This morning’s Union Leader editorial page adopts many of Charlie Arlinghaus’s ideas for modernizing New Hampshire government, but doesn’t back giving Govenrors direct control over their Commissioners.

We have no problem with fewer and more streamlined departments. Having three liquor commissioners, all at hefty salaries, is oversight overkill. Having separate commissioners for labor and employment security also seems wasteful. Arlinghaus notes that many other states have combined the two jobs, and departments, into one.

The fact that the governor and Executive Council like to have all department heads available at the council’s twice-monthly meetings is also inefficient and unnecessary and we hope that the new governor and new council will put a stop to it.

It is department heads serving at the pleasure of the governor, a suggestion Arlinghaus has made before, that gives us pause. Yes, New Hampshire isn’t like most states in this regard. New Hampshire isn’t like most states in having a strong executive council and a relatively “weak” governor setup, either. And they have worked well, for the most part.