Ward 3 councilor to fill St. Clair's vacancy on November ballot

LACONIA — Councilor Eric Hoffman (Ward 3) will take the place of Charlie St. Clair, who died Aug. 22, on the General Election ballot Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Laconia Democratic Committee on Friday. Hoffman joins Marcia Hayward, Lois Kessin, and Denise Riley, who are running to represent the city in the Statehouse.

“After Charlie's passing, I was asked to put my name on the ballot, and I felt like it was something I should do. Charlie gave so much to the community,” Hoffman said. “He was involved in so many things. Taking his place on the ballot was the one small thing I can do to help continue his work of doing what's best for the people of Laconia.”

As ballots had already been printed for the Primary Election, St. Clair’s name appeared on the ballot on Sept. 8. Of the 5,647 votes cast for Democratic candidates running to represent Laconia wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, St. Clair received 620 of them, along with other write-ins for various positions.

Since St. Clair cannot appear on the ballot in November, Dan Hooberman, chair of the Laconia Democratic Committee, said they had to think quickly to determine the best candidate for the seat.

“He was the obvious choice, since people know him, and he’s just such a wonderful candidate,” he said of Hoffman.

Hooberman called Hoffman a “standout” candidate.

“He’s a wonderful guy and served Laconia for a long time,” Hooberman said. “He’s very thoughtful and careful, and we’re just thrilled to have him as a candidate.”

Hoffman said things were official last week, and from now until Nov. 3, he will put up signs, knock on doors, and attend events to spread the word about his campaign.

Hoffman has served on the Laconia City Council, representing Ward 3, since he was sworn in on Jan. 8, 2024.

“I think something I've learned in the last three years on city council is how much the decisions made, in Concord, really affect Laconia, and affect our ability to put together a budget, or our ability to enforce our own zoning, or our ability to plan the future of the city,” Hoffman said. “I think I have a lot of insight into what's best for Laconia, and how the laws they passed, in Concord, affect us, and things that need to change.”

As he heads into the General Election, Hoffman said property taxes are the No. 1 issue on his mind.

“The state keeps cutting revenue, and increasing spending. The result shouldn't surprise anyone that our property taxes go up,” Hoffman said. “I'd like to see the state shift the tax burden back from the middle class onto the wealthy. They've gotten rid of the Interest and Dividends Tax, they've reduced the corporate tax, and we're all paying the difference.”

Hoffman said other issues heavy on his mind are housing and education.

“We obviously have a severe housing shortage in New Hampshire, and I think that shortage is driving up costs for everyone,” Hoffman said. “We need to do a better job of incentivizing the development of housing at all income levels. I think we have the programs in place to do it, they're just not funded correctly.”

In terms of education, Hoffman said there are some “real problems” with the Educational Freedom Account voucher program.

“With the lack of accountability, the lack of oversight, it's going over budget every year,” Hoffman said. “It's costing taxpayers money, it's taking money out of their schools, and it's going to places that I think most people would be surprised to know that that's where their taxpayer money is going.”

Hoffman said if elected, he will bring learned skills and collaboration experience from his time spent on the city council.

“I try to respond to every email, text message, and phone call that people send me. I try to listen to people, and represent their interests on the city council,” Hoffman said. “And I think I'd be the same kind of representative. I'm not there for my ideology, or my vision. It's about doing what's best for the people of Laconia, and representing them in the Legislature.”

Also on the General Election ballot to represent Laconia in the Statehouse will be Republicans Cody Pfaff, Paul Rossi, Tim Minor, and Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), also the city's mayor. There are four seats available. 

Following the Primary Election, Riley said she is feeling confident and thought she did well, receiving 993 votes. Riley noted the lack of young people voting Sept. 8, specifically those in their 20s or 30s. She hopes throughout her campaign she can continue to show her constituents "fact from fiction" and urges those with questions to reach out.

Hoffman spoke of St. Clair’s vast impact on Laconia, as he enters the race.

“I think his absence is something the city is going to feel for a very long time. And I felt like if I could do something to help carry on the work, that I should do it.”