election guide 2015

Routt County voters guide

Ballots were mailed to all active, registered voters beginning Oct. 12. To update your voter information, visit govotecolorado.com or stop by the Routt County Clerk and Recorder’s Office during normal business hours.

The last day for registered voters to request that a ballot be mailed to them is Oct. 26. Ballots will be avail-able for in-person pickup at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office through the end of the business day Oct. 30.

All completed ballots must be received by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Residents can also drop off their completed ballots at ballot boxes at Hayden Town Hall, Yampa Town Hall, Oak Creek Town Hall, the Clark Store and the Routt County Clerk and Recorder’s Office or in the 24-hour ,secure dropbox in the alley behind the Routt County Courthouse.

For more election information, including all election-related news articles, sample ballots and detailed candidate questionnaires for all Steamboat Springs City Council, Steamboat Springs School Board, Hayden School Board, South Routt School Board and CMC Board of Trustees candidates, including those who are running unopposed, visit SteamboatToday.com/election.

eleCtion2015

A supplement to the Steamboat Today

2 | October 2015 A Supplement to the Steamboat TodayElection Guide

A Supplement to the Steamboat Today October 2015 | 3Election Guide


By Teresa risTowReferendum 3A proposes to increase prop-

erty taxes for Steamboat Springs homeowners to generate $92 million through bonds for the Steamboat Springs School District.

The referendum was put on the ballot fol-lowing a unanimous vote by the Steamboat Springs Board of Education in August.

According to the Steamboat Springs School District and campaign committee Yes 2 Steamboat Schools, the money would be used to construct a new $71.8 million high school and for targeted renovations and maintenance at each existing district school.

Preschool classrooms would be integrated into the district’s existing elementary schools, and spaces would be renovated to house more small group learning areas.

The new 205,000-square-foot high school would be built on a 70-acre property on

Steamboat’s western edge, which the school district is under contract to purchase, pro-vided Referendum 3A passes. The $3.6 mil-lion property would be paid for through bond premiums.

School officials say district expansion is necessary to address sustained increasing enrollment.

“Anyone who has toured our schools under-stands they are all overcrowded,” said Scott Bideau, co-chair of Yes 2 Steamboat Schools and a member of the school board. “Even the high school is programmatically bursting at the seams, like science classes being taught in the band room. This plan looks toward the future to address both capacity and program-ming at every school while keeping tax levels at historic lows.”

If the bond issue and a related operational mill levy override both pass, school property

taxes on a $500,000 house will increase by $270 in 2016.

Opponents of Referendum 3A say the plan is flawed, in part because it moves the dis-trict’s high school population to a site outside of downtown, converting the current high school into a middle school.

“Moving of the high school, we think, is a bad idea from a community and social aspect,” said Kevin Sankey, a parent and member of Citizens for a Better Plan, a group opposing the bond.

The group said they are pro-education and support the need for more space for students but believe the plan that would be carried out through Referendum 3A isn’t the right one.

The group emphasizes that, while over-crowding is happening at the elementary and middle school, it isn’t happening at the high school and isn’t going to happen in the fore-

seeable future.Sankey said Citizens for a Better Plan

believe the creation of this plan lacked com-munity engagement, while Yes 2 Steamboat Schools representatives feel that the more than 20 committee, community and school board meetings held this spring were suffi-cient to create the plan.

Another reason for opposing the plan is a perceived lack of due diligence on the Overlook property, where the district would build the new high school.

Sankey said the option to build on the Overlook site was quickly presented to the community and then decided upon, without careful consideration of traffic impacts, acces-sibility and safety at the site.

The bond question will require a simple majority vote to pass.

Referendums 3A and 3B would fund school improvements through property tax increases

Referendum 3B is a mill levy override that would collect property taxes to pay for operating expenses for the new high school, which would be built with the passage of Referendum 3A, and staff needed for the growing district.

The mill levy override would be phased in over three years and generate $1.98 million in its third year and beyond.

The override would fund about $350,000 in annual utility expenses and about $185,000 in annual maintenance, includ-

ing capital improvements, custodial, inspections and snow removal.

About $100,000 annually would be used for transportation costs, including those associated with new and redirected bus routes.

Lastly, the override would fund the salary and benefits of a new elementary principal, assistant principal and two office positions at a new third- through fifth-grade elemen-

tary school that would be located in the current middle school campus, as well as five new teaching staff, two new maintenance staff, seven new custodians, a maintenance and transportation office assistant and two nutritional services employees for other areas of the district.

The mill levy override will cost about $17 annually per $100,000 of assessed home value — about $85 for a $500,000 home. The cost of the mill levy override is part of a total $270 annual school tax increase projected for a $500,000 home.

Referendum 3B asks voters to approve $1.98 million mill levy override


District 1 City CounCilMike ShAleR

Q. Two recent surveys show confidence in the city council is low in the eyes of the community and city staff. How would you work to improve the community's confidence in the council?

A. The city council has demonstrated that a substantial effort must be devoted to building a strong leadership team that will articulate a clear vision for the city of Steamboat; the council must lead the change effort, which will create the future and manage (through the city manager) the actions that will achieve that vision. This must be accomplished by balanc-ing the effort and renewing the trust that the voters have placed in this new city council. So the three essentials that I will devote myself to, if elected, are leadership, balance and a focus on the future of Steamboat.

Q. is the city's free-to-rider bus system still viable as is? if not, how should it be funded in the future, and what changes should be made?

A. A functioning public transit system is integral to the functioning of Steamboat Springs. The city should continue to pursue

grants and other funding to convert all buses to alternative fuels, based on the results from the ongoing alternative fuels study.

Q. Does the city have a role to play in promoting affordable/workforce housing in the community? if so, what policies would you support as a council member to promote this type of housing?

A. The public-private partnership demon-strated in the recently approved affordable apartment complex is a model for the future. The city has demonstrated that managing a motel is not a “core competency,” so future ventures should be managed by the Yampa Valley Housing Authority.

Q. Do you support the recommendation of a citizens committee to work with routt County to build a shared public safety facil-ity in west steamboat next to the county jail? why or why not?

A. I support a full exploration of a combined city-county public safety facility. Location should be the best possible to meet the demands of both the Routt County sheriff and Steamboat Springs city police.

Q. Do you feel the city has released enough information to the public about the internal police investigation that led to the departure of the police chief and the deputy police chief? why or why not?

A. Much more transparency is needed — 1) to fully inform the community of the status of its police force; 2) to clear the names and reputations of the very good professionals on the force who serve the citizenry; and 3) to ensure a better police force will be built for both the very near future and the long term.

Q. some current council members have suggested the public's trust in the police department has fallen because of the recent internal investigation that led to the depar-tures of the police chief and the deputy police chief. what do you see as council's role in the wake of that investigation?

