Dem County Chairs: Why Aren't Local Ski Slopes Good Enough For Rep. Sweeney?

New York State Democratic Committee Press Release: "

Dem County Chairs: Why Aren't Local Ski Slopes Good Enough For Rep. Sweeney?

Last weekend, Congressman held lavish fundraiser with lobbyists at ski resort in Utah; But the Congressman's district contains beautiful ski slopes like Hunter, Windham, & others Democratic County Chairs in ski areas Sweeney represents write letter to congressman today blasting him for ignoring the district and being out-of-touch Local Democratic County Chairs today blasted Rep. John Sweeney for holding a lavish skiing fundraiser in Utah, when Sweeney's own district contains several beautiful ski slopes. In response to Sweeney's decision to choose a Utah ski resort rather than the many top-flight resorts in his own district, a group of Democratic county chairs in Sweeney's district today wrote the Congressman a letter blasting him for being out-of-touch with his constituents. "Why is John Sweeney holding skiing fundraisers in Utah when his own district has some of the finest ski resorts in the country?" Democratic spokesman Blake Zeff asked today. "Aren't New York slopes good enough for him?" Sweeney hosted the ski-weekend fundraiser last weekend in Park City, Utah with a pharmaceutical industry lobbyist. ''Skiing with Sweeney'' was billed as a $2,000 contribution-per-person event at the Utah ski resort, where, according to the invite, the Sweeney room rate was $349 a night. Democratic County chairs throughout Sweeney's region today blasted the congressman as ignoring his district so he could focus on lobbyists instead. "I do not understand why John Sweeney has to leave this beautiful area," Washington County Chair Sheila Comar said. "If John Sweeney doesn't think his district is lavish enough for his big-pocket lobbyist friends, maybe he should get himself another district," Saratoga County Chair Larry Bulman said. "We have some very challenging double black diamond slopes right here in the great northern Catskills in beautiful Greene County," Greene County Chair Tom Poelker said, "so why go all the way to Utah?" In addition to Bulman, Comar, and Poelker, the letter was also signed by Sue Montgomery Corey, Chair of Essex County and William Montfort, Chair of Warren County. A copy of the letter is enclosed (please note: Sweeney's press office has received the text of the letter by email). Ski slopes in Sweeney's district and the neighboring vicinity include Whiteface Mountain in Essex County; Gore Mountain in Warren County; Willard Mountain in Washington County; Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain in Greene County. #### January 18, 2006 Honorable Representative John Sweeney Clifton Park Office
939 Route 146
Suite 430
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Dear Representative Sweeney, We hope this letter finds you well and that you enjoyed a restful holiday celebration and happy new year. We are writing with respect to your decision to hold a skiing fundraiser last weekend with a pharmaceutical industry lobbyist in Park City, Utah. We do not understand why you would need to travel all the way to Utah to hold a skiing event when your own district has some of the finest ski resorts in the nation. Your event, called ''Skiing with Sweeney," could easily have taken place in Gore Mountain in Warren County; Willard Mountain in Washington County; Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain in Greene County, among many others. Your decision to spend a weekend frolicking in Utah with lobbyists instead of here on the slopes in New York sends a terrible message and does nothing to encourage the all important tourist industry here. We hope that as the campaign continues you will consider spending more time in the district you were elected to represent. Thank you for your consideration. Best regards, Herman D. Farrell, Jr. Chair, NYS Democratic Committee Larry Bulman Chair, Saratoga County Sheila Comar Chair, Washington County Sue Montgomery Corey Chair, Essex County William Montfort Chair, Warren County Tom Poelker Chair, Greene County"