Prudence Morin Veysey: Read the Citizens for Belknap County’s 2026 Voter’s Guide

To The Daily Sun,

I read with both sadness and amusement at the comments by Belknap County Republican leader Doug Lambert, scrambling to defend his campaign for his candidates to boycott the Citizens for Belknap 2026 Voter's Guide candidate questionnaire. We invite and encourage voters to read the candidate questionnaire for themselves at CitizensforBelknap.org/questions.

Instead of the bias and conspiracy theories being alleged, readers will find real questions about important Belknap County issues like the repairing/replacing the county jail, education funding and taxes, protection of our lakes, and affordable housing ― questions which affect all voters. One of the questions addresses our delegation's attendance ― the worst in the state ― and whether they will commit to doing better. Thankfully, several Republican candidates thought better of the boycott, and thoughtfully answered questions for the voters. Others have unwisely chosen to withhold their opinions.

This year, Citizens for Belknap has also organized candidate forums, beginning with Meredith on Sept. 1 Belmont on Sept. 2, and Gilford on Sept. 3, each with a moderator not associated with the organization, and with questions directly from voters. As with our questionnaire, all candidates were invited to participate. It seems that in every Laconia Daily Sun interview, the candidate says he or she will listen to the public's opinion. Will they? A number of candidates have also chosen not to participate in our candidate forums. For the sake of the voters and our county, we hope they change their minds, show up, and share their views.

Candidates who lack transparency and ignore the voters are likely to carry that attitude to the Statehouse. Defending such behavior from candidates purporting to represent us is defending the indefensible.

Voters, please find the Citizens for Belknap Voter's Guide at CitizensforBelknap.org/votersguide, and see who did, and did not, participate.

Prudence Morin Veysey

Gilmanton