Especially now that they were successful in forcing former GAC Chair Peter Ness to resign (he could no longer take the political bullying they were heaping on him) who started the Audit Committee because of rumors of financial malfeasance? And that they are STILL trying to get Commissioner Dr. David Strang to resign (who headed up the Audit Committee)? Won’t NH State Rep Harry Bean, who took it upon himself to call an illegal meeting of the Belknap Delegation to remove Strang “for cause” figure out that in doing so, he’d be helping to cover up both the misdeeds and those that, if the rumors hold true, committed them?
Note: NH State Rep Mike Sylvia, the ACTUAL Chair of the Delegation (and not Harry Bean) had written an Op-Ed concerning just this issue – I requested a copy and just received it (below). Emphasis mine.
Remember, there is a rumor that Tom Day wrote a second check to the Sununu campaign for $1,000 in June
Commissioners Doug Lambert and Jade Wood have remained silent on both investigations – what are they hiding?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Belmont, NH
On Sept. 18, 2020, without a public hearing or approval by the Gunstock Area Commission, Gunstock General Manager Tom Day, a former employee of the Waterville Valley ski area, owned or controlled by the Governor and his family, signed a check “donating” public Gunstock money to the “Friends of Chris Sununu,” the Governor’s 2020 re-election campaign.
Since Gunstock is owned by Belknap County, all of its funds are public monies, and using public dollars to support a political campaign is clearly improper and possibly violative of the law.
It has been confirmed that the check was signed by Mr. Day and cashed by the Sununu campaign.
As the Gunstock Area Commission is now in the midst of an audit, its very first with an Audit Committee, as well as an internal legal investigation, authorized by ALL of the Gunstock Commissioners, this and other financial irregularities are coming to light.
At 3 pm on Wed., July 20, Mr. Day and others at Gunstock, received a letter from the attorney conducting this investigation, instructing them to turn over documents and make themselves available for an in-person interview. Three hours later at the July Gunstock Commission meeting, Mr. Day publicly resigned along with others from the Gunstock management team, under the excuse that the Commission had created an intolerable work environment.
Since then, Governor Sununu has come to Mr. Day’s defense. Within the last week, he has called for the removal of all members of the Gunstock Commission, the very people who have uncovered this financial malfeasance. This is an ethical quandary for the Governor as it interferes with the leadership of a competing ski area, whose closure stands to benefit his family and his pocketbook. Additionally, he has publicly offered a job to Mr. Day in the NH Parks and Recs. Dept.
Making such an offer after receiving a campaign contribution is the definition of quid-pro-quo. What makes this revelation all the more disgusting is that this campaign donation was made with the money that belongs to the taxpayers of Belknap County.
Representative Mike Sylvia
603 707 8594
So are Doug Lambert (of DGF Industrial) and Jade Wood (NH GOP Area 5 Vice-Chair) going to allow both investigations to continue forward unimpeded? Or are they going to politically bully both into the ground?
And if so, WHY are THEY hiding something?
