Gondola Ben

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Ending the Era of "Backroom" Politics: 

Utahns deserve a representative who works for them, not for a small circle of billionaire donors. "Gondola Ben" McAdams and his associates operated behind closed doors to orchestrate one of the priciest land and transportation "plays" in Utah history. Dave Robinson is the only candidate who has successfully taken this machine to court—and won.

While serving as Chair of the Mountain Accord, Ben McAdams presided over negotiations that would have facilitated land trades benefiting his wealthy donors, involving irreplaceable federal land.

• A Multi-Million Dollar Handout: These secret negotiations were designed to move high-value, developable federal land into the hands of billionaire resort owners—the very same individuals who served as McAdams’ top donors.
• The "Hidden" Map: The Mountain Accord’s "Consensus Agreement" wasn't about conservation; it was a blueprint for resort expansion, hidden from public scrutiny.

When Dave Robinson and his associates sued, the establishment’s defense crumbled.

• The Court Order: "Gondola Ben" claimed he didn't have to comply with the transparency laws, but 3rd District Court Judge Laura Scott officially ruled that McAdams and the Mountain Accord were subject to Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act (OPMA).
• The Admission: Mountain Accord’s own Director, Laynee Jones, admitted the truth: "Clearly the meetings did not follow the Act," and "The negotiations with the ski resorts were not done in public."

The proposed Little Cottonwood Gondola is the "final payment" in a backroom deal that has already cost Utah taxpayers over $100 million in preliminary spending.

• The Boondoggle: The establishment—both Democrats and Republicans—has shamelessly pushed for a $1 billion+ gondola, leaving Utah taxpayers to pick up the bill for a project that the vast majority of residents oppose.
• Dave’s Fight for Transparency: While "Gondola Ben" was doing the bidding of his donors and the establishment, Dave Robinson was using his own resources to force transparency and even exposed the "Zions Bank" related cover-up.

• "Gondola Ben" McAdams: Secret meetings, billionaire donors, and a $1 billion taxpayer-funded boondoggle.
• Dave Robinson: Court-proven transparency, independent leadership, and a track record of protecting the public's access and the public's purse.

"We’ve seen what happens when the 'inner circle' runs our canyons. You get secret deals, secret land trades for billionaires, and a billion-dollar gondola. I’m running to end the boondoggle and return the power to the people of Utah." — Dave Robinson