JOSH: WELCOME BACK.
WE JUST HEARD FROM THE DEMOCRAT
IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
NOW THE CANDIDATE WHO ENTERED
WITH GOOD NAME RECOGNITION AND
FOUGHT THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN
FIELD -- CHRIS SUNUNU.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU MOVING
FORWARD.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RACE.
RIGHT NOW, POLLS INDICATE THAT
VAN OSTERN IS THE FRONT RUNNER.
ARE YOU BUYING IT?
MR. SUNUNU: IF YOU WANT ME TO
COMMENT ON THE WMUR, REALLY?
JOSH: JUST WHAT IS YOUR FEELING
OUT THERE.
MR. SUNUNU: WE DO NOT LOOK AT
POLLS THAT CLOSELY.
THE FEW THAT WE DO, WE FEEL VERY
CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE WHERE
WE ARE.
OUR MESSAGE IS RESONATING.
THE PEOPLE WANT A GOVERNOR AS --
WHO HAS EXPERIENCE.
WHETHER IT IS SOMEONE WHO HAS TO
MANAGE JOBS DAY-TO-DAY.
THAT IS THE STAKEHOLDER EXPENSE
PEOPLE ONE IN THE FRONT OFFICE.
JOSH YOU TALK ABOUT THAT IN A
NEW AD WHERE YOU SAY YOU CREATED
HUNDREDS OF JOBS AT WATERVILLE
VALLEY.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
MR. SUNUNU: OF COURSE.
JOSH: THERE IS A REPORT OUT BY
PUBLIC RADIO THAT WOULD SEEM TO
INDICATE --
MR. SUNUNU: LAST YEAR, WE HAVE
HAD SOME ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF OVER 800 JOBS THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPANY WE
OUGHT WATER BILL FROM, WE
INCREASED THOSE NUMBERS.
WE ALSO STARTED RESTAURANTS.
STARTED A FUN PARK AND TUBING
AREA.
WE INVESTED TOO IN A HALF
MILLION DOLLARS IN EXPANDING THE
RESULT -- RESORT.
THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER ASPECTS
THERE.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THE DEMOCRATS, MY
OPPONENT, DOING ANYTHING HE CAN
TO NOT TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND
VISIONS FOR THE STATE, TO NOT
TALK ABOUT HIS LACK OF
EXPERIENCED A THEY HAVE HIT MY
FAMILY AND MY BUSINESS.
THEY ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN
TO SPUR UP NEGATIVE EMOTION.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE
SMARTER THAN THAT.
THEY WANT SOMEONE NOT AFRAID TO
TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES.
JOSH: LET'S TALK ABOUT DARTMOUTH
HITCHCOCK.
THE CONTRACT WHICH YOU SAID
NEEDS TO BE RE-BID IS PLAYING
POLITICS WITH PEOPLE'S HEALTH
CARE.
MR. SUNUNU: LET'S LOOK AT THE
FAXED IT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS
CONTRACT WAS RAILROADED TO ONE
GROUP AND THERE ARE OTH GROUPS
WHO COULD PARTAKE IN.
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY RED
FLAGS.
HOW THE EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED WAS
A DRASTIC RED FLAG.
MONTHS AGO, I CALLED FOR IT TO
BE REBID.
WHEN THE CONTRACT GOES THROUGH
AND WE FIND OUT THEY WILL LAY
OFF HUNDRE OF EMPLOYEES, AND
THEN ONE OF THE SENIOR FOLKS
THERE RESIGNS, THAT IS NOT
POLITICS.
THOSE ARE FACTS, RED FLAGS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DENTAL
HEALTH FOR SOME OF OUR MOST
SENSITIVE CONSTITUENCIES.
THAT IS NOT POLITICAL.
WE DEMAND ACTION AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS HAS BEEN MISMANAGED FROM
THE BEGINNING BY GOVERNOR HASSAN
AND HER ADMINISTRATION.
COLIN IS PART OF THAT.
THEY ARE SITTING ON THEIR HANDS.
THEY SAY THEY WILL GET REPORTS
AND MONITOR HOW IT IS GOING.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT GETTING
RESULTS, ENSURING THE BEST
POSSIBLE RESULTS FOR PEOPLE.
JOSH: WITHOUT DARTMOUTH AGREEING
TO RIP UP THE CONTRACT, THERE IS
NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO.
OR IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION?
