By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
LACONIA – Two former U.S. Olympic skiers who sharpened their edges and ran the icy gates at Gunstock Mountain and are both business owners in Belknap County are asking fellow residents to vote Nov. 8 with an eye toward preserving the county-owned recreation area that has been a source of political battles this year.
Heidi Preuss, who competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics, and Penny Pitou, who in 1960 became the first American to ever win an Olympic Downhill medal, have written a joint letter in support of electing new legislators from the county who see the value of the county-owned recreation area.
Members of the House, some who claim to be Free Staters and Libertarians, are accused of taking actions that were aimed at leasing the ski area or in some way, privatizing it.
The dispute came to a head this summer when General Manager Tom Day and his entire management team quit and forced the resignations of key members of the Gunstock Area Commission, placed on the governing body by the Belknap County Delegation. Day and his team then returned to work.
This led to the creation of Citizens for Belknap which has produced a voters guide https://indepthnh.org/2022/10/10/citizens-for-belknap-issues-new-bipartisan-voters-guide-for-the-nov-8-election/.
“If You Love Gunstock, On Nov. 8th, Replace the Reps Who Tried to Dismantle It,” is the headline they suggested.
“To the Editor:
Our beloved county-owned Gunstock Mountain was brought back from the brink of closing this summer by people like you who spoke up and took action. You came to meetings, you spoke your mind, and you voted in the primary in September to remove the most urgent threats.
“But there are still anti-Gunstock representatives who got through the primary. If re-elected, those legislators would have a hand in appointing future members of the Gunstock Area Commission and have authority over the county and GAC budget. If they are re-elected, they are still a threat to our mountain.
“Voters in Laconia should remember that Dawn Johnson supported Michael Sylvia and Norm Silber’s leadership at every turn, and Rep. Richard Littlefield changed his mind only at the last minute.
“Voters in Alton and Barnstead know that Barbara Comtois, Paul Terry and Peter Varney voted to install David Strang and Peter Ness to the (Gunstock Area Commission) and when it was time for a vote to save Gunstock’s jobs and Belknap County’s winter economy, none of them showed up to the meeting.
“Skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts who love Gunstock, you can ensure that our mountain has competent, responsible leadership for the future by registering and voting on November 8th. As Olympians who learned and skied at Gunstock, help us preserve our mountain for future generations of families – and Olympians – to come.”
Signed, Penny Pitou, Gilford, Heidi Preuss, Laconia
Both women own businesses in the county. Pitou owns Penny Pitou Travel and Preuss is owner and managing partner of Pegasus RE LLC.