Lawmaker criticizes Gunstock Mountain Resort donation to Gov. Sununu’s 2020 campaign
3 min read
A new twist in the drama at Gunstock Mountain Resort stems from a donation to a political campaign. At issue is a $500 check from the resort to Gov. Chris Sununu’s 2020 reelection campaign that the chairman of the Belknap County delegation called inappropriate by a county-owned property.”A public body Gunstock Area Commission making a donation to a political campaign, particularly a partisan political campaign it was just jaw-dropping. It was stunning for me,” said Republican Rep. Mike Sylvia from Belmont.Sylvia argued the donation was taxpayer money. “Whether it was not reinvested back into Gunstock or not returned to the county directly, that is extraordinarily unusual,” Sylvia said.The check was signed by former General Manager Tom Day, who resigned last week. In a statement to News9, Day disputed the contribution came from public money. “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.”Day said last year, the resort paid the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, about 1% of its gross revenue. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office told News9 it did receive information regarding Gunstock Wednesday that’s being reviewed to determine appropriate next steps. Governor Sununu’s campaign told News 9 the donation is not a prohibited political contribution and the Friends of Chris Sununu did nothing wrong in accepting it.
A new twist in the drama at Gunstock Mountain Resort stems from a donation to a political campaign.
At issue is a $500 check from the resort to Gov. Chris Sununu’s 2020 reelection campaign that the chairman of the Belknap County delegation called inappropriate by a county-owned property.
“A public body Gunstock Area Commission making a donation to a political campaign, particularly a partisan political campaign it was just jaw-dropping. It was stunning for me,” said Republican Rep. Mike Sylvia from Belmont.
Sylvia argued the donation was taxpayer money.
“Whether it was not reinvested back into Gunstock or not returned to the county directly, that is extraordinarily unusual,” Sylvia said.
The check was signed by former General Manager Tom Day, who resigned last week.
In a statement to News9, Day disputed the contribution came from public money.
“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.”
Day said last year, the resort paid the county hundreds of thousands of dollars, about 1% of its gross revenue.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office told News9 it did receive information regarding Gunstock Wednesday that’s being reviewed to determine appropriate next steps.
Governor Sununu’s campaign told News 9 the donation is not a prohibited political contribution and the Friends of Chris Sununu did nothing wrong in accepting it.
