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'Out-of-the-box' strategies needed to fix downtown

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Doug Lachance (Courtesy photo)

Editor's note: This week as we look to Tuesday's election The Rochester Voice will publish the answers to a questionnaire we sent out to all mayoral candidates. Here is the third featuring former mayor Doug Lachance..

After a brief synopsis of the candidate's biographical info, the questions will follow.

Profession: Realtor and small business owner

Political history: Former NH State rep from Barrington, NH 1986-1990, Barrington Selectman and Rochester Mayor from 1998-2001.

Why you want to be mayor?

I want to be Mayor again because our downtown is in desperate straits.

What do you think Rochester's biggest challenge is?

Our biggest challenge is rebuilding a decimated downtown and the opioid crisis which is not isolated to Rochester.

What is one specific remedy that could help our foundering downtown?

There is no single remedy. To quote U.S. Sen. Angus King, "There are no silver bullets, we need silver buckshot." The approach must be comprehensive, collaborative and include improvements in our residential capacity as well as commercial capacity. We must focus on our downtown residential opportunities as well as tackling the issues of absentee landlords in our commercial sector. We should not be afraid to use every available legal means to accomplish this, nor should we be fearful to try new, innovative, "out-of-the-box" approaches to accomplish this. To quote Henry Ford, "if you want what you've always had, do what you've always done."

How would you describe your philosophy of government?

My philosophy towards government is that government should protect and defend individual rights while providing those services collectively that cannot be adequately provided individually.

Where do you stand on Keno? And why?

I support Keno, also casino gambling. People are going to gamble: fantasy football and pools, scratch tickets, Friday night poker...etc. So why not organize it and tax it? We could no more stop drinking with prohibition than we can stop gambling...

As mayor what will be your first specific priority be?

As Mayor, my first priority will be to hold an economic summit with the Rochester Economic Development Commission, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Downtown Business Owners and Economic Development Dept. and anyone else with a stake in downtown to map out a plan forward to right the ship that is not just listing, but nearly below the surface. We have more than 25 empty store fronts in our downtown and the current approach is to buy and raze vacant properties. This trend can, must and will stop with a Lachance Administration.

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