Tagged: Ovide Lamontagne

Both gubernatorial candidates Maggie Hassan and Ovide Lamontagne say the state’s tourism efforts are important but must be weighed against budget concerns.

Lamontagne and Hassan appeared at a tourism summit in Concord Wednesday morning, answering audience-submitted questions from tourism businesses owners.

Both candidates say they wouldn’t support an increase in the Meals and Rentals tax -- the second largest source of revenue for the state.

However, Hassan stated that she wouldn’t rule out raising tolls and the gas tax, but said it’s not likely.

New Hampshire's candidates for governor continue to clash over how to fund health care reform.

Republican Ovide Lamontagne and Democrat Maggie Hassan met for their fourth debate at the Capitol Center for the Arts, in a 90-minute gathering sponsored by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits.

Hassan sought to align Lamontagne with House Speaker Bill O’Brien.  She pointed to Lamontagne’s refusal to accept federal funds for setting up a healthcare exchange or expanding Medicaid.

While topics ranged from health care to commuter rail, Republican Ovide Lamontagne returned again and again to taxes. He said Democrat Maggie Hassan was a political with a track record of raising taxes and extending government’s reach.

“There is no stopping where she’ll go for new money, and I keep reminding the people that every tax, every fee, every time government takes money from you and from us, and from business, they’re taking away some freedom and liberty from us, and we can’t forget that.”

Democrat Maggie Hassan and Republican Ovide Lamontagne are meeting for a gubernatorial candidates' debate at Rivier University in Nashua.

N.J. Governor Chris Christie helped Lamontagne raise money in Bedford, and joined him for a tour of a Medical device maker in Hudson. The pair then rallied Republicans in Atkinson. Throughout Christie suggested that electing Democrat Maggie Hassan would pave the way for an income tax.

“Anybody, like Maggie, who’s running against Ovide here, who starts whispering about an income tax, you know what that means, because politician who starts whispering about an income tax they’ve already started making up their minds.”

Ovide Lamontagne secured the Republican nomination for his gubernatorial bid. He beat challenger Kevin Smith and will go on to face Maggie Hassan in the general election in November.

(Chants of "Ovide, Ovide")

Ovide Lamontagne took the podium shortly after accepting rival Kevin Smith's concession. But he didn't bask in the glow of victory for long.

"Please savor the moment. Savor the moment, because it's over."

Lamontagne's race was one of the first called of the evening, and he wasted no time in setting his sights on his Democratic opponent.

GOP gubernatorial candidates Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith spent the last day before the primary pressing the flesh.  The two even campaigned together...sort of.