Governor John Lynch is riding high these days. His approval ratings are at about 70 percent, and he holds campaign war chest that's full to overflowing. And if things go according to plan, the Governor will also soon be living high -- in a very large house he's now constructing atop Gould Hill in Hopkinton.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.
An excavator at the entrance to the construction site. (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
The crown of Gould hill is a busy place these days…….Earthmovers claw the soil and workers walk the foundation walls……The building permits for the site are valid until 2008, which may be a good thing -- because there's a lot to be done……..Plans filed at Hopkinton town hall call for more than 11 thousand square feet of livable space……..a 20 by 40 foot swimming pool, a tennis court…….a cabana, and a detached three car garage….All of that will sit on a what state agriculture commissioner Steve Taylor calls a desirable piece of property
"It's one of the best views in the state of NH and as is often the case the best views are from farms. And in this case one of our signature, top, and most distinguished apple orchards."
Governor Lynch declined a request to be interviewed about either the view of the White Mountains from his newly purchased 8 acres, or what he plans to build there…..But Lynch spokesperson Pam Walsh says the concept for this multi-million dollar project is nothing new.
"You know, the Governor and his family are building a house and it's been something that they've been planning for a number of years."
The building foundation. (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
The Lynch's new spread is roughly twice as big as their current house, and if built according to plan it will be among the very largest in Hopkinton…….. Pam Walsh says the sumptuous digs in no way run counter to the Governor's public commitment to land conservation.
"Governor Lynch is committed to preserving what is special about New Hampshire in his personal life and as Governor. If the Governor's family had not purchased the land, it could have been sold and developed with multiple housing."
………The property Lynch bought in June sits between a residential neighborhood and The Gould Hill Orchard…..In fact, Lynch's land includes apple trees the Governor has promised to allow the orchard to harvest for at least the next year.…….Much of the rest of the land used by Gould Hill Orchards has been the object of a major conservation effort.……Gould Hill Owner Erick Leadbeater says he still hopes to find to keep most of the land free of from further development, and says selling to Lynch, who in 1999 brought a smaller parcel, made sense.
The neighborhood next to the construction site. (Jon Greenberg, NHPR)
"It's a situation where it's an almost landlocked piece, and if you have an opportunity to sell such things at my age you probably do."
The idea of this Governor building a sprawling house on what used to be a hilltop orchard could be politically charged. But St. Anselm professor of politics Dante Scala, doubts Governor Lynch will see much fallout.
"Governor Lynch enjoys such popularity now, and he's built up such goodwill and warm relations, that something that might look askance during the Benson administration --even know there was no wrong doing, just perception -- this Governor won't have that problem precisely because he enjoys such goodwill."
Governor Lynch's purchase of the property, which was executed through a revocable trust known as Gould Hill 'B', has not yet appeared on his financial disclosure forms……..The Governor's office says he will amend those forms to include it………That disclosure form also includes a space for investments in farming. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Taylor, for one, hopes the Governor has reason to use that space in the future.
"The potential is there for growing some top quality fruit -- always has been -- and if he takes care of the trees he should be able to harvest a real nice crop."
