Maggie Hassan is no John Lynch. As Republicans who publicly supported Democratic Gov. Lynch in his final reelection bid two years ago, we are bemused to see Mrs. Hassan and her supporters attempting to convince New Hampshire voters that she and the governor are cut from the same political cloth.

We certainly understand why the Hassan campaign would want to lead voters to believe that a vote for her is as a vote for a fifth term for our popular, outgoing governor. However, and unfortunately for Mrs. Hassan, Ovide Lamontagne is the candidate in this year’s gubernatorial race who possesses the qualities we most admire in Gov. Lynch, and that is why we are supporting Ovide in the race for governor.

Like Gov. Lynch, Ovide’s appeal is broad because voters can trust his steady, principled and respectful approach to problem-solving. Voters across the political spectrum are drawn to Ovide because they know his experience has taught him that good public policies do not have “Republican” or Democrat” attached to them. Ovide knows that leadership means embracing reforms — regardless of who happened to first propose them — to grow the economy, improve schools, lower health care costs, make housing more affordable and ensure reliable, cheaper energy supplies. He knows that such reforms are critical to maintaining the New Hampshire Advantage.

Simply put, he is the only candidate who has the combination of leadership, experience and accountability we need to cut through partisan politics and bring people together to address the significant challenges we face.

Like Gov. Lynch, Ovide knows that to navigate through the hyper-partisanship and lead our state through these challenging economic times is to be a governor for all of New Hampshire and focus like a laser on policies that are core to creating good jobs and ensuring economic prosperity. Voters can rely on Ovide to keep his word and stand proudly by his record, because unlike Maggie Hassan, his stance on bedrock issues such as opposing a sales or income tax, limiting the size and reach of state government, and opposing government control of health care have never changed and will never change. Ovide is the candidate who will lead lawmakers in Concord to enact sound policies in a consistent, measured, respectful manner considerate of all viewpoints and grounded in the principles of low taxes, small government and individual responsibility.

Like Gov. Lynch, Ovide knows that New Hampshire overcomes its challenges when its people come together and its leaders deliberate respectfully, with a focus not on scoring political points, but on what is best for the state. He has the temperament, experience, focus and core beliefs our state needs to return to the path of economic growth and prosperity. That is why we are enthusiastically supporting Ovide Lamontagne for governor and hope you will join us in voting for him on Nov. 6.

Bernie Streeter is a former mayor of Nashua. Dick Green is a former state senator. Griffin Dalianis is an Air Force veteran and former state representative. This column is also signed by Ted Connors, a former mayor of Portsmouth, and Steve Griffin, a Berlin businessman.