From controversy to community: Mayor's jeans go for $400 in charity auction

WEIRS BEACH — The highly-anticipated auction of Mayor Mike Bordes' controversial jeans took place at Liliuokalani’s Ice Cream and Coffee Bar Tuesday night. The pants earned $400, for Operation Delta Dog, a nonprofit which rescues and trains shelter dogs as service dogs for veterans.

Handfuls of bids were placed on the jeans, the winning anonymous bidder wishing to remember the late Harry H. Bean, a former state representative from Gilford, with their donation. A bottle of Kentucky Bourbon also up for auction went for $100 to state Rep. Patrick Long (D-Manchester).

Staff of Liliuokalani’s donated a few days' worth of tips to the cause, earning over $120 in one day. For the past week, donations came in from supporters, and continued after the event. As of press time, over $1,200 has been raised for Operation Delta Dog, in Hollis.

Residents and community leaders alike came in wearing ties, and receiving a free small ice cream cone. Dick and Trisha Mariano, who live across Paugus Bay, came to support the mayor and Operation Delta Dog. They noted on social media, people react before they have all the facts, and it was “nice to see it flipped in a positive way.”

The controversy started after a photo of the mayor, wearing jeans at at Memorial Day ceremony, appeared in The Sun. Letter writer Virginia Nadaud took issue with his casual appearance, and the fact he brought his dog to the event. Bordes penned a reply, defending his fashion choice as an unscheduled speaker, and sharing that his dog, Huckleberry, works as a therapy dog at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton. Nadaud later wrote a second letter apologizing to the mayor.

Frank Pasquarello, owner of Liliuokalani’s, said he first saw the news about so-called Denim-Gate on the Laconia is Talking Facebook page. He reached out to Bordes, and they were immediately in agreement, and discussed having an auction for the jeans at Pasquarello’s ice cream shop. The idea was to turn the controversy into a positive, uplifting event for the community and Operation Delta Dog. Pasquarello and Bordes thought Liliuokalani’s, which overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee's Paugus Bay, would spark more of a turnout than City Hall.

“He at least went there and did what a mayor does, introduced himself and represented the city. Some people didn’t like it, but at least he was there, and the people that complained were sitting home not going to the event,” Pasquarello said.

Hillary Seeger — a friend of Bordes' and an Air Force veteran and political activist — saw the back and forth on Facebook about the mayor’s jeans. After seeing people online writing they would pay for the pants, Seeger sent a message to Bordes right away, asking, “Would you be able to part with the pants?”

After assisting in organizing the event, Seeger noted there were still many people mad it was occurring. Critics said they were “manufacturing fake outrage and turning it to make them look good.”

“We took something potentially negative — I didn’t even find it as negative — and we made a positive out of it by giving it to a good cause, that’s going to benefit veterans and help them get guys like him,” Bordes said, patting his great Dane Huckleberry.

As the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding is days away, the “Tie Up For Our Vets” fundraiser was timely.

“We need to unite no matter what, and this is a celebration. Something like this shows us that people of all aspects of life can come together for a good cause, so why can’t we do that for our country as well?” Bordes asked.

City Manager Kirk Beattie and Councilor Mike Conant (Ward 6) attended the fundraiser.

“People bashing him because of the way he dressed, well he’s still going to govern and treat people the same way, regardless of what he’s wearing,” Conant said. “I just think he did a great job with it. I wanted to be here to support him, and support the dogs, and very much importantly, support Frank for stepping up and recognizing the importance of community solidarity.”

The rain — mostly — held off Tuesday night for the auction. Some people made their bids in person at Liliuokalani’s, while the online presence of the event attracted many more bidders and further donations.

“The fact that he’s able to take a negative — instead of getting angry and name calling — turning it around, and trying to make it a positive, and bring folks together. That’s exactly what’s happened here and that’s why I’m here today,” Conant said. “I think it’s a step in the right direction, to try to bring Laconia together.”