Lynch Criticizes Executive Council over Rail Inaction

In his state of the state address to the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce today, Gov. John Lynch voiced strong support for regional rail service, which he says will help revive and strengthen the state’s economy.

[Lynch] reiterated his disappointment with the Executive Council for rejecting the request for $3.6 million that would have allowed a study to gather pertinent information about the viability of extending rail service into Nashua and beyond.

“It’s important to look beyond the next few years, and continue to look at rail for a bunch of reasons, including economic development not only in Nashua, but throughout the region,” Lynch said.

Democrats running for Executive Council seats agree with Lynch and say the council’s ideological agenda has trumped rational business decisions.

Bill Duncan, who is vying to replace Councilor Chris Sununu, says Sununu’s vote against the rail study is “evidence that the ‘ideological disease’ of the tea party has ‘infected’ the council.” He is running, he says, to provide a balance against that extreme agenda.

Colin Van Oster, who is running for the council seat currently held by Dan St. Hilaire, accused the council of putting “their personal anti-government zeal ahead of a practical bipartisan solution — this time, one that would have cut commuting costs and helped economic development across the Greater Concord area.”