Town Plans on Billing the Obama Campaign for Visit

Windham Town Administrator Dave Sullivan said Wednesday that the town fully anticipates picking up the added public safety costs that will come out of this Saturday's visit from President Barack Obama.

But according to The Union Leader, the town has reversed course and now plans on billing the Obama campaign for the visit.

The newspaper spoke with Board of Selectmen Chair Bruce Breton, who said that the town will be billing the campaign to "offset the costs incurred by the town." The decision came late Wednesday afternoon.

Sullivan said that the town footing the bill will "certainly not help" Windham as it currently works through a tight budget, but added that it is an honor to have the President in Windham.

"Not everyone can say that happens for their town," he said.

Sullivan gave a rough additional cost estimate of between $4,600 and $5,000. He added that five police officers and seven fire department EMT's will be needed for about eight hours.

While Sullivan explained that he is not directly involved with the public safety logistics, he said that officials will be working for most of the day once setup and security is factored in.

"I'm sure there will be discussion and debate (on the cost)," he said.

Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire issued a release Wednesday afternoon calling on leaders in the town of Windham to not use taxpayer resources to fund the Obama campaign stop in Windham.

AFP-NH Director Corey Lewandowski, who is a resident of Windham, said that a letter was sent to Sullivan, Breton, Fire Chief Tom McPherson and Police Chief Gerald Lewis urging that no town resources be utilized, unless funds are secured by the OFA campaign or a relevant governmental agency.

“As both a financial watchdog and a resident of Windham, I believe that no taxpayer resources, including time, personnel or monies, should be used to support campaign activities for any candidate for public office,” Lewandowski said in a statement. “The taxpayers of Windham should not be responsible for shouldering any financial burden brought on by this or any other political visit.”

Lewandowski added that dealing with the campaign costs sets a bad precedent.

“Federal law prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for campaign activities,” he said. “Additionally, incurring these costs for this political visit sets a dangerous and costly precedent which would preclude us from declining to pay for the costs of other campaign stops by other candidates moving forward.”

Obama is also scheduled to make a stop Saturday at the Rochester Commons in Rochester.

Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean said his city is prepared to cover any public safety costs associated with the President's visit.

"The city will be covering the costs associated with public safety personnel from the city on Saturday for the event, and we do not anticipate billing the campaign for that and we will absorb the costs as we normally have in the past."