A. It appears that the investigation was not conducted to inform the public — this was a large mistake, and steps should be taken to develop a report, which informs the public while protecting the names of those witnesses

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occupation: Leadership consultant, president of the Steamboat Leadership Institute, a leadership consulting organization

Hometown: Born in Des Moines, Iowa; grew up in Upland, California

years in steamboat: 23

Family: Wife, Sheila; four adult children; four grandchildren

Civic involvement: Support for a wide band of community service organizations

RoBin CRoSSAn

occupation: Guest services Ambassador supervisor, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. (winter), SkyWest Airlines

Hometown: Unionville/Chadds Ford, Pennyslvania


Family: Husband, Barry (golfer, gondola singles line ticket checker), son, Brant, graduate LWS, U.S. Ski Cross Team

Civic involvement: Steamboat Springs School Board (president, 2007-2011, member 2011-2015); Rally in the Valley Golf Tournament (Steamboat’s Rally for the Cure) coordinator; Education Fund Board; PIC; SAC; past board member of Young Life, Come Let’s Dance


A. Confidence in city council was rated 40 percent poor. Let’s involve our city staff and community in selecting the new city manager and work toward a shared vision, goals and plan to move our city forward. Let’s require an annual “State of the City” (like a report card) to our community so everyone knows what’s good, not so good and what we have learned over the past year. By scheduling open work sessions, we will have meaningful conver-sation amongst council members, manager and staff to work together through pending issues. Minimizing the time spent in executive session shows transparency. My experience eight years ago when elected to school board was similar to what we are facing today with city council. We worked together then, and I have the energy and experience to work with both new seated members of council to move forward now.


A. The bus system failed our community at the beginning of last winter season. Let’s not allow that to happen again. It is criti-cal for our tourists, workers and businesses alike. When services are requested in our community, someone or something needs to pay for it. By working with our business com-munity, we are all smart enough people to talk through and find a solution that works. What other creative ideas need to be discussed to improve our transit system, i.e. winter service every 20 minutes, summer service every 30 minutes, direct routes from downtown to the mountain in winter, upkeep of vehicles, more or less routes, riders pay for the service or not? All these and many more ideas need to be reviewed with our community before a decision could be made on who “pays” for this vital service in our community.

Q. Does the city have a role to play in promoting affordable/workforce housing in

the community? if so, what policies would you support as a council member to promote this type of housing?

A. Yes, the city can help promote afford-able/workforce housing by helping build pub-lic/private partnerships. We can review city codes and make corrections when necessary to make it more desirable for an investor to build. We need to be open-minded to growth, both large and small, building up and out, small lot subdivisions and rental units for our seasonal workers and low-income families. We need to think creatively for special zoning. How could the city help jumpstart one or two projects per year? Let’s work together to focus on this 30-plus year subject.


A. When a community, in this case city council, tasks a citizens committee of any sort to make a recommendation on any subject

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to view complete candidate responses to 10 key questions, visit Steamboattoday.com/election


tiM kiRkpAtRiCkQ. Two recent surveys show confidence

in the city council is low in the eyes of the community and city staff. How would you work to improve the community's confidence in the council?

A. Restoring public trust in the city council must be one of the first issues the new council addresses immediately after the election on Nov. 3. This will start with the new council pledging to make decisions openly and public-ly and this will continue with council members engaging the community on each subsequent decision. Full council transparency can only be appreciated if the city council and the city manager conduct business according to the city charter. Continued public work sessions also provide opportunities for the council to study and discuss issues and for the public to comment. While it is true that only four council members need to agree to vote affirmatively, the more that the council can work to build deeper consensus, the more the public per-ception of council will improve.

Q. is the city's free-to-rider bus system still viable as is? if not, how should it be

funded in the future, and what changes should be made?

A. Having a reliable bus service available to residents is critical for the businesses and schools in Steamboat. However, if citizens can’t count on the schedule, it won’t be used at the volume it should. I support more com-munication between local business owners, Colorado Mountain College, the ski resort and local government to address the proper fund-ing of the service. This conversation about a reliable bus service should be held in conjunc-tion with a discussion about local parking issues, as the two topics both contribute to local congestion on the streets.


A. The city must play a role in creat-ing affordable rental housing for the human infrastructure of Steamboat. I support creat-ing incentives for builders and developers to create safe, nearby and affordable rental hous-

ing, and I support continued education for first-time homebuyers. Many of the folks who desperately need affordable rental housing are the same folks who turn Steamboat on in the morning, shut it off at night to ensure that the town is ready for the next day. We must make a commitment to the workforce to guar-antee our town’s continuous operation. Many mountain communities have moved affordable housing farther out of town. Steamboat has a great opportunity to buck this system by sup-porting safe, nearby affordable housing for our local workforce.


A. Yes — among the options presented by the citizens committee, I support the con-struction of a shared law enforcement facility as it is the best option for use of these public funds. As Steamboat continues to grow on the west side of town, the proposed location takes

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occupation: Self-employed

Hometown: Denver

years in steamboat: 17, with a few short breaks

Family: Wife, Cho, mother, Elizabeth, father, Alexander, and brothers, David and Taylor.

Civic involvement: Integrated Community, STARS, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series

pAtRiCk Slowey

occupation: Public educator and retired Army officer

Hometown: Colorado Springs


Family: Wife, Kristin, and two young boys

Civic involvement: Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church


A. I would insist on openness and transpar-ency while performing our duties as council members — with the understanding that there are times when certain issues (particu-larly personnel matters) need to be discussed/decided on in a closed session. I would make a point of conducting “town hall” meetings with District 1 constituents every quarter in order to keep in touch and get a pulse on the issues that concern my neighbors. Finally, I would encourage the city manager to explore the use of an online customer feedback system that could measure customer satisfaction with city services/employees, identify concerns/issues with city operations and help identify out-standing city departments and employees for recognition in the performance of the duties.

Q. is the city's free-to-rider bus system still viable as is? if not, how should it be funded in the future, and what changes

should be made?A. I do not believe the current mass transit

system is sustainable. Every day, I see empty Yellow Line buses go to and from the CMC campus, and it makes me wonder if there is a better way to serve the transportation needs of our community. I would task the next city manager to develop three distinct and viable courses of action based on evaluation criteria provided by the council. Some of these pos-sible COAs could include bus fares, revenue collected from parking meters and/or real-location of tax revenue or any combination of the aforementioned solutions. Council would evaluate and select a COA and direct the city manager to implement it. The bottom line is, if we are going to take short cuts and provide a mediocre transportation service to our citi-zens/visitors, then we shouldn’t do it all.


A. The city has a limited role in promoting/

providing affordable housing in the com-munity. It can develop incentives to builders/providers of affordable housing, as well as partnering with various organizations to assist with finding affordable housing. The real onus for promoting/providing affordable housing is a market-driven function. As unpopular as it may be, if employers want to attract and retain good employees, they must pay them a living wage — enough to live and enjoy our community and all that it has to offer. The current albatross (the Iron Horse) around our neck is a perfect example of the city going too far in attempting to resolve what essentially is a market problem. For the record, I am willing to pay more for my meal at a restaurant or for various goods and services, with the under-standing that the person behind the counter is making a decent wage that provides for their basic needs.

Q. Do you support the recommendation of a citizens committee to work with routt County to build a shared public safety facil-ity in west steamboat next to the county jail?

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District 1 City CounCil


RiChARD levy

occupation: Massage therapist (self-employed), U.S. Forest Service wilder-ness ranger (seasonal)

Hometown: Trenton, New Jersey


Family: one beautiful partner, Sarah Westendorf

Civic involvement: Steamboat Springs Planning Commission, 2007-pres-ent; Northwest Colorado Stewardship, 2003-2005; Trappers Lake Sierra Club Executive Committee, 2000-present; Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley Executive Committee, 2003- present; URA Advisory Council, 2006-2007; Affordable Housing Working Group, 2005;


A. The new council will have to earn the trust and confidence of the community. We can do that by taking the time to publicly dis-cuss all decisions. It is impractical to expect our community to be aware of every decision if we depend on them reading agendas and minutes. We should widely publicize all agen-da items and better utilize the city page in the Steamboat Today to keep our citizens aware. We can improve relationships with staff by staying within our roles as defined by the Steamboat Springs City Charter: City council is tasked with providing clear direction to the city manager, not to staff. It is the role of the city manager to implement only these goals through our knowledgable staff. In order to assure clarity, all city council members must support decided goals, regardless of how they voted.

