New Hampshire Executive Councilor Chris Sununu might emerge as the Republican nominee to succeed Maggie Hassan as New Hampshire’s next governor. If he does, we hope he shows better judgment than he demonstrated last week when he said that, in the battle against opioid addiction, "No one has led at the state or local level."

Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, who is running for the same Republican nomination Sununu is seeking, demanded an apology from Sununu. State Sen. Jeanie Forrester, who is also running for the GOP nomination for governor, called Sununu’s comments "immature."

Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard tweeted out, "I can’t believe this candidate would make such an idiotic statement. We, in Manchester have (led) from the beginning!"

The criticism of Sununu is justified, we think, and not just because there seems to be scant evidence that the candidate has played any substantive role in formulating drug-abuse policy at the state or local level. His remarks do a disservice to those members of the House and Senate – the majority of them fellow Republicans – who have gone to great lengths to listen to the voices in their communities and have tried to turn what they’ve heard into policies that might make a difference and save lives.

So let’s recognize Sununu’s comments for what they are: a politically motivated attempt to reel in those who – unlike himself – can legitimately claim to have led on the issue by shaping policy.

It’s not entirely Sununu’s fault; executive councilors are primarily concerned with state contracts and gubernatorial appointments, so they aren’t in much of a position to play a leadership role on most critical issues of the day. But that shouldn’t give Sununu license to drag down those who have been, simply because he finds it politically expedient.

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