward during his tenure is an accomplishment he’s proud of, pointing to the completion of affordable units on Bay Street as one example. 

“I am proud of Bay Street,” he said. “Thank God for the passionate people willing to speak up and take the political blowback.”

“I think housing’s a right, that’s what it is,” he said, noting the U.S. is the richest country in the world, with the most powerful military, while at the same time, with intense wealth inequality, which can, at times, leave the most vulnerable in even more vulnerable situations.

“And yet, I believe in the greatness of this country, still.”

Hosmer said he’ll also be leaving his job lobbying in Concord with Preti Strategies — he’s an attorney, by profession.

He’s not prepared to make an endorsement of a candidate for mayor the next go-around, though he said “there’s some dynamic leaders in this city.”

“Though rarely voting, [the mayor] sets the tone for the city,” Hosmer said, adding he hopes new leaders keep the city unified and tackle the nonpartisan issues impacting the daily life of its residents.

“Being the mayor of the City of Laconia is the best job I’ve ever had, by far,” Hosmer said Wednesday afternoon, noting he’s been personally enriched by the challenges of the office, the support he’s received from the city’s residents, and the opportunities he had to work with those who serve the city each day.

“Just a really joyful experience for me and I’m going to miss that.”