Q. is the city's free-to-rider bus system

still viable as is? if not, how should it be funded in the future, and what changes should be made?

A. No, the system is not viable as it is. Last winter, City Council tried to expand ser-vice while reducing funding. These changes were untenable to those that need depend-able bus service. Employees were late for work. There were long waits for visitors in the middle of winter. A well-designed bus system can address our current community goals of sustainability, affordability. Only with a pre-dictable bus service will visitors and locals make a more sustainable choice and use public transit. Our high cost of living affects everything, from employee turnover to afford-able child care to reduced sales tax collec-tions. Reducing the cost of transportation will improve the quality of our lives and strengthen our economy.


A. The Routt County Business Climate Study, August 2015, found four in 10 busi-nesses are having trouble finding employees. Many said that “increasing employee housing was the most important action the city could undertake to improve business climate.” We know that rental housing is essentially at 100 percent occupancy. Housing is the larg-est expense for Steamboat's families. Many residents are spending more than the recom-mended portion (30 percent) of their incomes on housing. There are a number of strategies in use around Colorado to address work-force housing: inclusionary zoning, linkage, dedicated taxes, lowered development fees, government participation and incentives. We could study this forever. The private sec-tor has not created supply to meet demand. Inclusionary zoning and/or linkage require-ments were determined the least painful answer in 2006. The answer is to reinstitute these requirements. Payment in lieu of dollars can be leveraged as was done in YVHA's Elk River Road project.

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District 1 City CounCil, continuedMike ShAleR fRoM pAge 5who gave their testimony and were assured of anonymity. But an open and clear report to the community is essential — so we can build a better police force for our city.

Q. The city's parks and recre-ation commission does not believe the city's vast portfolio of rec-reational amenities is adequately funded by the city's general fund. is it time to create a parks and rec district with its own property levy to remove that category from the general fund?

A. If elected, I would want to see a series of options for funding our parks, not just choose yes or no on one option presented. Parks and trails are an integral part of what make Steamboat a great community, and maintenance of those facilities is an important task.

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RoBin CRoSSAn fRoM pAge 5with a clear set of goals, it is impor-tant to be ready to accept the recom-mendation of the committee. If I were a sitting member on City Council, I would accept the recommendation of the citizens group and work with the county and respective staffs to move to the next phase of the project.

Q. Do you feel the city has released enough information to the public about the internal police investigation that led to the depar-ture of the police chief and the dep-uty police chief? why or why not?

A. By releasing the report, the community would know what issues were identified in the investigation and be able to talk about how to move forward. This would aid the interview committee tasked with making a recommendation for the new police chief. Knowing what spe-cific issues were identified will help mold questions to the candidates.

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tiM kiRkpAtRiCk fRoM pAge 6into account future residential develop-ment. Furthermore, a shared facility promotes interagency communication; citizens will benefit when local law enforcement agencies improve their communication. I also appreciate the process by which the plan was formu-lated — involving citizens in the deci-sion making improves transparency and gives the community a voice.

Q. Do you feel the city has released enough information to the public about the internal police investigation that led to the depar-ture of the police chief and the dep-uty police chief? why or why not?

A. No — the public has paid for the investigation and deserves to see the findings as such. I understand the hesitancy to reveal personnel matters, but I support having a neutral party, perhaps a retired judge, read through the Nuanes reports and redact the names of current personnel.

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pAtRiCk Slowey fRoM pAge 6why or why not?

A. Absolutely, it is a recommen-dation that I and many others had proposed from the start. All public officials (city, county, etc.) have a fiduciary responsibility to spend our taxpayer dollars wisely. Combining/sharing facilities and services when it is appropriate and results in the savings of tax dollars is a no brain-er. The haphazard, uncoordinated approach the previous city manager took regarding the site selection for a new police station is one reason I decided to run for office. This whole process could have been managed better had Council given the city manager specific criteria for a new station, allowed the city manager/staff to develop possible courses of action and then select the COA that best suited the needs of the com-munity.

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RiChARD levy fRoM ABoveQ. Do you support the recom-

mendation of a citizens committee to work with routt County to build a shared public safety facility in west steamboat next to the county jail? why or why not?

A. Yes. A joint facility has demon-strated to be a win-win solution. The need for expanded facilities is well documented. The costs are far less than the original $19.5 million pro-posal. The real controversy was lack of a clear public process. This com-mittee worked openly to cover all the bases (location, cost, logistics), and they explained their methodology. The current city council allowed this project to go from a capital project expected in 2021 to a last-minute sale of the current facility without a relocation plan. Hopefully, we can get the county and the city to agree on what is needed and get this proj-ect initiated.

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MiChAel BuCCinoQ. Two recent surveys show confidence


A. I will encourage fellow members of the city council to join in additional work sessions when business requires more in-depth per-spectives from council members. Steamboat's leaders have an obligation to communicate with the public, and I will be proactive and responsive. I will listen to your goals/ideas for the future and communicate those to the city manager. I applaud Scott Ford for the Coffee with Council meetings and anticipate joining and/or starting my own. What I want is more dialogue between public and council. During public comments, there have been some great ideas and thoughts. I desire a more peer-to-peer discussion when an idea piques my inter-est. Work sessions could open that dialogue.


A. After living in Steamboat for over 19 years, I have always loved the idea of free public transportation. I do not support a rider fee at this time. If the budget limits enough appropriate funding, there are other options to consider. I visited Glenwood Springs this summer and had an opportunity to use their buses. They have a reasonable $1/day fee for all riders. The cost to retrofit each bus would be offset the first couple of years if adopted. I would rather look into using some of the air tax overages to increase the transportation budget. However, the air tax is a limited fund-ing source unless voters extend in the future.


A. In promoting, yes, in creating, no. Our city should not be in the landlord business. The purchase of the Iron Horse Inn is a recent example of this failed attempt. We should be looking at the West Steamboat Springs Area Plan, which was adopted in June 2006.

Government is much better at controlling development with zoning, planning and incen-tives. I would encourage developers to bring forward some ideas and work with Yampa Valley Housing Authority to help us solve our housing problem. In the past, our city created an enterprise zone around Downhill Drive and Copper Ridge area. These incentives helped encourage developers and business owners upgrade and build their own infrastructure that grew their business and our tax revenue. This is one example of how the city can offer partnerships to solve our housing problems.


A. I wholeheartedly support the citizens committee's recommendation. I spoke with law enforcement officers, both in the city and sheriff, and I have yet to hear anything nega-tive regarding a shared facility.

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occupation: Interior designer

Hometown: Palm Springs, California


Family: Janelle, my wife of 16 years, and children, Mikey, 13, Anya, 12, and Grayson, 10

JASon lACy

occupation: Attorney

Hometown: Marion, Kentucky


Family: Married to Dervla Lacy; two sons, Declan, 4, and Ronan, 20 months

Civic involvement: City of Steamboat Springs Planning Commission; Routt County United Way; Seminars at Steamboat; Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board; STARS; Yampa Valley Autism Program; Northwest Colorado Bar Association; Colorado Bar Association; Downtown Redevelopment Committee for Steamboat Springs; Yampa Street 2A Funding Committee; City of Steamboat Springs Survey Committee


A. My primary goal in running for city council is to ensure that the public knows its government operates with openness, trans-parency and inclusiveness for all citizens of Steamboat. I will promote work sessions on all important policy topics to ensure that extensive dialogue and full public input is obtained on all issues. I have been involved in work sessions for over six years as part of Planning Commission and I routinely see their value. Moreover, I would like to formal-ize alternative options for public input such as Coffee with Council and other small group, interactive discussions so that the community has the chance to engage in real conversation with city council members. Finally, as part of public comment received at meetings or through written correspondence I will commit to responding directly to all meaningful com-ments received from our community.


