Lahey wants to follow through on State School property; will run again

LACONIA — With a week until the filing period for candidates for the City Council opens on August 8 Matt Lahey, the incumbent in Ward 2, said yesterday that he will seek re-election.

Lahey is no stranger to the council chamber. He has served five terms as mayor, three from 1996 to 2002 and two from 2006 to 2010, and three as a councilor, two from 1992-1996 as well as his current term. In other words, he has been returned either as mayor or city councilor at eight of the past ten elections and, but for the years 2002-2006, served for 16 of the past 20 years.

Lahey said that he felt obliged to run again because of his role in the effort to transfer the tract on North Main Street that once housed the the Laconia State School to the city. He chaired a commission convened by the Legislature to consider the redevelopment of the property and, earlier this year, when state lawmakers decided to sell the property, initiated an effort by the city to acquire it. "I have to see this through," Lahey said, adding that he continues to discuss the project with state officials, including Senator Chuck Morse (R-Salem), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith), a member of the committee.

Lahey said that the next step will be to hold a public meeting on the future of the site next month at a date and venue to be announced.