Cook on Concord

State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro spent 30 years in the State House

For anyone who has been around New Hampshire politics for a while, it is interesting to think back on the leaders who have come on the scene, been active and influential while in office, and then left the stage.

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and the drafters stated: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” That was in 1776. For the next almost 100 years, that assertion of philosophy was tested, to see whether it meant only white men from Protestant families.

A total eclipse, a major April snowstorm and unexpected political retirements all contributed to an interesting early spring landscape in New Hampshire.

Before anyone gets too enthusiastic because Congress avoided yet another default in the federal budget and claims that somehow that was an indication that bipartisan action works, consider the facts.

One of the themes woven through the government and politics days during the Leadership New Hampshire and Leadership Manchester programs is the unique nature of New Hampshire state government.

In the crazy and complex world we find ourselves inhabiting, it is sometimes valuable to block out the TV, internet and virtual world, and read a book.

Leadership is an elusive concept. I have been teaching the government and politics sessions of Leadership New Hampshire and Leadership Manchester for about 35 years, and ask each session the following questions: How many people do you see in leadership positions who you don’t think are leaders? How many leaders do you see who are not in leadership positions? Why?

Now that the 2024 New Hampshire Primary is in the rear-view mirror, what can be said of it?

Late 2023 saw some significant losses to the state, with the passing of many prominent people who contributed greatly to the progress and fabric of New Hampshire. Three of them are worthy of note here.