A. The city’s free-to-rider bus system is still viable in its current form today. However, in the future, the growth of spending neces-sary to keep up with transportation needs in our community may dictate a change in how the bus system is funded. If such funding changes are necessary, the city will need to confer with its community partners, including the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp., Colorado Mountain College and other entities that ben-efit from the free city bus system, to discuss possible collaborative funding efforts. As with any city services that face funding challenges, we must have all options on the table and look for ways to partner with those that benefit from such services.


A.The city does have a role to play in pro-moting affordable/workforce housing in the community, although the city itself should not be managing any affordable units. The role of the city on this issue is two-fold: 1) the city should create a regulatory environment that fosters the creation of attainable market rate housing, and 2) the city should find ways to provide financial support to the Yampa Valley Housing Authority. On the regulatory front, the city needs to look at ways to promote more density in certain areas of the city, including small lot subdivisions, and we need to find a way to grow west as set forth in the West Steamboat Area Plan. Our community surveys have consistently shown housing as a top issue, and we need to maximize options for people of all income levels to live and work in Steamboat and Routt County.

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heAtheR SloopQ. Two recent surveys show confidence


A. Confidence in the council stems from the internal relationships amongst its members and especially its relationship with the city manager. Council must communicate openly with each other and as a collective whole to the public, while maintaining the utmost professionalism. I will bring strong leader-ship and communication skills to the council to ensure we are productive. My belief is that the relationship between council and the city manager is a partnership, that communication between council and city manager must be clear, specific, on-going and without negative emotions. The city manager should have clear direction of the council’s goals for our city, and the manager should work with council to help them set policy, process and procedure.


should be made?A. The city's bus system is an asset to locals,

tourists and our satellite communities to the west. The viability of the bus system is depen-dent upon ridership, grants and partnerships from within our community. Funding for future transportation services must be approached through a community-wide effort. We need to assess driver wages and retention, ridership and partnerships from within the community. Any decision regarding transit should be made with the focus of how it benefits the community and its visitors. Without proper vetting through these channels, council will not be effective in making the right decisions.


A. The city has an important role in housing. We need to tackle the housing issue on a three-fold basis. 1) Initiate a revolving loan fund for entry-level needs, establishing down payment assistance through this fund; 2) We need to

work with the community and nonprofits to educate buyers and renters on the realities of buying a home and the cost of maintenance or long-term rental; 3) I believe we should imple-ment the West Steamboat Springs Area Plan and look at developing future goals, focusing on what we can accomplish today and what we can afford in the future.

Q. Do you support the recommendation of a citizens committee to work with routt County to build a shared public safety facility in west steamboat next to the county jail? why or why not?

A. I do support the recommendation for a shared facility. The citizens committee invest-ed time and resources to give our city the best plan for our future. Partnering with Routt County will generate a greater bond between these two law enforcement organizations, which will inevitably enhance our community policing. Having a master's in criminal justice/policing, I know that this facility will be an asset to our city.

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occupation: Community affairs and regu-latory manager for Southwestern Energy.

Hometown: Steamboat Springs


Family: Husband, Peter Sloop, president of Sloop Painting; children, Vivian, 5, and Otto, 4.

Civic involvement: Community Agriculture Alliance board member; Holy Name Catholic Church Parish Council; Colorado Northwest Workforce board member; Routt County Multi-modal Road Users advisory board member; Club 20 voting board member for Steamboat Springs and Routt County; Routt County Riders member

eRin wAlkeRQ. Two recent surveys show confidence


A. The first step is to listen. It is hard to have confidence in a group when your concerns aren’t heard. The second step includes hiring a city manager who is experienced, willing to work under the direction of the council, learn the history of Steamboat and to lead the city staff. The third is to establish a vision for the community with their input. This includes revis-iting the community plan and recent surveys in order to make unemotional decisions with the long-term goal in mind. Once a decision is made, everyone on council should get behind it and work as a team. As a member of city coun-cil, I would lead by example to communicate respectfully, work collaboratively and behave transparently. I have done all of these through-out my career in nonprofit while convening people from various sectors with different agendas. Through effective communication and compromise, solutions are possible.


A. According to the current transit staff, they are comfortable with 2016 budgets, and the system is currently viable. However, the key to budgeting for transit is long-term planning. The council, in conjunction with city staff and com-munity input, needs to put together a vision for transportation as a whole and then determine how it should be funded. One long-term issue is planning financially for buses that will need to be replaced starting in 2019. For the vision, we need not look further than ideas that were researched and put together by the transporta-tion group at the chamber prior to the economic downturn. Also, other mountain communities are solving their transit challenges through various funding strategies, and we can look to them for best practices. Once the best plan for Steamboat is put into place, we can figure out the strategy to fund it.

Q. Does the city have a role to play in promoting affordable/workforce housing in

the community? if so, what policies would you support as a council member to promote this type of housing?

A. This is an issue that affects our business community tremendously. Employees coming to Steamboat cannot find places to live afford-ably. Affordable housing is also one of the top concerns from the community survey. While is it a challenge, I do not believe it is some-thing our city government can solve on its own. The city should not be in the business of managing housing. The city should continue to support Yampa Valley Housing Authority, a much needed organization in this community. Council, with the city staff, can also look at the development code and other policies to simplify and remove barriers to development. Lastly, I believe we will need to consider the West Steamboat Area Plan in order to begin to address the affordable and attainable housing issue as a whole.

ContinueD online

occupation: Fundraiser

Hometown: Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but Steamboat Springs is now my hometown

years in steamboat: 1 1/2 as a resident but I’ve been coming here since I was 12 years old.

Civic involvement: Young Professional’s Network; Yampa Valley Gives fund-raising committee. Denver — Young Professionals History Colorado Board, volunteered as a mentor in the Goodwill Industries in-school program, founded the Denver Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group and was a member of the 2010 Impact Denver Class





ChuCk MCConnellQ. Two recent surveys show confi-

dence in the city council is low in the eyes of the community and city staff. How would you work to improve the community's confidence in the council?

A. I will be open and transparent in city council business. The community has made clear this is essential to restore confidence in the council. Another way to restore confidence is for elected representatives to be accessible. As a council member, I will be accessible and approachable; being available to answer ques-tions will build public confidence. I will par-ticipate in an informal monthly meeting where all members of the community are invited. In these meetings, issues pertaining to city busi-ness will be open for discussion. Steamboat Springs has exceptionally good city staff. I will also be available and approachable to them, not to in any way direct their work, simply to answer questions and welcome their input on council issues.


should be made?A. Yes, the city’s free-to-ride bus sys-

tem is viable. This system is a drawing card for out-of-town visitors. It is also an excellent way for our own residents to reduce their liv-ing cost using the bus service for work and their daily activities. By reducing automobile traffic, our “mass transit” system is also environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. I have attended council meetings where citizen comments praised the system and stated it was a godsend for folks who cannot afford a car. Future funding should not include convert-ing the bus transit system to a pay situation. I do think a volunteer fee system where people could pay for a ride if they wished should be explored. This option could help defray some system operating expenses. Our transit should continue to be optimized to keep operating cost at a minimum and maintain excellent service.

