Hit- While he was serving as Mayor, a corporation attempting to secure a deal with the county flew local officials -including Ben McAdams -to Switzerland on a private jet. His trip was partially paid for by the county. Backup: Ben McAdams oversaw a development project called the Mountain Accord as Mayor: • A picture of Ben McAdams at the Mountain Accord. (Steve Griffin, The Salt Lake Tribune, 08/03/15) • The Mountain Accord agreement is a development project in the Central Wasatch Mountain Range. “To that end, this Mountain Accord agreement (the ‘Accord’) represents the culminating commitment of more than 20 organizations who, through a voluntary, multi-year, public, consensus-based planning process agree to proceed with a suite of actions designed to ensure that future generations can enjoy all the activities we do today, while preserving our watershed and natural environment.” (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) • Ben McAdams was Chair of the Mountain Accord Executive Board. (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) • In July of 2015, Ben McAdams signed the Mountain Accord Agreement. (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) As part of the Mountain Accord agreement, Snowbird reached a land-swap and resort zone designation deal as long as certain conditions were applied: • The Mountain Accord agreed to a land exchange with Snowbird Inc, as long as certain conditions were applied. (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) • In July of 2015, Ben McAdams signed the Mountain Accord Agreement. (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) • Salt Lake County agreed to develop a resort zone for Snowbird. “Salt Lake County will develop a resort zone to better define development at the Snowbird base area in accordance with Mountain Accord intended outcomes (recognizing Snowbird’s existing approved master plan and associated entitlements).” (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) • Snowbird agreed to transfer 1,100 acres to the U.S. Forest Service in exchange for additional snowmaking water. “Salt Lake City will provide additional snowmaking water to Snowbird if Snowbird (under any conditions) transfers the identified approximate 1100 acres to the U.S. Forest Service and the lands become part of the permanently protected federal designation.” (Mountain Accord, The Accord, 07/13/2015) SWITZERLAND TRIP Ben McAdams was one of three Salt Lake County area mayors who took a trip to Switzerland on a private jet in 2013, according to a local news report by KUTV: • The headline from the article. (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • A local news report (video) on the 2013 trip to Switzerland which featured Ben McAdams. (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) (NRCC YouTube Clipped Version) • According to the report, three Salt Lake County area mayors and two Utah County commissioners took a trip to Switzerland on a private jet in 2013. “Three Salt Lake County area mayors and Two Utah County commissioners took a trip to Switzerland on a private jet in 2013.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • The three area mayors who went on that Snowbird Switzerland trip were Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. “‘We looked to make major decisions, generational decisions on the future of the Wasatch,’ said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams who went on that Snowbird Switzerland trip. So did Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • The August 2013 trip happened when officials were discussing the Mountain Accord plan to decide the future development around the Cottonwood canyons. “The August 2013 trip happened when officials were discussing the Mountain Accord plan to decide the future development around the Cottonwood canyons.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • Snowbird Ski Resort organized the trip while the Mayors said their governments or political funds paid for the trip. “Snowbird Ski Resort organized the trip. Mayors say their governments paid their way or they used the political funds they have for special expenses.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • The jet was supplied by the Ian Cumming family, and they have since purchased a major interest in Snowbird Ski Resort. “The jet was supplied the Ian Cumming family, and they have since purchased a major interest in Snowbird Ski Resort.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • Snowbird proposed expanding operations in American Fork Canyon. “Snowbird had proposed expanding operations in American Fork Canyon, and Commissioner Ellertson may possibly participate in that decision.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • The Cumming family’s holding company said they didn’t know anything about the trip. “2News called the Cumming family's holding company, they said they didn't know anything about the trip.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) Ben McAdams claimed that the county, his leadership PAC, and he himself paid for the trip, according to the report by KUTV: • Ben McAdams claimed that the county, his leadership PAC, and he himself paid for the trip. “I paid part of the cost and my leadership PAC, and the county reimbursed some of the cost.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • Ralph Becker says his leadership PAC paid his way. “Ralph Becker says his leadership PAC, the fund politicians raise privately for extra expenses, paid his way.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) As Mayor of Salt Lake County in August of 2013, Ben McAdams took a trip to Switzerland partially paid for by the county: Editor’s Note: Julie McAdams is the wife of Ben McAdams. • MCADAMS: “I paid part of the cost and my leadership PAC, and the county reimbursed some of the cost.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • MCADAMS: “We looked to make major decisions, generational decisions on the future of the Wasatch.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) • The trip to Switzerland took place from August 23, 2013 to August 31, 2013. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • According to the trip itinerary, Julie McAdams is listed as part of the trip two days prior to Ben McAdams. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 25, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 26, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 27, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 28, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 29, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 30, 2013, Ben McAdams and Julie McAdams are listed on the trip itinerary. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • On August 31, 2013, the trip ended. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) Two private jets flew the group from Utah to Switzerland with at least one executive chef on board: • One of the private jets was a 1994 Gulfstream GI-SP with an executive chef. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • The second private jet was a 2005 Gulfstream G450 with an executive chef. (American Fork Canyon, Swiss Trip Itinerary, 08/02/2013) • The jet was supplied by the Ian Cumming family as they purchased an interest in Snowbird. “The jet was supplied by the Ian Cumming family, and they have since purchased a major interest in Snowbird Ski Resort.” (KUTV, “Who paid for Utah elected officials involved with Mountain Accord to go on private jet?,” 12/09/15) Snowbird paid for the hotel rooms during the trip, and the private jet flight to Switzerland cost $1,374, according to emails from representatives of the company: Editor’s Note: The hotel rooms paid for by Snowbird are not listed on Ben McAdams’ campaign filings as an in-kind donation. Furthermore, the private flight fair market cost were based on ‘Expedia’ air-fair costs for commercial flights. According to a brochure for a 2004 Gulfstream G450 jet, the total cost per hour is $3,961 which seats 14 people. The flight from Utah to Zurich is at least 13 hours. A video tour of a 2005 Gulfstream G450 can be viewed here. Editor’s Note: Although McAdams claimed to have paid for part of it through his leadership PAC, he did not have one at the time. It is unclear how exactly the trip was paid for.