Lois Kessin
District 5 - Laconia Wards 1,3,4,5,6
Ms. Kessin is running for state representative.
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Ms. Kessin has been a dedicated volunteer to many organizations, both after her return to Laconia and her award-winning work for women and girls in Massachusetts. Citizens for Belknap sees her as a reasonable, responsible, and able candidate to serve Laconia and Belknap County.
Ms. Kessin's is competing for one of four state house seats in Laconia District 5, which includes Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6.
Ms. Kessin goes way back in Laconia, with her family having moved to Laconia when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Laconia High School, then attended New York University. After college, she moved to Cambridge, MA, where she lived for 40 years, before returning to Laconia in 2017, according to her Laconia Daily Sun profile.
She grew up in a politically active family, but while in Massachusetts, she got re-engaged in politics while seeking equality in women's sports. She was a was a soccer coach for inner city girls, and helped establish a new league, the e Eastern Massachusetts Women’s Soccer League. She's been inducted in both the Massachusetts Soccer Hall of Fame, and New England Soccer Hall of Fame.
Ms. Kessin is also an active volunteer, helping at the Loon Preservation Society, restoration of Primrose Cemetery, and serving on the Laconia Heritage Committee, and Lakes Region Scholarship Board. A gardener, she also takes care of the Veterans’ Gardens at Bayside and Union Cemeteries. She's also volunteered with the New Hampshire Music Festival.
After returning to Laconia she's been an an activist, party volunteer and now a candidate. Among her issues are affordable housing, she thinks has ideas she learned in Cambridge which could help make Laconia more affordable for younger families.
Ms. Kessin also voiced concern over water quality and the impact chronic cyanobacteria outbreaks would have on the local economy. She said in her Laconia Daily Sun interview,
“And with one bloom, you're going to lose that, because, 'Wait, I can't go swimming in the lake I wanted to go in. I'm not coming,'” Kessin said, referring to tourists.
Another top priority is to bring back the Restorative Justice program to the County Corrections and Sheriff's Department, which provides a structured path for youth or first time offenders by helping them understand the impact they have on their victims. She said in her LDS interview:
"There was a restorative justice program here, and I want it back,” Kessin said. “We have kids who make dumb mistakes. We all make dumb mistakes even as adults, so, I want to see that for these kids, or young men and women. I don't want to punish them for a lifetime.”
There is more on Ms. Kessin's positions at her Citizens Count survey, and in the Citizens for Belknap questionnaires below.
Recommended
Ms. Kessin has been a dedicated volunteer to many organizations, both after her return to Laconia and in her award-winning work for women and girls in Massachusetts. Citizens for Belknap sees her as a reasonable, responsible, and able candidate to serve Laconia and Belknap County.
In Her Own Words . . .
2026 General Election Questionnaire
1. Give three examples of waste you would cut in our NH state or county government.
I believe these cuts should be made:
Northern Border Alliance. The money spent is not justified by the results.
Educational Freedom Accounts
State employee administrative expense
2. Do you believe New Hampshire needs to explore additional sources of state revenue,
or do you believe the state's current approach to taxation and revenue is working?
Please explain.
I don't believe the current approach to taxation and revenue is working. Return the
corporate tax rate to 8.5% and the enterprise tax rate to its original number. There
should be an interest and dividends tax with certain expectations. The state should
legalize cannabis sales, regulate it and tax it.
3. Do you support having an Al data center located in Belknap County? Explain.
Absolutely not. At the beginning there will be jobs, but once built there will be few jobs and we'll be left with the impact on the environment.
4. Because Laconia hosts more city and county services for the homeless, it also
shoulders more of the impact and financial burden. Would you support a county-wide
plan to offset those problems and costs? Why or why not?
Yes, I would support a county-wide plan because Laconia shoulders the heavier burden. Other towns should chip in and provide a little extra in resources to the county to help Laconia help us take care of our less fortunate.
5. Should Belknap County towns heavily impacted by out-of-state visitors receive a
higher share of Rooms & Meal tax revenue?
Yes. The state should restore the former revenue sharing amount of 40%. That would go a long way in helping towns deal with the policing, the traffic and the impact.
6. By 2030, what would be your vision for education, and its method of funding?
I think more funding needs to come from the state. We can start with restoring the Rooms and Meals tax, Income & Dividends Tax, Business Enterprise Tax and other revenue cut by the recent legislatures.
I want great public schools, strong after school programs, music & art, programs for kids who learn differently, and I want teachers to be paid. We rank 25th in the nation in average teacher pay, and 42nd for starting teacher pay. We will never be able to sustain good schools with those rates.
