LACONIA — Andrew J. Hosmer is hoping to trade in his car dealer license plates for a State Senate District 7 plate in November, when voters chose between him and Republican Josh Youssef.

Hosmer, 48, of Laconia, a Democrat, said he is motivated to bring back some common sense and compromise under the gold dome and to work for the people of the region rather than ideology.

State Senate District 7 is a new district, which includes Laconia, Franklin, Belmont, Andover, Boscawen, Canterbury, Gilford, Northfield, Salisbury and Webster. When Laconia was in Senate District 4 in 2010, Hosmer ran but lost to Republican Jim Forsythe of Strafford.

Hosmer and his family own the AutoServe dealerships with eight franchises and four locations in Tilton, Belmont and Plymouth. They sell Ford, Kia, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Volkswagen vehicles.

A native of West Springfield, Mass., he graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned a law degree at Suffolk University. He worked an assistant district attorney in Hampden County, Mass., for about five years before marrying and moving to the Lakes Region where he and his wife Donna are raising four children, Brigid, 11, and triplets who are turning 8 this month, Ava, Amelia and Andrew.

His in-laws, Paul and Brigid Gaudet of Gilford started the business in 1989 in Tilton.

Hosmer said running a business has taught him a lot about the people of the region and their needs.

He does not see those needs being met, currently, in Concord nor much in the way of compromise, he said.

“The ideologues have taken over Concord and their priority and agenda don’t seem consistent with Granite State values or priorities,” he said.

“I am not an ideologue. I am willing to work with others. In Concord they don’t behave that way. It is their way or no way,” he said.

“They said they would focus on jobs and the economy and they haven’t done that.”

He gives the example of bipartisan legislation on the doubling of the research and tax credits going down in flames because social legislation was inserted in the bill by Republican House Speaker Bill O’Brien.

“We sacrificed a chance to help our business community because of an ideologically-driven social agenda,” he said.

Hosmer said he would oppose a sales or income tax because he believes that is what the people want and that it gives the state a great advantage over other states as a place to move and move one’s business.

He said there is a skills gap in this state that he would like to see closed.

“We have high tech manufacturing which needs trained employees.”

The Huot vocational and tech school in Laconia is being rebuilt with an eye towards area business needs and for a business like his and others, that is important, he said.

“It’s a gem for the Lakes Region,” he said.

Hosmer said the region’s environment is its stock in trade and protecting water quality, preserving its natural beauty and promoting it as a place to vacation and live is a priority.

On social issues he said he is in favor of marriage equality and does not want government to stand between a woman and her doctor.

More information about Andrew Hosmer and his candidacy can be found at hosmernh.com.

ptracy@unionleader.com