Q. Does the city have a role to play in promoting affordable/workforce housing in the community? if so, what policies would you support as a council member to promote

this type of housing?A. The city’s role in workforce housing

must be limited to a partnership with the pri-vate sector. The bad experience with the Iron Horse Motel showed us that the risks of public ownership and management of workforce housing is too risky. The gamble of ownership must be left to the private sector. The large number of “Help Wanted” signs is testimony to the need for entry-level employees. Bus ser-vice to Steamboat from lower-cost area towns has been a good, but only a partial, solution. I will support a partnership whereby the private sector provides the investment and operation management and the city guides investors through the complex and often daunting regu-latory process. Affordable housing would ben-efit Steamboat Springs with an influx of young families. Many of those families will bring location-neutral businesses and valuable work skills. Again, the private sector must provide the investment while working with the city to navigate regulatory issues.

ContinueD online

occupation: Retired

Prior political experience: Candidate for Colorado House of Representatives; county representative for state and national candidates

Hometown: Born in Bethany, Missouri


Family: Three children, eight grandchildren

Civic involvement: Volunteered with Routt County Council on Aging, vol-unteered with Communidad Integrada, annual highway cleanup project. In my career, I was a founder and later presi-dent of a Rotary Club and president of another.

kAthi MeyeR

occupation: Retired financial executive

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois


Family: Married to James Peterson, mother of Richmond Meyer and proud grandmother of Chance Meyer

Civic involvement: Steamboat Springs Planning commission; Yampa Valley Housing Authority Board; Steamboat Springs Area Plan Coordinating Committee; Routt County Habitat for Humanity; Nordic Combined World Cups; Salt Lake 2002 Olympics, FIS official; Yampa Valley Medical Center, volunteer


A. I am hearing loud and clear that our citizens want a hardworking, knowledgeable city council that conducts its business in public. Adding work sessions for complicated or complex issues would be helpful to educate both the citizens and council members. It would also facilitate a more transparent and open process of decision making. The city council should act, in its capacity of commu-nity leadership, similar to a corporate board of directors, with the city manager acting as a CEO who is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations. The council should set policy, and the city manager should implement those policies, with constant communication and feedback between both entities. I have a track record of working well with others and will listen carefully to all points of view before making a decision.

Q. is the city's free-to-rider bus system

still viable as is? if not, how should it be funded in the future, and what changes should be made?

A. Our bus system was originally designed to move tourists between the ski area and the downtown, with U.S. Highway 40 serving as a connector. I would like to see an expan-sion of the bus system to serve more local neighborhoods, perhaps using smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, similar to the com-mercial shuttle system vans. I believe having more local access would increase year-round ridership. All potential funding sources must be considered and could be through a combi-nation of sales of monthly passes, small daily ridership fees and leveraged with grants.


A. There is no silver bullet to fix this prob-lem. Recent community surveys have indi-cated that the citizens and the business com-munity understand the importance of housing

as a basic need. The Housing Authority was created through a partnership with the city and county to be the main entity that works towards multiple solutions. I’ve spent the last 19 years working on community projects and programs geared to help low- and middle-income households have safe, decent housing. The city has a Community Housing Fund with almost $1 million remaining, which can be lev-eraged through other state and federal grants to create more housing supply. Also, the city needs to constantly review its policies and practices to make sure that it is not inadver-tently increasing costs through unintended or unnecessary regulations. The council should be leaders in settings goals, taking action and making sure that the people who represent the essential core of our community — our teach-ers, firefighters, nurses and service employ-ees — have the opportunity to live in the town where they work.

ContinueD online

At-large City CounCil


ELECTION FORUM

OCTOBER 15Meet the candidates

at The Steamboat Grand

Hosted by the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors, Routt County Democrats, Routt County Republicans and the Steamboat Pilot & Today

5 p.m. Meet & GreetAppetizers and a cash bar will be available prior to the start of the forum.

5:45 p.m. Election Forum beginsSteamboat Today Editor Lisa Schlichtman will moderate the Q&A sessions with candidates. This forum will feature Steamboat Springs City Council candidates and Senate Bill 152 broadband issue.

Submit a questionQuestions will not be accepted from the audience during the forum, but questions are being accepted in advance of the event. These can be emailed to [email protected].

SteamboatToday.com/electionCan’t make the forum? Watch it LIVE or later. Turn to the Steamboat Today for complete coverage of issues and candidates for Election 2015.


By Tom rossVoters in eight jurisdictions in Routt County

will be asked in the November election to free-up local governments from the constraint of a state law that prevents them from providing services in the area of telecommunications.

The constraints in Senate Bill 152, passed by the legislature in 2005, specifically prohibit public institutions from taking measures to improve “high bandwidth services.”

Large telecommunications companies lob-bied in favor of Senate Bill 152, saying com-petition from public entities would serve as a strong disincentive to private sector invest-ment in infrastructure, particularly in rural areas of the state.

However, former Steamboat Springs city councilman Jon Quinn, chief operating officer of Northwest Data Services here, said he can’t point to a single positive local outcome result-ing from Senate Bill 152.

Routt County Manager Tom Sullivan told county commissioners in June that Senate Bill 152 has essentially resulted in protecting major telecommunication companies such as CenturyLink from any competition in rural areas of the state.

“The bill was written by the telecom indus-try and has solidified territorial practices of the telecom industry and what has essen-tially been a monopoly business in Northwest Colorado,” Sullivan wrote in a memo to com-missioners. “Efforts to repeal the law at the state legislature have failed due to intense lobbying by the telecom industry.”

Those political entities asking voters to release them from the provisions of Senate Bill 152 include Routt County (Referendum 1A), the town of Yampa (2B), the town of Oak Creek

(2A), the city of Steamboat Springs (2C), Steamboat Springs RE-2 School District (3C), the town of Hayden (2E), Colorado Mountain College (4D) and Hayden RE-1 School District (1A).

Some voters, who live within the different boundaries of several governments asking to be released from Senate Bill 152 will receive ballots with multiple referendums with similar language. For example, residents of Steamboat Springs will see referendums from Steamboat Springs School District, Routt County and Colorado Mountain College, as well as from the city.

If the measures are approved by voters, local officials say they will enjoy more latitude to tackle the troublesome issues surround-ing the high cost and limited data capacity of Internet in rural Northwest Colorado.

Local governments won’t be able to fix all the broadband issues in the region on their own, but passage of Referendum 1A in Routt County and 2C in the city of Steamboat Springs would “empower the community to help itself,” said Quinn, who chairs a political committee registered with the secretary of state as “Yes2Broadband” to advocate for the referendums.

One possibility is that the city and county might collaborate on securing grant monies, allowing them to run their own fiber optic cable to a telecommunications tower of their own, Quinn said.

One of the most successful examples of local entities taking some control of the region’s telecommunications future was real-ized in May 2014, when Northwest Colorado Broadband, a co-op created by several local institutions, completed a “carrier-neutral loca-

tion” in a downtown building owned by the school district.

