CONCORD — Three of the four major gubernatorial candidates officially filed to run for the corner office Thursday. The filings were for the Sept. 11 party primaries.

All three pledged to be a hands-on governor and all said change is needed, but they disagreed on what that change should be.

Republican Ovide Lamontagne of Manchester was first to file, pledging to Secretary of State Bill Gardner he would run his campaign with integrity and decorum and focus on the important issues facing the state, refraining from personal attacks.

Lamontagne was joined by about 100 family, friends and supporters.

He said he is running to restore the citizens' faith in the state and in the country. “I ran in 2010 a positive campaign focused on the issues and focused on bringing people together to let the people decide and not personal attacks,” he said.

Like Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin, Lamontagne said he wants to reform state government, but based on what is needed for New Hampshire.

He said he wants to be known as the governor who reduced regulations, saying businesses are overregulated in the state.

“State government's role is to get out of the way and let the job creators do what they do best,” Lamontagne said. “Government is not a player on the field, but a referee.”

While praising Gov. John Lynch for his bipartisan approach, Lamontagne said, unlike the governor, “I will make decisions. I will not let a bill go (into law) without my signature. I will sign or veto every bill and be a hands-on governor,” working with lawmakers.

Kevin Smith of Litchfield also filed for the Republican gubernatorial nomination Thursday, appearing with his wife, three children and parents.

“We've been saying this election is a choice between business as usual and continuing the stale politics of the past, or a new era with a new vision,” Smith said.

He said he intends to run a campaign of substance, noting he is the only candidate with a detailed plan to make New Hampshire's economy competitive with every other state in the country.

Smith said he would be a more hands-on governor than Lynch, noting the governor is not decisive on key issues. “You would know there is a leader in the corner office,” Smith said, if he is elected.

Smith worked for former Gov. Craig Benson when he was in office and said he would take a different approach than Benson.

“As governor you have to understand you need buy-in from the legislature if you want to get your policies passed,” Smith said. “To accomplish your agenda, you need to work with the legislative leadership and to work with the stockholders as well.”

Smith, a former House member, was recently the executive director of Cornerstone Action, a socially and fiscally conservative activist group. Smith resigned to explore a run for governor.

Democrat Jackie Cilley of Barrington had her three grandchildren help her when she filed to seek the gubernatorial nomination.

Cilley said she represents the interests of working families and Main Street business owners who seek a quality education for all students, good roads and bridges and a clean environment.

Cilley, who refuses to take the long-standing pledge to veto any broad-based tax, said, “it is time to have an honest conversation with the people of New Hampshire about what our priorities are going to be and how to fund them.”

The focus on preventing broad-based taxes has pushed the tax burden onto property taxes and business taxes, making New Hampshire unfriendly for businesses, she said, adding that is “destroying our New Hampshire advantage. That's a choice.”

Cilley wants to end discussion about a constitutional amendment on education that pits one community against another for state aid, and said she would be “a hands-on governor” who would be more visible in state agencies and departments.

Cilley served in both the State Senate and House, and is a small business owner and educator born in Berlin.

The last expected major gubernatorial candidate, former Democratic state Sen. Maggie Hassan of Exeter, is scheduled to file with the Secretary of State's Office at noon today.

The filing period closes today at 5 p.m., but the political parties can file candidates for open seats by Wednesday and candidates have until Friday to withdraw.

grayno@unionleader.com