Holiday Tent Governor's Office Rents Enclosure For 2012 Parties November 29, 2012
Eyewitness News Photo
We are entering the holiday party season with events planned for all across the Mountain State.
Some of the most high profile parties will be taking place at the Governor's Mansion. The administration has rented a tent to handle the expected crowd of guests.
This isn't the first time a tenth has gone up at the Governor's Mansion. However, there is a difference in how the Tomblin administration is handling its holiday soirees compared to the path taken by former Governor Joe Manchin.
This year's tent, erected in the courtyard in the rear of the Governor's Mansion, cost the state $6,125
It's a rental. Once the holiday parties are finished, it will be taken down.
That's different than the tent put up by former Governor Manchin. That tent was purchased by a non-profit organization for $136,428 and was donated to the state. When Governor Tomblin took office, he sold that tent and the accompanying bathroom trailer for $54,000 that went into the state treasury.
A spokesperson says the rental tent is the best way to allow the most people to safely enjoy a holiday visit to the mansion.
"The reason to have a tent at the mansion during the holiday season," Amy Shuler Goodwin, the governor's Director of Communications said. "It's a new decision just to keep it up for a month this year, was made to number one, accomodate the public that comes to the mansion during the holiday season for public tours and for holiday parties that are hosted at the mansion, Just to make sure that we have the space to accomodate. This governor is extremely conscientious with the taxpayer's dollars."
Shuler Goodwin says it's just not practical to have the holiday parties at the Culture Center or in the capitol rotunda because of catering and staffing demands and costs.
The tent at the Governor's Mansion is scheduled to come down on or after December 24, on any day that doesn't conflict with the holiday employee schedule of A to Z Rentals.
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