Liv Crete-Sayer couldn’t help but laugh as the cameras swarmed her, right hand on her heart and facing the American flag that hangs in Representatives Hall at the State House.
Minutes later, the fifth-grader from Boscawen climbed to the podium and took a sacred oath, officially sworn in as New Hampshire’s eighth kid governor. She won an election in November among 3,500 of her peers on a platform of creating awareness around the dangers of vaping, smoking and drugs.
“These issues impact a lot of kids, and sometimes kids don’t know what impact they can have,” Liv said. “I believe when students are informed, they can make safer, smarter choices.”
Her plan includes school programs, lessons and activities that will teach students about the risks associated with using substances, as well as a design campaign meant to spread awareness.
Secretary of State David Scanlan certified the election results, and New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald administered the oath of office.
Outgoing kid governor Jade Adams, from Keene, gave a farewell address, detailing the speeches, letter-writing campaign and advocacy she organized over the past year to ban animal testing in New Hampshire. Lawmakers are currently considering legislation to do so.
Six kid executive councilors were also sworn in, including two who live in the capital region. Chase Aldridge, who goes to the Maple Street School in Hopkinton, ran on a platform to stop littering, and Lauren Heath, a Webster Elementary School student, campaigned on helping animals affected by climate change.
The kids were joined by Gov. Kelly Ayotte, Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, House Speaker Sherman Packard and Senate President Sharon Carson, who taught them about New Hampshire’s unique Legislature and the three branches of government.