Bald confirmed as DRED chief

George Bald, former commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Development, will officially be returning to the job in early April following the 3-1 vote yesterday by the Executive Council to confirm his appointment.

The Somersworth resident, who served as DRED commissioner from 1998 to 2004, left the post to become executive director of the Pease Development Authority.

At DRED, he earned a reputation for his ability to bring people together, most notably in working to attract Fraser Papers to buy the then-bankrupt shuttered American Tissue pulp and paper mills in Berlin and Gorham. For his efforts, in reopening the mills, Bald was made an honorary citizen of both communities.

Gov. John Lunch said he was “pleased that New Hampshire will have George Bald’s talents back at work at the Department of Resources and Economic Development. … We must make sure we our doing everything possible to ensure that New Hampshire’s businesses and citizens have the tools they need to compete in today’s global economy, and George Bald will be an important partner with me, the legislature, the Executive Council and communities in that effort.”

The only vote against Bald’s confirmation was cast by Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek. Councilor Ruth Griffin was not at the meeting. – JEFF FEINGOLD