With this check to the Sununu campaign, were you hoping that no one was going to remember that up until Jan 20, 2020, you were Chris Sununu’s Waterville Valley General Manager? Quid pro quo? Cui bono, Mr. Day?
And yes, I have saved that Gunstock website page. And interestingly enough, given the exchange where you were incensed over who was in charge of Gunstock, there was this little tidbit as well:
Gunstock is owned by Belknap County, and the GAC is a five-member board appointed by the Belknap County Delegation to oversee the resort. The Gunstock general manager reports directly to the GAC.
And you got mad when you were reminded that Dr. David Strang was, indeed, your boss???
The amount of twisting and cavorting his mind (or those of his minders) had to go through to come up with this deflection over you sending this political donation to your former boss – and they/you are calling your bosses, the Gunstock Area Commissioners, Extremists? Tom Day told WMUR this as a way of explanation about the check (emphasis mine):
“We are a for-profit entity that has a donation line item in our budget and we donate to different things to promote Gunstock and promote the area and promote skiing in general,” he said. “We generate our own revenue and this donation does not affect Belknap County residents because we don’t take Belknap County money.”
This is wrong at so many different levels that it’s not clear where I should start first. But here’s a try – Summary: No, you were buying political influence, it’s not your money, and yes you did.
To break that down:
- No, you are NOT a “for-profit entity.” Gunstock is owned by Belknap County. The County is a mere political subdivision of the State which means Gunstock is as well. There is a State Statute, RSA 399, that governs the entire operation of Gunstock, which means it is entirely a Government entity. As far as the “for-profit” is concerned, Government departments, bureaus, and agencies don’t “have profit” because they are not a commercial (think PRIVATE sector) companies. They don’t have “profit,” but they CAN have a surplus.
- If you were REALLY a for-profit entity, you’d be paying REALLY BIG bucks in taxes to the Town of Gilford – and you’re not. You BARELY return much at all to the County.
- Yes, they can donate to charities and other non-profits (like the Tourism board or a a group that helps kids, and things like that). No one would have a problem with that.
- However, sending a check “to promote Gunstock” to a political candidate that is also your boss (Governor Sununu) is not “promoting Gunstock,” that is seeking and paying for influence to a politician. Tom Day can’t even be honest with himself or us. He knows he got caught and is trying to wiggle out of it.
- Sure, you have a revenue stream. So does the NH Dept of Motor Vehicles, right? You have to go there to pay for your license, pay for your vehicle plates, and pay for any testing; thus, they have revenue. Unlike YOU, Tom Day, as well as disgraced Commissioners Gary Kiedaisch, Rusty McLear, Brian Gallagher, and Russ Dumais, they have never said: “this isn’t public money” because they tell the truth. Ask them – they will not lie, like you, and say they are a “for-profit” entity and that the money they collect is theirs. They will readily tell anyone that it is ALL PUBLIC MONEY.
- This leads me to my last point: it is ALL PUBLIC MONEY.
- Contrary to what Day wants you to believe, they DO take Belknap County money – when they squander their revenues. Why else have they run to the Belknap County Commissioners for a handout like when they did back in 2016? Remember, I had to fight them, even with a valid RSA 91-A demand, to get their budget numbers. “THAT’S PROPRIETARY,” they said, until I pointed out that when they came, financial hat in hand and gave the Commissioners their budget, they were plenty relieved to have gotten Belknap County taxpayer money
Isn’t that right, Tom Day? Or are you merely trying to rewrite history to support “The Narrative”? Or thinking you can bamboozle everyone into believing a lie?
The problem is that they have either adopted the idea, or had it beat into them, that they aren’t part of Government. That’s been clear since I started to “watch” Gunstock very early this year.
They believe that they are something they aren’t. They believe that they aren’t constrained by any Law or regulations that apply to other Government agencies. Kiedaisch believes, and now had the Sr. Gunstock Mgt believing that the Gunstock Area Commission was to act like a corporate Board of Directors – it’s not.
And when the replacement Commissioners started to be appointed to the GAC with Jade Wood replacing Russ Dumais, the “old boy network” started the rebellion against those new Commissioners AND the Belknap County Delegation that was appointed them.
So Tom Day is the perfect illustration of what has been wrong with Gunstock Mountain Resort, not in its operation, but in its perception of itself and its outlook vis-a-vis its status within Government.
Which is to say, they reject that they are simply a Government agency. And THAT is the root of all of the problems as they are trying to be something that they are not…
…and not being completely honest about it. Or in this explanation of why a political donation was given, by a government agency, to a candidate.
Hubris
