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Strafford County delegation selects leadership, confirms executive committee and outlines budget timeline
Summary
Delegation elected Al Howland as chair, Jessica Lamontagne as vice chair and Representative LeBlanc as clerk, approved a 15‑member executive committee slate by voice vote, and received a budget timeline and document‑delivery guidance ahead of January deadlines.
Delegates at the Strafford County delegation's Dec. 11, 2024 meeting completed organizational business: Al Howland was nominated and elected delegation chairman for 2025–2026, Jessica Lamontagne was elected vice chair by ballot, and Representative LeBlanc was approved as clerk by voice vote. The delegation also approved an executive committee selection process and confirmed a slate of nominees for the executive committee.
Nominations were made from the floor and supporters spoke to candidates' qualifications. Al Howland was nominated to be chair and, with no further nominations, the clerk was directed to cast a ballot and he was declared elected. Jessica Lamontagne and David Walker were nominated for vice chair; ballots were distributed, collected and counted, and Lamontagne was announced elected. Representative LeBlanc was the solo nominee for clerk and was confirmed by voice vote.
The chair described the executive committee composition as a party‑balanced body with the chair, vice chair and clerk serving as voting members, resulting in a 15‑member committee; this process and the slate of nominees from both parties were approved by voice vote.
County elected officials were introduced and delegates were reminded that county officials are sworn in Jan. 8 and that the county commission must present and deliver budget documents by Jan. 15. Delegates discussed opting out of receiving full paper packet attachments by mail and instead receiving attachments electronically; delegates noted statutory notice requirements (a mailed meeting notice must still be sent) but agreed email delivery of attachments would reduce printing and postage costs. Members were asked to confirm contact information with the clerk so documents and notices can be delivered electronically when desired.
Outgoing delegation members were thanked and new members were encouraged to fill out subcommittee preference forms. Delegation leadership and county staff signaled plans for a "Budgeting 101" orientation for new members, and a recent capital improvement bond of about $5,100,000 was mentioned as background for the forthcoming budget materials.
