STEVEN BOGERT
District 5 - Laconia Wards 1,3,4,5,6
Mr. Bogert is a State Rep and is running for re-election
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Mr. Bogert has our full support as he has represented his constituents in a reasonable and responsible manner.
Learn more below.
Rep. Steve Bogert seeks a second term in the House, having had one of his bills signed by the Governor, an accomplishment for a first term legislator. HB 1296 prohibits co-pays for routine breast examinations, an advancement which will likely save lives by encouraging more women to get checked.
Rep. Bogert coordinated the County Delegation’s reboot of the Belknap County budget in 2023, and helped tweak it again for 2024. His presentation of the proposed budgets by county department heads and the modest final changes by the Delegation was helpful in restoring faith in responsible county governance, and he should be commended.
He and the Delegation had no small task, particularly with the 2023 budget. Because former Delegation chair Mike Sylvia and libertarians had cut budgets below what was needed to meet its obligations, county emergency funds had dwindled to dangerous levels. With Bogert’s participation, a balance between necessary expenses and tax increases was struck by the Delegation.
With Senator Tim Lang, and Reps. Mike Bordes, Charlie St. Clair and others, Rep. Bogert sponsored a bill for the State to allocate $3 Million for the City of Laconia for infrastructure expenses related to the redevelopment of the former Laconia State School. The bill passed the Senate, but was killed in the House.
Bogert supported HB1470, a bill establishing a committee to study the feasibility and impact of tax credits and other incentives to increase the availability of low-income housing and workforce housing. Workforce housing has continued to be a challenging issue in the Lakes Region.
Rep. Bogert, like Rep. Matt Coker, took an active role in making sure Rep. Barbara Comtois’ HB 1414 bill, another attempt to attack Gunstock, was killed in the House. He attended hearings and made sure his House colleagues knew the Delegation had passed a resolution NOT supporting the bill. Ms. Comtois persisted and mobilized Free State and libertarian caucus members to support HB 1414 on the House floor after the Municipal & County Government committee had recommended the bill be killed. It was defeated by a healthy margin.
Steven Bogert's comments from Laconia Daily Sun article - September 2, 2022
For challenger Bogert, the Gunstock situation was a reflection of partisanship, bickering and extremism in American politics, something he’d like to step away from.
“Maybe it’s time we evolved that type of government into a different form,” Bogert said of the current organizational setup of Gunstock. “I wouldn’t mind seeing if our county government couldn’t be morphed into something more self-determined. It seems to me we elect three county commissioners, and all the hard work they do representing the people of the county gets dragged through the delegation.”
Bogert, who calls himself an open-minded Republican, continued: “Everything seems to be in a stalemate situation where no matter what someone is coming up with, it’s whatever party is in power is what gets done.”
Bogert is currently the clerk for Ward 5 in Laconia and has been on the zoning board for about 20 years. During that time, he’s grown increasingly concerned with housing availability and affordability in the area.
“I’ve raised two kids here through the high school and system in Laconia,” Bogert said. “I’ve sent them to college at NH and they both had to leave the area so they could afford to live.”
“When I say affordable housing, I’m not talking about slum housing,” Bogert explained. “I’m talking about something that is respectable where people can be proud to live in and contribute.”
Bogert referenced a proposed 90-unit apartment complex planned for Laconia’s south end that was approved by the zoning board in 2021 as a boost to city housing issues. He also cited the soon-to-be-sold State School property as a strong opportunity to improve housing in Belknap County.
“There’s enough property out there it can fulfill a large amount of requirements for our local society,” Bogert said, stating a multi-income housing development as a possible use for the land. “We could have multi-income levels of housing and have more businesses so you can live over there, work over there, which then helps to reduce the footprint on the roads and stuff, so maybe people most of the time can walk or ride to work. That property is nicely located next to the industrial park where we have factories.”
Bogert touted his campaign slogan as “for our future,” and emphasized the region’s need not only to grow, but adapt to the current times.
“With the advent of new technology, if society itself even at a local level does not adjust itself, then it’s going to be left behind,” Bogert said, referencing increased remote work opportunities and shifting demographics. “Then people are going to move to other areas and then you end up with more issues than you gained by not addressing the future with the current plans.”
From the Laconia Daily Sun
Steven Bogert: Is it time for the Gunstock Commission to become an elected position?
In His Own Words . . .
Mr. Bogert returned his Citizens for Belknap Questionnaire with these responses:
. Economic Development: I support polls that promote local businesses
and job creation. Believe in reducing regulations to make it easier for
businesses to thrive in New Hampshire.
. Public Works and Infrastructure: As a member of the Public Works and
Highways Committee, I am committed to improving the state’s
infrastructure, and including roads and public buildings.
. Fiscal Responsibility: I advocate for responsible budgeting and
reducing government spending to ensure that taxpayer money is used
efficiently.
. Community Involvement: I can-not emphasizes enough, how
importance of community engagement and local governance. I have a
long history of servicing in various local government roles, which
reflects my commitment to addressing community needs.
. Education: I support policies that enhance educational opportunities
and resources for students, aiming to improve the quality of education
in the city and state.
During my first term in office, I worked tirelessly to rebuild the county's
political relationship with Concord, as many bridges were burned by the
previous delegation.
With the help of other Belknap County Delegates, using a common sense
approach, we restored the Belknap County budget to a properly funded
level.
By appointing new members to the Gunstock Area Commission, we
created an atmosphere that is now a great place to work and visit. I initiated a legislative debate and, in turn, the majority of the delegation defeated HB 1414 introduced by the same group of Free State Libertarians. This action helped to prevent financial stress on Gunstock Mountain Resort.
I've assisted Senator Tim Lang to increase state funding by $2,000,000 for
the Laconia School District.
I lead the charge in defeating SB553, which would have reduced the return
on investment with funds deposited by the City of Laconia, which would
have cost the city about $800,000.
I stood my ground debating against unnecessary bills being introduced by
the far right and far left political groups, pushing their agenda.
In order to close the loop in Laconia, I have been elected to represent the
people in Ward 5, as a City Councilor.
As a State Representative, it is my hope that I have done the job the
people of Laconia wanted and that the voters will re-elect me to a second
term.