MR. SUNUNU: I CALL ON THE
GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE
COMMISSION, TO FIND A WAY TO
RECALL THE CONTRACT, BECAUSE
TECHNICALLY, IT HAS NOT BEEN
STARTED YET.
IT DOES NOT START UNTIL NOVEMBER
1.
MY IDEAS TO EXTEND THE EXISTING
CONTRACT, CHANGE IT SO THAT MORE
PEOPLE CAN COME IN.
WE HAVE MADE THE PROCESS SO
ONEROUS, AND NOW THERE'S THE
QUESTION THAT WHY THERE'S ONLY
ONE GROUP THAT DID ON THIS.
WE MADE THE CONTRACT THAT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IN SUCH A
WAY THAT IT WAS RAILROADED TO
ONE GROUP.
THAT IS NOT FAIR.
IT WILL NOT ALWAYS GET YOU THE
BEST RESULTS FOR THE CITIZENS.
JOSH: LET'S TALK ABOUT MEDICAID
EXPANSION.
YOUR OPPONENT ACCUSES YOU OF YOU
WANTING TO GET RID OF IT
ENTIRELY.
MR. SUNUNU: I AM OPEN TO
EXPANDING AND KEEP GOING FOR
WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION IN
CHUNKS.
MY OPPONENT WANTS TO MAKE
OBAMACARE PERMANENT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU MAKE A GIANT WASHINGTON
PROGRAM PERMANENT?
YOU LOSE CONTROL OVER COSTS,
OVER WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR
STATE.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISIS, THE
EXPANDING MEDICAID HAS HELPED
PEOPLE MAKE CHANGES.
BUT OTHER STATES DID NOT HAVE
THE ISSUE OF AN AGING POPULATION
LIKE WE DO.
ONCE YOU HAVE MADE SOMETHING
PERMANENT, YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL
OVER IT.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PEOPLE HAVE TO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO WITH THE
NEW HAMPSHIRE WAY.
THAT IS HOW WE GET THE BEST
RESULTS, NOT JUST ACCEPTING ALL
OF THESE GIANT GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE GIANT
SUBSIDIES.
THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP, THAT IS
DEFERRING.
I WILL PUT REAL LEADERSHIP WITH
REAL EXPERIENCE BEHIND IT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST
POSSIBLE RESULTS.
JOSH: POINTING TO OUR POLL, THE
MAJORITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOLKS
SEEM TO THINK THE STATE IS IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING AS BAD
AS SOME REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE YOU
BELIEVE, IS WHAT IS THE
ACCUSATION.
OUR EMPLOYMENT IS PRETTY LOW --
ARE UNEMPLOYED IS PRETTY LOW.
MR. SUNUNU: WHEN WAS THE LAST
TIME WE RAN A MAJOR BUSINESS
HERE?
THE LAST TIME WE DROVE MAJOR
BUSINESS INTO THE STATE?
WE ARE NOT.
WE HAD A PART OF SOME DE LA
TORRE ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE ENERGY COSTS OUT OF
CONTROL.
PUTTING ELDERLY AND LOW INCOME
FOLKS, THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES,
WITH N FINANCIAL STABILITY.
I HAVE NEVER SAID THE SKY IS
FALLING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD REAL
LEADERSHIP IN THE CORNER OFFICE
WITH REA EXPERIENCE IN
BUSINESS.
I SPENT 10 YEARS A AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER.
I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WATERVILLE
VALLEY -- HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING
SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST HEALTH
CARE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
MAKING SURE THEY HAVE CASH FLOW
NOT JUST NEXT MONTH BUT NEXT
YEAR.
THESE ARE THINGS I TRY TO GO TO
SLEEP WITH EVERY NIGHT.
THE ANXIETY AND PRESSURE OF
HAVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
AND GETTING THE BEST RESULTS FOR
IT.
I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE DID IN
WATERVILLE VALLEY.
WE ARE THE ONLY RESORT IN THE
EAST COAST EXPANDING THIS YEAR.
WE JUST GOT NEW WORKFORCE
HOUSING.
WE ARE THE ONLY GROUP DOING
THAT.
DEMOCRATS CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT
IN TERMS OF REFLECTING --
DEFLECTING ISSUES.
I WAS AT A DEBATE LAST NIGHT --
HE DID NOT EVEN SHOW UP.
I SAT AT A DEBATE WITH AN EMPTY
PODIUM.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT
ISSUES, DO NOT WANT TO SHOW UP
AT THE ISSUES.