2026 Primary Questionnaire
1. How long have you lived in Belknap County? If you moved to the county, why did you choose to do so? If you have always lived in Belknap County, why have you stayed? If you’ve been a resident for one year or less, what prompted you to run so soon?
I have lived in Belknap County for +25 years. 1953-67 and 2017-now. I chose to retire here as I love the area. I have tried to make a difference in my volunteer work.
2. Why are you running, and what is the most important legislative issue you hope to tackle the next legislative term?
I chose to run because I see the harm the Free Staters have done to the county and NH. I hope to tackle issues concerning the environment and housing.
3. What do you see are the biggest needs or issues in Belknap County, and what would you do to fill that need?
I believe housing prices has gotten out of control. I will work with anyone to promote moderate income housing so we can attract workers and young people to the county .
4. What distinguishes you from the other candidates running in your district?
I am not certain I am distinguishable from the other Democrat candidates but I strongly believe in social programs and funding those programs.
5. A recent independent report found deficiencies in the current Belknap County jail. Would you support construction of a building that meets modern standards? Or should the existing jail be renovated?
I believe the jail should be renovated. Spending huge amounts of money for a new jail is a waste of taxpayers' money.
6. Do you agree that traditional public schools are essential to attracting business and retaining employees in Belknap county? Should our students’ education be funded at ‘adequate education’ levels as defined by the NH Supreme Court’s in the ConVal decision? Why or why not?
Traditional schools are essentially for educating the next generations. We need to prepare students for personal success through good education . I truly believe EFA is the way to ruination of our education.
7. The Belknap County Nursing Home continues to operate under capacity, yet it has a waiting list of Belknap clients. What will you do as a member of the Delegation, to assist the County Commission to maximize our nursing care facility?
I will do everything in my power to bring the nursing home to full capacity. We need to attract staff at a decent wage. It was a gemstone in our community!
8. The county nursing home and the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, including Gunstock Mountain Resort, are revenue streams owned by Belknap County. As a County Delegation member, do you support leasing out the property to a private company, or selling those operations?
I do not support leasing or selling Gunstock nor nursing home. These bring revenue into our county. Gunstock is a "destination".
9. Opioids and other drugs continue to be a problem in our communities. What are your ideas to reduce the impact of these drugs in our community? What resources are you willing to commit?
I will vote to support drug and alcohol treatment programs. I plan to speak with people involved in programs. I admit to not knowing enough on this subject.
10. Belknap County’s delegation of state representatives has the poorest rate of attendance in the state at 78% for the 2024-25 legislative session. It’s so bad that the 2nd lowest, Strafford County, is 89%. Do you commit to attending at least 80% of committee meetings, and 90% or more of Session vote days?
I will commit to 80/90%. I will try very hard not to have an unexcused absence.
11. The Belknap County Sheriff’s Department has entered into an agreement with U.S Immigration & Customs Enforcement 287(g) program agreement with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). Do you support this, and why?
I am against ICE in this county. I will work to have them leave.
Ignore - this is a duplicate of #8.
12. The county nursing home and the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, including Gunstock Mountain Resort, are revenue streams owned by Belknap County. As a County Delegation member, do you support leasing out the property/operations to a private company, or selling the property/operations?
Same as question 8.
13. Affordable housing continues to be a problem, causing challenges for our county economy, including limiting the worker pool, attracting business, and attracting younger families. If elected, what will you do to increase the stock of affordable housing?
Moderate income housing is very important to me. Without it we cannot bring workers nor young people into our community for work. I plan to work across the aisle and have sit downs with experts on the issue. It is a difficult one.
14. Without clean lakes and rivers, the Belknap County tourism economy would be in jeopardy. Should the county financially support pollution control and water quality monitoring programs? Why or why not?
The county has an obligation to save our environment. We need to protect our natural resources. Without them we will have no revenue which will kill Belknap County economy. Right now we are "pennywise and pound foolish".
15. Do you agree that the tax reduction for State revenue streams (Business Enterprise Tax, Rooms & Meals, Income & Dividends Tax, et. al), resulted in downshifted costs to Belknap county and local schools, and increased local property taxes? Why or why not?
Yes, I do agree and I believe all those reductions should be reinstated. It will take the burden off the full time resident home owner.
16. Would you favor reforming the Delegation’s meeting format? Should the Delegation conduct monthly meetings? Would you increase public input opportunities? Continue with Roberts’ Rules?
I believe the delegation should be required to have meetings at the monthly level or least regular meetings not dependent on the chair's whim.
I would support much more public input . I personally like Roberts' Rules but would be interested if there is another way of running a meeting in a cohesive and civil manner.
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