As Executive Councilor, my job is to serve as a voice for all Granite Staters, ensuring that state decisions reflect the needs and concerns of our communities. Recently, I’ve been digging into an issue that hits close to home for the people of the North Country —a proposed New Hampshire Air National Guard project near the Berlin Regional Airport. It’s just one example of how I’m working to make sure local perspectives aren’t lost in the shuffle of state government.
Kevin Landrigan captured the story in the Union Leader on March 28, 2025:
“Stephen steps up for Berlin
Councilor Stephen questioned whether the state had done enough due diligence with the city of Berlin after receiving a petition from nearly 100 residents concerned about the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s plan to build a army aviation operations building next to the Berlin Regional Airport.‘I was misled. I don’t believe the collaboration early on was as effective as we thought it was,’ Stephen did.
The council without debate approved at its March 12 meeting a 50-year lease for the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to use a federal grant to place this new building on a 5.66-acre parcel next to the airport.
Adjutant General David Mikolaities pointed out the land in question is not city land but in fact owned by the Federal Aviation Administration as it’s within the footprint of the airport that is not in Berlin but in the neighboring town of Milan.
Mikolaities said his office had been in contact with the Berlin Airport Authority and stressed his ‘engineers and pilots’ will continue communicating with local officials as the project gets underway.”
When nearly 100 residents from the town of Milan raised red flags about this project, I couldn’t sit idly by. Their petition made it clear that the early outreach wasn’t as thorough as it should have been—a sentiment I share after realizing the collaboration fell short of what we’d been led to believe. Though the Council approved the 50-year lease on March 12, I spoke up because I believe we owe it to every community to do our homework and get the process right.
This isn’t just about Berlin—it’s about a bigger principle. Whether it’s a military project in the North Country, highway safety across the state, or how we invest our public funds, I’m committed to ensuring New Hampshire’s government listens to the people it serves. The Berlin situation underscores why I push for transparency and accountability at every turn. Adjutant General Mikolaities has pledged ongoing dialogue with local officials, and I’ll be watching to make sure that happens. But beyond that, I’m focused on making sure communities everywhere—from Berlin to Manchester and beyond—have a real say in decisions that shape their lives.
My work on the Executive Council is about bridging the gap between state actions and local impact. It’s why I’ve also been pressing for more local investment of the state’s $750 million Public Deposit Investment Pool and leading the charge for a Highway Safety Task Force. These efforts all tie back to one goal: growing the New Hampshire Advantage by putting our people first. I’d love to hear what’s on your mind—drop me a line and let’s keep the conversation going.
