LACONIA — By a narrow margin, state Rep. Mike Bordes (R-Laconia) is the city’s next mayor.

Bordes, a three-term representative in Concord, beat Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney, 1,604 votes to 1,549, in the Municipal Election on Tuesday. Bordes will assume the seat left vacant by former Mayor Andrew Hosmer, and filled in the interim by state Rep. Charlie St. Clair (D-Laconia).

Bordes ran a campaign stressing the importance of lowering the tax burden on residents in an election where the cost of housing and the toll of homelessness were top issues among voters.

By the city charter, Laconia’s municipal elections are nonpartisan, though former Gov. Chris Sununu (R) endorsed Bordes, and former governor and sitting Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) endorsed Cheney for the city's top job.

Cheney won W

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