Executive Council member Chris Sununu plans to recuse himself from a contentious vote Wednesday about the proposed expansion of Mount Sunapee Resort.
“I appreciate and thank Commissioner Jeff Rose and his team at the Department of Resources and Economic Development for their good work on the Mount Sunapee ski area expansion proposal,” Sununu said in a statement Tuesday. “Above all else, elected officials must be transparent and impartial in their deliberations on public projects.”
Sununu, who is running for governor, faced repeated calls to step aside because he runs Waterville Valley. He has recused himself on past votes regarding Cannon Mountain Ski Area, which is owned by the state, according to the Associated Press.
The remaining four members of the council are expected to vote on the expansion today. The plan, which includes protections for sensitive habitat on the mountain, needs support from a majority of the council to pass.