With great sorrow I just learned that a friend of mine in the New Hampshire House has passed away. The man was without a doubt the most gifted orator I have ever heard in person. It is a rare gift to be able to change two dozen minds in 90 seconds, but I saw Steve Vallaincourt do that several times. We did not agree on every issue, but we agreed more often than not, and Steve had an exceptionally strong grasp on history, philosophy, and the law.
I hesitate to add this paragraph but Steve always demanded the full truth so I'm going to do so. There are those who thought of Steve as abrasive, and he could indeed be curmudgeonly. That he could be so persuasive with his eloquence and reason despite that fact is an indication of his effectiveness as a legislator.
One last thing. Steve holds the distinction of being the only person in New Hampshire's long history of being elected as a Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian. In all of his years in the House, and I think if memory serves it was roughly 20, he only missed one day. Indeed, when his committee met today and his chair was empty, people who knew him immediately knew something was wrong because he never let his constituents be represented by an empty chair.
Godspeed Steve. I'll miss your knowledge and wit.
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