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE FEEL
VERY COMFORTABLE WHERE WE ARE.
I THINK WE WILL TURN THE STATE
AROUND.
JOSH: I BET THERE ARE A LOT OF
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO ARE
LAMENTING RUNNING IN THE YEAR IN
WHICH DONALD TRUMP IS RUNNING
OUT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.
YOU ARE ASKED ABOUT THIS ALL OF
THE TIME.
IS HE NOW A LIABILITY?
MR. SUNUNU: IF YOU WANT TO LOOK
AT POLL NUMBERS -- WE DO NOT
LOOK -- BUT EVEN THE WMUR SAY WE
PULL WELL AHEAD OF DONALD TRUMP.
WHAT HE DOES IN HIS ELECTION,
THAT IS HIS BUSINESS.
IF THERE'S ANY MESSAGE PEOPLE
SHOULD TAKE HIM ABOUT OUR
CAMPAIGN -- I DO NOT TRUST
WASHINGTON.
I DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING THAT
COMES OUT OF THAT PLACE.
I DO NOT THINK MANY PEOPLE DO.
WHICH IS ALL THE MORE REASON YOU
NEED A STRONG GOVERNOR.
A STRONG GOVERNOR WHO WILL DO
WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE WAY.
WHO WILL HOLD FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
DRIVE BUSINESS IN HERE.
CREATING JOBS.
DROPPING HEALTH CARE COSTS.
DOING THE THINGS I CAN IMPACT
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
ANDREW VISUAL -- INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
LETTING PARENTS HAVE THE
DECISION INTO WHAT HAPPENS IN
THEIR KIDS CLASSROOMS.
THAT IS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE WAY OF
DOING THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT I WILL BRING.
JOSH: SOMEONE WILL HAVE TWO
BRIDGE THE GAP IN THIS ELECTION
CYCLE AFTER ELECTION DAY.
WHAT DO YOU DO AND HOW DO YOU DO
IT?
MR. SUNUNU: OUR TAKE GREAT PRIDE
IN THE FACT THAT I DO NOT BURN
BRIDGES.
I THINK YOU WILL BE HARD HAS TO
FIND ANYONE IN CONCORD THAT I DO
NOT REALLY GET ALONG WITH.
I HAVE A RECORD OF PUSHING BACK
AGAINST MY OWN PARTY WHEN I HAVE
TO.
OF REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.
OF WORKING STRONGL WITH THE
OPPOSING PARTY.
MY OPPONENT CANNOT SAY THAT.
HE CANNOT.
SO LOOK AT OUR RECORDS, LOOK AT
THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD IN TERMS
OF BRIDGING THAT GAP AND MAKING
SURE WE KEEP PEOPLE AT THE
TABLE.
GOOD IDEAS COMING FORWARD.
I AM NOT ALWAYS THE SMARTEST GUY
IN THE ROOM, BUT I AM GOOD AT
BRINGING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST
TO THE TABLE WITHOUT ANY CARE OF
POLITICAL BACKGROUND, DRIVING
FORWARD WITH ACTION.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE NOT HAD.
REAL ACTION TO BACK UP WORDS.
JOSH ACCORDING TO OUR POLL,
MORE UNDECIDEDS THAN PEOPLE WHO
HAVE MADE THEIR MIND.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THE CASE TO THEM
THE NEXT 16 DAYS?
MR. SUNUNU: YOU ALWAYS HAVE A
LARGE PORTION OF UNDECIDEDS.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE
CANDIDATES, LOOK THEM IN THE
EYE.
THAT IS WHY IT TOOK A YEAR,
TRAVELING THE STATE LISTENING
TO WHAT PEOPLE, WHAT THEIR
CONCERNS ARE.
THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR
SUPPOSED TO DO.
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND CARRY
THOSE CONCERNS TO CONCORD, NOT
STICK WITH TALKING POINTS ON
PAPER.
NOT NEGATIVITY.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH WITH THAT.
DEMOCRATS CAN TAKE THEIR SHOTS
AT MY FAMILY.
THEY EVEN PUT A PICTURE OF MY
MOM IN AN ATTACK AD.
THAT IS BENEATH THE DIGNITY OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ABOUT SERVICE.
POLITICS -- IT IS A CAREER FOR
MY OPPONENT, BUT IT IS ABOUT
PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRUST TO YOU
AND WE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO DO
IT.