Gov. Chris Sununu and members of the state’s Executive Council set up shop in Franklin Pierce University’s Spagnuolo Hall for the council’s bimonthly meeting to review state contracts on Wednesday morning.

While the majority of the meetings of the Executive Council are held in the State House, for six meetings of the year, the council goes on the road, holding its meetings in locations throughout the state. Wednesday’s meeting was the fifth “road show” of the year.

The meeting began with the playing of the national anthem by the Franklin Pierce University marching band, and the singing of the school’s alma mater by professor Seamus Pender.

Before taking up official agenda items, Sununu issued two proclamations for the state, recognizing Constitution Week and New Hampshire Hunting and Fishing Day. Sununu declared Sept. 23 Hunting and Fishing Day, continuing a tradition dating back to President Richard Nixon, who declared the fourth Saturday in September to be a national hunting and fishing day.

“Hunting and fishing is such a big part of our recreation, of our conservation efforts, our Fish and Game (department) here in New Hampshire is absolutely exceptional in terms of what they do and how they do it,” Sununu said.

Constitution Week is from Sept. 17 to 23. Sununu thanked the university for its own work recognizing the Constitution, with a Constitution Day last week. Franklin Pierce President Kim Mooney said the day consisted of a democracy program in the university library courtyard, where students read from the Constitution, as well as gave readings from historic civic leaders and former presidents.

The campus also hosted state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, who gave interviews with students at the university’s media center, the Fitzwater Center, and spoke about his new biography. The campus also held a Democracy Fair, giving out information about democracy, the government and the Constitution. 

Following the opening ceremonies, the council held its regular session, including appointments to government positions and authorizing contacts for all state departments, most of which were approved with little or no discussion.

In total, the council reviewed 172 items during Wednesday’s session.

Appointments approved included the nomination of Capt. Ryan D. White of Dover to the rank of major in the New Hampshire Air National Guard, Capt. Jeremy C. Brann of Groveton to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the New Hampshire Air National Guard, Ari van’t Hoff as an attorney for the the Department of Justice, Calice M. Couchman-Ducey and Thomas J Rees as criminal investigators for the Department of Justice.

The next meeting of the New Hampshire Executive Council is Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.