Former member, sheriff deputy throw hats in for open Gilford selectboard seat

GILFORD — A three-year seat on the selectboard is up for grabs, with a former selectboard member, and the chief deputy of the Belknap County Sheriff’s Office, vying for a seat currently held by Chair Kevin Hayes, who opted against a bid for a third term.

Richard Grenier

Richard Grenier, 72, a former selectboard member, has lived in Gilford since moving, from Weirs Beach, in 1970. He and his wife Kathy, married for 50 years, brought up two children in Gilford schools.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Grenier returned to Gilford, and joined the budget committee in 1980. After three years, he saw why older people are often on boards: the time commitment.

“It was tough to be a parent of a newborn and devote the time needed for the town, but I swore I would continue to do something again someday.”

As his children grew, he again joined the budget committee, but wanted to continue his service in other respects. Grenier ran unopposed for selectboard in 2014, and served two terms of three years each until 2019.

“Serving can be like eating potato chips; once you start, you can’t stop,” Grenier said. “I really enjoyed representing the town.”

After two terms, he decided not to run. He believes in term limits, and Hayes and former Town Clerk and Tax Collector Denise Morrissette filed. Seeing two viable candidates, he decided to take time off.

Since then, Grenier was chair of the new Public Works Building and solid waste committees, and member of the Community Power Coalition Committee. He is a member of the zoning board of adjustments and the capital improvements committee.

Grenier said his proudest accomplishment is the transfer station.

“I think the whole recycling center is the best value for the tax dollar in town,” Grenier said. “The compost pile is very much coveted and brings in a good source of revenue.”

Grenier spent 33 years working for the Belknap County Jail, retiring in 2009 as superintendent. He was a part-time deputy sheriff for 46 years, serving one day a week until three years ago. He is the president of the Belknap County Sportsmen's Club.

After hearing Hayes would not seek reelection, Grenier felt it was a good chance to get back to what he enjoyed, and missed.

“I like the back and forth, asking questions and basing decisions on what I hear,” Grenier said. “I have my own feelings and can be swayed by a good argument. If someone were to ask me what my agenda is, I don’t have one.”

Grenier loves serving the town, and during his previous stint, said this is needed for the role. He said there are many committees and boards, but it is always a struggle to find someone to step up, because of the time commitment.

“I am someone who can devote that level of time commitment to the job.”

Grenier said if elected, he knows the focus will be replacing Town Administrator Scott Dunn; a lofty task, as he has been head of the town offices for 18 years.

“If you go back 15 to 20 years, you’ll see this town is run remarkably smooth,” Grenier said. “There are long-term employees and long-term department heads.”

With selectboard members Gus Benavides and Chan Eddy also longtime fixtures, who he's worked with, he sees his experience as vital in continuing smooth operations.

“We have always done a good job, and I just want to continue that.”

James McIntire

James McIntire grew up in nearby Gilmanton, and was a member of the Gilford High School class of 1987. He and his wife, Martha, built a home in Gilford in 2002, and have since raised their family and sent two children through the Gilford School District.

He is currently chief deputy for the Belknap County Sheriff’s Office, and has spent the majority of his career in public service and law enforcement. McIntire is currently on his second stint with the sheriff’s office. He was there from 2010 to 2015, before leaving for a sergeant position for Northfield Police, and then was police chief in Bristol from 2018 to 2023. McIntire returned to the sheriff’s office in 2023, when he became chief deputy.

McIntire has also spent time on a variety of boards like the Boys & Girls Club, and has coached the Gunstock Swim Team and been an assistant scout master for Boy Scout Troop 243 when his son was an active member.

One reason he felt compelled to run for selectboard was to be involved in the community he has called home for more than two decades. He often hears complaints about increased taxes, and when he went to the town clerk’s office to see who was running, he saw Grenier was running unopposed.

“My feeling is that I have no room to complain unless I am involved, so I decided to run to have a seat at the table,” McIntire said.

McIntire said there have been budget increases of late, including new fully-funded positions in the fire and police departments, as well as the new assessor and code enforcement positions at Town Hall. He said it is important to look at expenditures, and consider how many more people they are going to hire, delineating whether they are “needs or wants.”

He also noted the town beach house was recently rebuilt, and a public works garage is in the works, all approved by taxpayers and cost millions of dollars. McIntire said he’s not trying to go back in time, but he thinks a fresh set of eyes in the group could help when making considerations on future projects.

McIntire doesn’t see any glaring needs in town, however, saying Gilford is in “pretty good shape.” The key is paying off the aforementioned projects, and he said maybe it will be prudent to hold off on new ones.

“I’d like to hold the line at this point,” McIntire said. “The DPW garage is a heck of a thing to hold onto with a 30-year bond commitment.”

McIntire said he considers Grenier a friend, and doesn’t think the town can lose either way.

McIntire also credited the current selectboard, saying they are very generous with their time, and are always coming up with ideas. He feels some new blood on the board could do some good, however.

“I hope to bring a 56-year-old mindset, who has been in government, understands what department heads [need] to create a budget,” McIntire said. “Perhaps I will offer some new perspectives.”

Meet the candidates