The carrier-neutral location initially is intended to enable the school district, the city

of Steamboat Springs and Routt County to pay far less for more connectivity, with the hope that the effects will trickle down to customers large and small across the region.

voters asked to opt out of telecom billWithout increasing taxes, shall (insert

different government entities) have the legal ability to provide any and all services currently restricted by Title 29, Article 27, Part 1, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically described as “advanced ser-vice,” “telecommunications services” and “cable television services,” as defined by the statute, specifically including new and improved bandwidth services based on

best available technologies, utilizing current and new community-owned infrastructure to any existing fiber optic network, either directly, or indirectly with public or private sector service providers, to potential sub-scribers that may include telecommunica-tions service providers, and residential or commercial users within (government enti-ty), and that said services may be provided by (government entity) alone or in partner-ship with other governmental, private or corporate, including nonprofit, entities?

Referendum

By maTT sTenslanDWith Proposition BB, Colorado voters will

decide whether the state gets to keep mari-juana tax revenues or refund that tax money to taxpayers and the marijuana industry.

The decision is going to a vote because the state's total tax revenues from retail marijuana sales were higher than estimates given to vot-ers in 2013, when they approved Proposition AA, which allowed for excise and sales taxes on retail marijuana.

If Proposition BB fails, $66 million in mari-juana tax revenues will be refunded to taxpay-ers. Of that, $24 million will be refunded to retail marijuana cultivators and $17 million will go to retail marijuana customers using a tem-porary reduction in the retail marijuana sales

tax rate. Finally, $25 million will be refunded to Colorado residents who file a 2015 state income tax return. The refund to individuals will be between $6 and $32, with the smallest wage earners receiving the smallest refunds.

If Proposition BB passes, $40 million will go toward school construction, and $12 mil-lion will be split among these programs:■ Marijuana education and prevention cam-

paigns ($2.5 million)■ Bullying prevention and school grants

($2 million)■ Drop-out prevention school grants ($2 million)■ Youth mentoring services ($2 million)■ Poison control centers ($1 million)■ Local government marijuana impact grants

($1 million)

■ Substance abuse screening, interventions and referral ($500,000)

■ Substance abuse treatment ($500,000)■ Future Farmers of America and 4-H pro-

grams at the State Fair ($300,000)■ Roadside impaired-driving enforcement

training for peace officers ($200,000)The remaining $14 million in tax revenue

has not been allocated.Proponents of the proposition say that

Colorado voters supported taxing and legal-izing marijuana with the expectation that tax revenues would be generated for the greater good of the state.

Critics of the proposition say the proposi-tion is effectively a temporary tax increase.

proposition BB decides whether state keeps marijuana tax revenues

May the state retain and spend state revenues that otherwise would be refunded for exceeding an estimate included in the ballot information booklet for Proposition AA and use these rev-enues to provide $40 million for public school building construction and for other needs such as law enforcement, youth programs and marijuana educa-tion and prevention programs, instead of refunding these revenues to retail mari-juana cultivation facilities, retail mari-juana purchasers and other taxpayers.

proposition BB

FILE PHOTO


Vote YES to exempt local governmental entities from the unfair restrictions of SB 05-152.Vote YES because high-quality, reliable and redundant broadband is essential infrastructure for all residents and businesses.

Vote YES to open up possibilities for public-private partnerships .

Vote YES to restore local governmental rights to provide telecommunications services, directly or indirectly.

Routt County – 1A

Town of Oak Creek - 2A

Town of Yampa - 2B

City of Steamboat Springs - 2C

Town of Hayden – 2E

Steamboat Springs School District RE2 - 3C

Colorado Mountain College - 4D

www.yes2broadband.com

Paid Political Advertisement by the Yes2Broadband Committee, Jon Quinn Chairman, 1475 Park Court, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487.

Paid Political Advertisement


By maTT sTenslanDResidents in Hayden will have two local issues to vote on.The first issue is whether the town should collect taxes on

the wholesale sales of marijuana grown by cultivators.On Sept. 3, the Hayden Town Council voted to place a

measure on the November ballot that would allow wholesale sales of the marijuana to be taxed between 7.5 percent and 15 percent.

At a tax rate of 5 percent, Town Manager David Torgler has estimated grow operations will generate $143,500 in annual revenue for the town.

Torgler said Wednesday the intent of the current council is to have a tax rate of 7.5 percent, and future councils could raise the tax up to 15 percent.

There currently are no marijuana cultivators operating in the town, but the Hayden Town Council approved allowing marijuana cultivation when they voted 6-1 on Aug. 6 in favor of Ordinance 666.

The taxation issue could end up being a non-issue, depend-ing on what Hayden voters decide during a Jan. 26 special election.

Allowing marijuana cultivation proved a divisive issue among residents, and a committee has gathered enough sig-natures to put Ordinance 666 to a vote.

Hayden voters are also being asked whether they want the

town to continue adding fluoride to the drinking water.Many municipalities across the country for the past 70

years have put fluoride into drinking water with the belief that it helps prevent tooth decay.

During a May 21 Hayden Town Council meeting, a council member said the council should discuss whether to continue adding fluoride to the water. On June 4, the council directed the town staff to put the question on the ballot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy support putting fluoride in the drinking water.

"Water fluoridation’s biggest advantage is that it is the best method for delivering fluoride to all members of the community regardless of age, education, income level or access to routine dental care," Murthy wrote in a report this summer. "Fluoride’s effectiveness in preventing tooth decay extends throughout life, resulting in fewer and less severe cavities. In fact, each generation born since the implementation of water fluoridation has enjoyed better dental health than the preceding generation."

The Fluoride Action Network opposes fluoride. According to the group's website, fluoridation is an outdated form of mass medication; it is unnecessary and ineffective, and it is not a safe practice.

“Europe reached this conclusion a long time ago," the website states. "It is now time for the U.S. and other English-

speaking nations to follow suit."

hayden voters to decide marijuana tax, fluoride issue

reFerenDum 2DShall the town of Hayden’s taxes be increased by

$143,500 in fiscal year 2016 (first full fiscal year dollar increase) and by whatever additional amounts are raised annually thereafter through the imposition of an excise tax in the amount of 7.5 percent in 2016 and up to 15 per-cent, thereafter on the sale or transfer of marijuana (both medical and retail) by a marijuana cultivation facility at the average market rate at the point of sale or transfer from the cultivation facility, commencing on Jan. 1, 2016; and in connection therewith, shall the full proceeds of such tax at such rate and any earnings thereon be collected, retained and spend, as a voter-approved revenue change without limitation or condition, and without limiting the collection, retention or spending of any other revenues under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?

reFerenDum 2FShall the Town of Hayden stop adding fluoride into any

Town of Hayden, Colorado, public water system?

town of hayden ballot issues

Recycle this newspaper.


School # GradeS total capacity current enrollment

over/under capacity

Soda Creek & Strawberry Park

Elementary

Middle School

High School*

6

3

4 905 735 170 under

550 589 39 over

940 1096 156 over

(enrollment and capacities taken from SSSD 10/1/15 and *includes YVHS)

Why build a high school when what we need is an elementary or K-8?

With a $92 million bond and a $178 million payback, we can’t be going back to taxpayers anytime soon for more $$, so we better get it right.

The process was rushed and the plan shows it.

Other towns would love to have a downtown high school and we’re about to throw it away? Did you know the high school probably won’t even reach

capacity for at least 10 years? This is a huge mistake, Steamboat.

This community can come together after the election and create a better plan for all our schools.

