Hosmer leaves legacy of investment in a 'city on the move'

LACONIA — Mayor Andrew Hosmer was celebrated Monday night during his final council meeting, with city leaders highlighting his role in downtown revitalization and the restoration of the Colonial Theatre. 

Hosmer resigned his position during the council's regular meeting. He’ll move on to Lebanon in Grafton County, where he’s set to serve as that city’s manager. 

Hosmer was elected to the office of mayor three times, succeeding Edward J. Engler, and previously served on the Laconia City Council representing Ward 6. 

“Since the opening of the Colonial [Theatre], at that time the value of the Downtown [Tax Increment Financing] District was $108 million — it’s currently estimated at $148 million, that’s an increase of 37% and about $40 million. The Downtown [TIF district] generates $1.6 million a year in revenue to the city, between school and city taxes,” Ward 3 Councilor Eric Hoffman said. “I think that’s an incredible success, and I think a lot of credit goes to soon-to-be-former Mayor Hosmer. And I know he shares the credit with the former mayor and former councilors, but I think it’s a great legacy that he’s left behind. When you have the vision to have a community invest in itself and promote economic development, that we’ve really achieved a self-sustaining district downtown, anchored by the Colonial Theatre.”

“It’s been a privilege,” Ward 4 Councilor Mark Haynes said Monday morning. “He’s been a great teacher, I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Hosmer was a great contributor to the city, Haynes said. Their relationship tracks back to the beginning of Hosmer’s municipal service — he called Haynes while considering running for the council seat formerly occupied by Armand Bolduc, and asked him for his support. 

When Hosmer eventually ran for mayor while Engler was not seeking reelection, Haynes fully supported him. They've sat next to each other in the council chambers since then. 

“I enjoyed working with him as a councilor,” Haynes said. 

“This is a very bittersweet moment for me in many respects. It’s my final meeting where I get to serve as the mayor, and I really feel strongly about three things: a great sense of gratitude, tremendous pride in this city and hope for the future,” Hosmer said Monday night. “I have gratitude for the trust that the citizens of this community have placed in me and being elected three times to serve as the mayor. I have a great deal of pride in the work that this council, and previous iterations, have done. I have a great deal of pride in what the employees of the City of Laconia accomplish on a daily basis, as well.”

When he first ran for mayor, in 2019, his slogan was “Laconia is a city on the move.” 

“Six years later, I believe that even more strongly. We are a city with grit, determination and a tremendous heart, and we keep rising to the challenges that are in front of us,” Hosmer said, pointing to the revival of the Colonial Theatre and extensive new investment downtown, the rebirth of Lakeport as a “lively” neighborhood, and major improvements in the Weirs as evidence of the city moving forward. 

“Since 2019 or ‘18, property values in this city have gone up over $2 billion. Now, that may not say everything we need to know about this city, but I think it’s unmistakeable,” Hosmer said. “Land prices and property are increasing in value, of course, but Laconia remains a desirable place for people to invest, to locate their business, to retire to and I think, most importantly, to call home.”

Noting contributions made by individuals as part of Hands Across the Table, Got Lunch! Laconia, Rotary, Kiwanis and other groups, Hosmer said it's the people in Laconia, not buildings or numbers, who make the city great. 

“It’s the people in this city that create a community,” he said.

“I worked with Andrew for a long time,” Chamber of Commerce President Karmen Gifford said Monday, noting she’s known him since before his time in service to the city, first as a councilor and then as mayor. “It’s a pleasure to have worked with him.”

Hosmer put lots of his own time and energy into the job, going above and beyond the responsibilities of the position, and was always accessible, Gifford said. 

During the meeting that would be Hosmer’s last, Haynes read aloud a proclamation before a packed council chamber, recognizing Hosmer’s contributions to the city. Hosmer also read proclamations in honor of Got Lunch! Laconia, Bank of New Hampshire, and naming Charlie St. Clair as the city’s first Citizen of the Year. 

“Mayor, I want to thank you for all you’ve done during your term here. Obviously the whole council works at this, but you are the main guy, and you’ve been so great during the Motorcycle Week and the rest of the year, helping us out,” St. Clair said. “We got through 2020 with the virus, that was a challenge for everybody here, and we were able to still pull a rally off. And that was a big deal to people all over the country, it really was."

St. Clair is the executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week, and also serves Laconia as a Democrat in the Statehouse.

“I didn’t bring any flowers or anything but just pretend I did,” St. Clair said. “Thank you very much, as a citizen of Laconia you’ve done a great job. You followed well in the footsteps of the former mayors, so I appreciate that and I salute you for that, so thank you again.”