Hello, Thornton residents,
I’m Peter Laufenberg, and I’m honored to run for reelection to the Board of Selectmen. My family came to Thornton in 1984 when my parents bought the Gilcrest Motel and proceeded to spend the next 40 years here. Growing up, receiving an education, and now raising my own family here has been a privilege.
When I first ran for selectmen, I wrote the following for the local newspaper explaining why I was running.
Thornton faces many challenges as we enter the third decade of the 21st century. Simply put, Thornton is at an inflection point. Population growth is putting stress on our town services. Outside developers are looking to pursue significant projects in our town. Our modern economy has changed how people live, work, and play in our community, reshaping decades old norms. These are good challenges to have; it shows that Thornton is a desirable place to be. But if the town is not prepared for these challenges, then Thornton will find itself at a disadvantage.
Thornton needs selectmen that can make sure the town is prepared for the times we live in and prepare the best possible way for the future. My previous municipal government service in Thornton and elsewhere has given me invaluable experience and I will use that insight to make sure Thornton is ready for the challenges we face. The choice is not between progress at the expense of our identity as a small rural town or vis-a-versa; we need to balance both.
3 years on I believe this still rings true. Thornton is better positioned than it was 3 years ago to face the ever-changing world we find ourselves in, but there is still work to be done. It in the next three years my focus will be:
- Continue to be vigilant in how the town spends our tax dollars. I am not foolish enough to promise taxes will never go up. I can say I will continue to work hard to keep taxes as level as possible without sacrificing the basic services the townspeople expect.
- Good governance and efficient governance of the town of Thornton. To me this means making things as clear and transparent as possible for folks in town as they interact with their local government and its services.
- Respecting the personal property rights that we all have under NH state law as it is paramount in maintaining our community’s integrity and identity.
It’s been an honor serving Thornton for the past three years, and I’m happy to continue to serve. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you around town.