Vote NO on 3A and 3B Steamboat Deserves Better

Paid political advertisement by Citizens for a Better Plan, Stephanie Smith, Jim Darcy, Don Kidder, PO Box 770705 Steamboat Springs, Co 80477

We SuppOrt Our SchOOlS But NOt thiS flAWeD plANwww.citizensforabetterplansteamboat.com

www.facebook.com/steamboatcitizensforabetterplan



JuleS pAlyoQ. why are you qualified to serve on the

school board?A. I am qualified to serve on the school

board because of a number reasons. First, my business experience gives me the expertise to evaluate the financial status of the school district and help to identify inefficiencies and other issues of the budget. As an employer in South Routt over the years, I have intimate knowledge of what businesses are looking for in an employee and can help the district address those needs. Second, having three children that have been and are being educat-ed in the South Routt School District gives me a parent’s perspective of what the challenges are for students when making the transition from the elementary to the secondary campus and then on to college or the work force. Third, my experience on the board of education these past four years has been invaluable. There is a large “learning curve” as a member of the board of education, and my experience will allow me to hit the ground running and con-tinue to address the issues that are before our school district.

Q. what do you think is the most impor-tant issue facing the south routt school District, and what can be done to address it?

A. Without a doubt, the most important issue facing our district is declining enroll-ment. The district is currently loosing approxi-mately 70 students to other districts, and although the official student count has not been finalized for this year, preliminary num-bers show that we will be dramatically down in student numbers from last year.

Before the board of education can address the problem of declining enrollment, we must identify the causes that are creating this issue, which leads me into the next question about declining enrollment.

Q. what strategies would you suggest for the south routt school District to address declining enrollment?

A. Obviously, our district is not meeting the needs of our families and students; oth-erwise they would not be seeking education from other sources. The board of education has employed several initiatives to address declining enrollment. One identified need of

our community was the lack of early childcare options. The school district owns a build-ing next to the elementary school in Yampa, and up until now, it has only been partially utilized. Fully utilizing the building by adding an early childcare program will give South Routt families a much needed option for early childcare. It is the board’s hope that once families choose Soroco in these early years for their children, they will not move them to another district in the future. Another identi-fied need is the Stagecoach community. Many parents of this community work in Steamboat Springs and must make the decision of which direction to take their children for child care and education. The district owns a nine-acre plot in Stagecoach, and we have directed our superintendent to look into options in devel-oping that land so that we may better serve the needs of Stagecoach. Finally, excellence in education is the most important aspect of combating declining enrollment. The district has some very strong success stories in edu-cation that we can build on and expand.

ContinueD on pAge 20

occupation: Metal fabricator/welder

Hometown: Watkins

years in south routt County: 15

Family: Wife, Wendy; son, Tristan, 21, Sororco graduate and currently a senior at the University of Wyoming; son, Ian, 19, Soroco graduate and currently a freshman at Laramie County Community College, and daughter, Morgan, 16 and currently a junior at Soroco High School.

Civic involvement: I have been active in the South Routt School District since moving to South Routt in 2000, start-ing with the Elementary Accountability Committee then moving to the Secondary Accountability Committee

DAviD long

occupation: Peabody Energy corporate purchasing manager

Hometown: Oak Creek


Family: I have been married to my wife, Kami, for 29 years. We have three grown children who all graduated from Soroco High School.

Civic involvement: Routt County Fair advisory board since 2000, currently serving as the board president. Soroco High School vo-ag advisory board for the past 25 years. Routt County Extension Agency advisory board this year. I was honored as a Friend of the Soroco High School this past year.

Q. why are you qualified to serve on the school board?

A. I currently manage a staff of seven indi-viduals. It is my responsibility to help develop each of my reporting staff to reach their full potential, even when they are faced with dif-ficult circumstances. I have to be successful in determining and sourcing the needs of 300 employees to complete their jobs safely and efficiently, while staying within the budget that was developed by the senior manage-ment team of which I am a part, to provide maximum value for our shareholders. I also must develop a supplier base of well over 500 vendors to meet the needs of the orga-nization that currently employs me. I believe the qualities of leadership I have developed within myself to be successful as a corporate purchasing manager will be an asset to being a member of a successful team on the South Routt School Board.


A. To raise the state-mandated test score

across all age groups while maintaining fis-cal responsibility. I believe that if the present administration has hired qualified teachers, it is the responsibility of the administration to allow these teachers to perform their job with minimal interference. As a board member, I would talk with each teacher, support staff, administrator, as well as listen to ideas from my constituents to begin to form a concise approach that the entire community would support to improve the district test scores. I do not believe the answer to the problem is throwing more money at the problem. With land prices declining and the district receiving fewer tax dollars from royalties in the declin-ing energy market and the state of Colorado, the board needs to maintain fiscal responsibil-ity by scrutinizing all spending and begin to budget for capital transportation cost in the near future.


A. We need to seek input from our con-stituents to provide a well-rounded educa-

tional experience that will fulfill the needs of the majority while meeting the requirements handed down by the state and federal govern-ment. We must encourage and empower the staff to think outside box. I believe you will begin to see a stabilization of the enrollment numbers as the Steamboat School District finally begins to implement full-day kindergar-ten program at no additional cost to parents. The South Routt School District needs to com-plete their own survey of the parents within the district to determine ways to optimize the curriculum that is being offered their children. The South Routt School District must continue to support classes in the arts, business and vocational studies as we continue to refine the studies in core classes.

Q. would you support the south routt school District pursuing district consolida-tion with steamboat springs? why or why not?

A. I personally do not support consolidat-ing the South Routt School District with the Steamboat School District.


District 4 South Routt SChoolS



kRiStinA SChAinuSQ. why are you qualified to serve on the

school board?A. I have a sincere passion and interest, not

only in our school but also our community. My children are in multiple levels in our district, ranging from preschool age to high school. Our family has a long history here giving me a realistic background through my experiences along with a vested interest, having served on the board since January 2014. I believe I have just begun to feel comfortable to make a posi-tive impact as a board member and would like to continue my passion and efforts.


A. Consistency. Any weakness goes back to a lack of consistency. In particular, staff turnover. Staff turnover directly contributes to lack of consistency, negatively affecting the learning environment. A goal of mine, and the district, is to attract and retain first-rate quali-fied staff. Retention of qualified staff promotes consistency in the classroom and a healthy learning environment. Our staff here believes

in our community, and that unites us as a whole. We should protect that quality we have.


A. Again, consistency. We need a consis-tent staff and to invest in high-quality educa-tors that want to be here long-term. It seems very simplistic to me. Let’s go back to basics. Our students need to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. We can have great programs that support core classes, but without the strong basics, our extra programs will not attract students. I think we are sometimes too focused on the kids not enrolled in our district rather than the kids that are. We have a number of students who choose to attend our school district who do not reside here. We are extremely fortunate to have a number of award-winning teachers helping the success of our students. The difficulty is doing so, while being fiscally responsible. We need to make sure that every dollar spent is for the student success.

Q. would you support the south routt

school District pursuing district consolidation with steamboat springs? why or why not?

A. I can see how people would easily be convinced that consolidation would be the answer to everything. However, I do not sup-port the idea. I recently spent some time with community members who experienced our last consolidation between Yampa and Oak Creek in 1961. It brought a huge controversy and in the end, saved no money. Now one could argue the consolidation worked out in the end for several reasons. Socialization is one example. Overall, I feel the positives of not consolidating outweigh the negatives of doing so. I do not wish to sacrifice our local control by consolidation with any surrounding district. We may be small but we are strong. We are a unique district, and I believe we should stay that way.

Q. what role do you think the south routt school District and/or school board plays or should play in the overall south routt com-munity?

