Former ports director Marconi sues after state balks at covering his legal fees

Former New Hampshire ports director Geno Marconi is suing after state officials balked at paying his legal fees. Marconi, the former longtime head of the New Hampshire Port Authority, is asking the five-member Executive Council to vote on his request for indemnification for legal bills. He alleges Gov. Kelly Ayotte denied the request unilaterally, without council input, in violation of state law, while the governor’s office argues the issue does not need to be presented to the full council. The dispute stems from legal proceedings that began in January 2025, when Marconi was sued in his official capacity by the owners of the Rye Harbor Lobster Pound. Separately, the Attorney General previously prosecuted him on criminal charges related to sharing confidential motor vehicle and boat records. Marconi appealed an indemnification denial in April 2025; an initial hearing in Merrimack Superior Court is scheduled for August.