Proposal enjoys the backing of some prominent House Republicans, but is opposed by the State Parks Director and the Governor.
For supporters and foes alike, talk of leasing Cannon seemed to lead inexorably to talk of the state's past decision to lease Mount Sunapee……House Majority Leader Mike O'Neil is lead sponsor of the Cannon lease plan. He placed Sunapee at the very center of his argument.
"The figures that we have as it relates to the state are Franconia notch winter ski operations, is that revenue runs roughly at 2.5 million in 2005……At Sunapee it's over ten million dollars…."
O'Neil suggested it would be impossible to achieve a comparable gross at Cannon without investment help from the private sector….. …Critics, however, questioned why this was needed. Executive councilor Ruth Griffin, for one said it was unrealistic to expect each state park to earn money……and cautioned against letting the bottom line dictate park policy.
"Money is the root of all evil. And that evil is trying to take away from the citizens of the state of NH Cannon Mountain and that facility."
State Park officials agreed Cannon should remain under state control……and told lawmakers they expect the mountain to end the year in profit.…..Parks officials added that leasing Cannon disrupt on ongoing park system study by a senate commission…….That commissions chairman told house members that the process should be allowed to run it's course before any action is taken…….Governor Lynch, meanwhile, pledged during his state of the state address to bar any Cannon lease.
