Ovide Lamontagne for Governor

Saturday, the 21^st.  What a nice day!  It was billed as Family Fun Day at the Scamman Farm in Stratham, NH with Ovide Lamontagne, candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, as the featured speaker.  The dog days of August had settled in by early July and were showing no signs of moderating, so we were pleasantly surprised by a perfect summer day, mid-70s and low humidity.  Thanks, Ovide, now go forth and bring Concord under control.

There were several hundred in attendance, from the very young to seniors, and it is gratifying to see so many young voters participating in the process.  The Boy Scouts offered fresh-squeezed lemonade (delicious) and there was ice cream (also delicious) and cookies (I passed).  Lin and Nancy Wickett were there with Lin doing his thing with his camera.  Thanks, Lin.  Nancy Stiles, who is running for State Senator, had a booth.  This year, Kensington is part of Nancy's district so we will finally have a chance to vote for her.

Stella and Doug Scamman kicked off the formal program with a welcome to all.  State Senator Jeb Bradley followed with an appeal for ground-game support on telephone banks, yard signs, letters to the editor, carrying signs, and just general talking up for Ovide.  The next speaker was State Senator Chuck Morse, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.  He enthusiastically endorsed Ovide, important because it shows that the new Governor will have the support of the Senate.

Bettie and Ovide then took the podium.  He gave her a loving look and asked if she had anything to say.  She did.  Bettie shooed Ovide off the podium, thanked the Scammans, and gave a short but moving talk on their decision process to run for Governor and on what she expects Ovide to accomplish.

Ovide then gave a speech for a friendly audience, positive, forward looking, and inspiring.  He provided a listing of six or seven specifics that he planned to accomplish; emphasizing business and jobs, highlighting the need for local control of our schools, and stressing the urgency to reform state government.  Ovide displayed his conservative philosophy and a deep, broad understanding of the issues facing New Hampshire. 

Bettie impressed me.  She and Ovide are a handsome and lovely couple, the very picture of mutual respect.  They are the real New Hampshire; charitable, God-fearing, conservative, and capable.  Bettie is a person comfortable in her own skin, deeply devoted to her husband, and committed to his conservative quest for the governorship.  Ovide is also comfortable with himself and equally devoted to Bettie.  I have no doubt that Ovide will bring a new era of cooperation and achievement to Concord.

Ovide's probable opponent reflects the real Massachusetts; rude, strident, ideological.  If elected, she will probably force through some of her high-cost so called progressive reforms, but she will be unable to manage the day-to-day running of the state and we will  see partisan gridlock return to the Legislature.

Please join with my wife and I in voting for Ovide Lamontagne for Governor in the primary on 11 September 2012.  New Hampshire will be the beneficiary.