CONCORD, N.H. (AP) 鈥� Republican Gov. Chris Sununu was sworn in for a fourth term Thursday, exuding confidence and calling for increased cooperation, civic engagement and local control.
Sununu defeated Democrat Tom Sherman in November, becoming only the second governor in New Hampshire history to win a fourth term. His latest inauguration 鈥� almost exactly 40 years after his father was inaugurated as governor 鈥� marked a return to tradition. Two years ago, he was sworn in during a private ceremony because of concerns about both the coronavirus pandemic and potential violence.
鈥淲e are finally here. We鈥檙e back, we鈥檙e in person, we鈥檙e shoulder to shoulder, and what an amazing opportunity that is,鈥� he told a crowd of lawmakers, state officials and guests.
After facing intense pressure to run for U.S. Senate, Sununu shocked the political establishment by seeking re-election instead. But he hasn鈥檛 ruled out a run for higher office, including president, and has been building and maintaining a high profile nationally.
On Thursday, he devoted much of his speech to championing New Hampshire鈥檚 successes, calling the state an 鈥渋sland of freedom surrounded by frankly highly taxed and highly regulated states.鈥�
He touted its high rankings for public safety, personal freedom and economic opportunity. He highlighted investments in housing, property tax relief and substance use disorder treatment.
鈥淣one of this is an accident. It鈥檚 the result of smart management, responsible decision-making and simply putting individuals 鈥� simply putting people 鈥� first,鈥� Sununu said.
The speech included no policy proposals 鈥� those likely will come in a budget address next month. Instead, he sought to set a tone for the next two years at a time when the country and state are deeply divided.
Sununu called New Hampshire鈥檚 near-even split in its 400-member House 鈥渁n awesome opportunity鈥� to show the nation that cooperation and compromise are possible.
鈥淭he voters of New Hampshire do not reward those who yell the loudest, but they reward those who work hard, roll up their sleeves and get the job done,鈥� he said.
One area of cooperation will be the state鈥檚 effort to protect its first-in-the-nation presidential primary as the Democratic National Committee moves to shake up the nominating calendar. Both Sununu and New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley wrote protest letters to the DNC鈥檚 rulemaking arm Thursday, and Sununu said in his speech that the two parties stand united.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strong message of bipartisanship, and frankly, as strong as any one you鈥檝e ever seen here in the state,鈥� he said.
Moving from national politics to the local level, Sununu extolled both the state鈥檚 embrace of civic engagement and the guiding principle of local control. Those in government should stay connected to constituents, he said, while also getting out of the way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very simple formula. In New Hampshire, we distill decision-making down to the lowest possible levels of power, empowering individuals to make their voices heard at the local level, where their voice is the greatest,鈥� he said.
The original plan for Sununu鈥檚 2021 inauguration called for an outdoor ceremony and speech to allow for social distancing during the pandemic. But he canceled the ceremony because of armed protesters who had been gathering outside his home to oppose mask mandates and other restrictions.
On Thursday, protesters outside the Statehouse included those taking Sununu to task for signing a state budget that included abortion restrictions and for backing legislation they argue amounts to voter suppression. Others carried signs urging him to remove what they consider pornography from school libraries.
Democrats criticized the speech, saying voters should look beyond Sununu鈥檚 鈥渁ww shucks鈥� attitude. 鈥淲hen this governor has been in New Hampshire 鈥� and not touring the country in an attempt to prop up his national image ahead of a doomed presidential run 鈥� his work has centered on a predictable strategy: take credit for everything good, deny blame for everything bad," Buckley said in a statement.
Holly Ramer, The Associated Press
