Top Social Democrat Gunsth Occupied Dual Roles – Hired for Over 200,000 by His Own Municipality

Nordanstig Municipality has hired its own chairman of the building committee, Social Democrat Daniel Gunsth, as a consultant and inspector in several municipal construction projects. When he later participated in the decision on building permits for one of the projects, he did not declare a conflict of interest. Now, two experts are strongly criticizing his conduct, saying it undermines trust in the municipality.

Daniel Gunsth (S) has been chairman of Nordanstig Municipality’s building committee since 2018 and is among the absolute top ranks of Social Democrats in the municipality. It has now been revealed that, for several years, the committee has hired Gunsth for consulting and inspection assignments in municipal construction projects.

Through his employer, Teknikkonsulterna i Sundsvall, Gunsth has invoiced the municipality over 200,000 SEK for various assignments during the period 2023-2026. One of the projects involves a new nursing home in Bergsjö, a construction project worth around 356 million SEK.

On March 6, 2024, Gunsth was informed that his employer had been awarded an assignment as an electrical inspector for the project. The notice came after the municipality’s project manager, Mac Herrman, called Gunsth “skilled” in an email.

Two weeks later, Gunsth, as committee chairman, participated in the meeting when building and land permits were granted for the same nursing home. According to the municipality’s minutes, he did not declare a conflict of interest and did not leave the meeting.

“It Undermines Trust”

Olle Lundin, professor of administrative law at Uppsala University, is strongly critical of the conduct.

– He has a clear economic interest in the matter. He absolutely should not have participated in that decision. He should have recused himself for conflict of interest, Lundin told Hudiksvalls tidning, adding:

– …This isn’t something that builds trust. On the contrary, it undermines trust, Lundin concludes.

He also adds that such behavior in many other countries would be described as corruption.

“I See Absolutely Nothing That Is a Conflict of Interest”

Top Social Democrat Daniel Gunsth does not agree with the criticism regarding conflict of interest.

Gunsth (S) received 17 personal votes in the municipality in the last election. Photo: Facsimile Valmyndigheten

He told Hudiksvalls tidning that he does not believe there was any conflict of interest situation when the building and land permits were considered.

– The decision has nothing to do with the electrical inspection whatsoever, says Gunsth (S).

When asked if he still should have declared a conflict of interest, the top Social Democrat responds, “No, why should I do that? I see absolutely nothing that is a conflict of interest in that.”

At the same time, he admits that the construction company involved in the case might perceive the situation as potentially conflicted, but he still wouldn’t declare a conflict of interest even if they thought so, he concludes.