Matt Lahey: Bruce Cheney, Bob Soucy share positive vision for Laconia

To The Daily Sun,

A closely aligned group of candidates challenging the current city council has been nothing but negative about the state of our fair city. They tell us nothing about what they would do if elected, but vaguely complain in unison about “transparency,” and say how bad things are.

The only specifics the group talks about are ominous — saying that the city should “get out of the real estate business,” code language for selling the Colonial Theatre; and wanting to cut the school budget, despite its operating within the city’s tax cap for 19 years. Those of us that were here in 1989 remember the results of a similar movement — loss of teachers, kindergarten and athletics.

The group also criticizes the current council for homelessness in the city without offering any solutions. Homelessness is not unique to Laconia. The city and private organizations do their best to deal with it. But no city is likely to “solve” the homeless problem alone, with its transient, ever-changing population. The underlying causes of homelessness have to be addressed at the state and national levels.

Voters should reject this group’s negative depiction of Laconia. Laconia has been referred to as “The City on the Move,” and with good reason. The improvements that have been made over the past three decades by city and school administrators, city councils, school boards and most importantly, citizen volunteers and entrepreneurs, are truly extraordinary.

These include the Colonial Theatre and a resurgent downtown, schools, fire and police, parks, library, Lakes Business Park, roads and utilities. All done within a tax cap since 2006.

I will be voting for two steady hands, Bruce Cheney for mayor and Bob Soucy for Ward 2 councilor. They have the experience, knowledge and positive vision to keep Laconia moving in the right direction.

Matt Lahey

Laconia