A. The school should be the “hub” of our community.


occupation: Cattle rancher and part-time postal employee


years in south routt County: 15 plus

Family: married with three kids, age 4, 14 and 17

Civic involvement: School board mem-ber, FFA Alumni (Booster) member, 4-H volunteer

kelSi eDwARDS

occupation: Owner of a hair salon in Yampa

occupation: Metal fabricator/welder

Hometown: South Routt


Family: Husband, Adam Edwards; 4-year-old son enrolled in South Routt pre-school; and 7-year-old daughter who is second-grader at South Routt Elementary School

Civic involvement: I volunteered to help upgrade the South Routt preschool from a half-day to a full-day preschool.

Q. why are you qualified to serve on the school board?

A. When we moved from Hayden to Toponas last year, I immediately started working to help improve our schools. As a highly motivated parent, I began volunteering at the school, assisting on field trips and working to increase the length of the school day at the preschool. I want what is best for our children and for their education, and I'm willing fight to get them the opportunities that they deserve.


A. The most important issue facing our school district is the declining enrollment. We need to improve and shine a light on our current successful programs. As a result of our strong agricultural program, children from other areas have utilized the open enrollment system to attend Soroco schools.


A. I feel we need to continue to encourage

and improve programs like the agriculture program to increase our enrollment. Show the community members who choose to take their kids to Steamboat School that we are on the right track to make our school the best it can be.


A. By consolidating the school districts, South Routt could ensure that teachers receive comparable salaries throughout the county and, therefore, encourage the best possible teachers to come into our schools. As a school board member, this is something that I would work very hard to make hap-pen. Having a combined Routt County School District would be a benefit to all the schools within Routt County. Resources could be combined, and we would be able to work on programs that would be streamlined for each student. Consolidation would help with South Routt’s declining enrollment and, at the same time, help the Steamboat schools with their

overflowing enrollment.Q what role do you think the south routt

school District and its board plays or should play in the overall south routt economy?

A. The South Routt School District has an obligation to the community to communicate on all levels. By having open communication between the school district and the commu-nity, we can become a much better resource to our students.




RoD olingeRQ. why are you qualified to serve on the

school board? A. I believe that my education and past

work experience, both in South Routt and out-side of it, allows me to bring skills and assets to the school board position. As a result of my education, I have an understanding and appre-ciation for what our students face as they work to prepare for higher education. For 10 years, I worked at Colorado State as a research associate and more recently, in the capacity of maintenance director for the South Routt School District for six years. In both work capacities, I managed a team of people, as well as a budget. I have experience in purchasing, facilities and maintenance.


A. I am concerned about the fiscal stabil-ity of the school district. As the ending fund balance has continually decreased, so has our enrollment. This is a trend that can’t continue. In small districts, fewer people have to play multiple roles. I bring an understanding of the

reality of what this looks like. Q. what strategies would you suggest for

the south routt school District to address declining enrollment?

A. I realize, as many others do, that South Routt is a great place to raise children. We have great schools with great teachers and staff. I think that we need to capitalize on the areas in which we are strong, continue to work on things that can improve and not apologize for what we have to offer in the South Routt School District.


A. I would not support consolidation at this time. I do not see how consolidation would be beneficial to either district or their students.

Q. what role do you think the south routt school District and/or school board plays or should play in the overall south routt com-munity?

A. The South Routt School District plays a major role in the community, as it brings

together several smaller communities in our part of the county. Our students come from McCoy, Burns, Toponas, Yampa, Phippsburg, Stagecoach, Oak Creek and the surrounding areas; it is the school district that brings us all together. Furthermore, district facilities are widely used for a variety of community events, such as sports, school functions, 4-H events. As the largest buildings in South Routt, the facilities are also commonly used for funer-als, community meetings and programs. The school board itself has a responsibility to the community in oversight of the school district and its facilities. The board is responsible to ensure that our schools provide a safe, healthy and high-quality education for our students, while doing so in a fiscally sustainable way.

occupation: Outside sales — Probuild Lumber Co.

Hometown: Yampa


Family: Wife and two teenage daughters

Civic involvement: In the past, I have been a member of a municipal planning commission and church council mem-ber. Currently, I am active as a volunteer 4-H leader/livestock judging coach for the Routt County 4-H program. I am also active as a member of Concordia Lutheran Church.

education: Bachelor of science degree in animal science with minor in ag econom-ics, Colorado State University


District 4 & 5 South Routt, continuedJuleS pAlyo (DiStRiCt 4) fRoM pAge 17By making Soroco very attractive academically, we can attract and retain students.

Q. would you support the south routt school District pursuing district consolidation with steamboat springs? why or why not?

A. I would not support consolidation with Steamboat Springs. I believe the South Routt community has a unique identity that would be very difficult to preserve if consolidation where to take place. Soroco is a huge part of who we are and who we are proud to be. The South Routh School District is at a crossroads. Because of declining enrollment, we may not have a choice of whether or not to consolidate. We are on a downward trend with enrollment to a point where, in the near future, we may no longer be financially solvent, and our future will be in the hands of the state of Colorado or another district. Consolidation is not a “magic wand” that will solve the issues before our district. South Routt community members are the best ones to address what is best for our kids, and we must make the tough decisions now to preserve the future.

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DAviD long (DiStRiCt 4) fRoM pAge 17However, if after polling the constituents of my district, I would support the direction the majority supported, as I work for them. The Steamboat School District does an outstanding job, but the requirements of a smaller rural school district vary significantly from a larger district. Also, we need to ask the Steamboat School District how they would react to consolidat-ing the districts. I also believe the Steamboat School District has its own issues with increasing class sizes and lack of suffi-cient facilities that may have an effect on their test scores going forward. To sum up my stance on this question, the entire school district concept set up by our forefathers was predi-cated on being managed by each individual community, as they believed self-rule was best, and I agree with that assessment.

Q. what role do you think the south routt school District and/or school board plays or should play in the overall south routt community?

A. If you look throughout the history of the Yampa Valley, schools have always played an important role in each commu-nity. From our beginnings as one-room schoolhouses, where those in the surrounding area would congregate to socialize, attend church, as well as take an active part in the education of their children and support of their teachers.

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kRiStinA SChAinuS (DiStRiCt 5) fRoM pAge 19As such, I believe the school board helps bond the commu-nity and our school together through successful programs, clubs and events. We should recognize that education does not always take place in the classroom or from the school. We should embrace partner educational organizations. A suc-cessful community results in successful kids. At any sporting event, you are guaranteed to see community members attend that do not have kids in school. We are united. Our children are the future of our community. I believe as a community, we should be proud of our past, present and future and as such, recognize Soroco is a unique and diverse school that is signifi-cantly different than our neighbors. We should celebrate that.

open-ended question:I was born and raised south of Steamboat Springs on our

family cattle ranch now six generations strong. My husband and I continue the tradition of his family cattle ranch in Yampa. I moved to South Routt County over 15 years ago to provide a good learning environment for my kids. I knew Soroco offered a superior agriculture program that would surely benefit our needs along with small class size. With three kids throughout the school system, I have a very vested interest in the direction the school district is headed in the future years.

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kevin linDQ. Do you think the school board should

extend the calendar to offer additional class-room days?

A. Yes, especially at the front end of the academic year. Years ago, it appeared that summer break between Memorial Day and Labor Day made sense. Today, however, with the increased significance of state testing and student preparation, adding classroom days, especially at the beginning of the academic year, would set up teachers and students for greater success.

Q. Do you think the current school board has done an adequate job planning for the future?

A. Yes and no. Education, unto itself, is an investment in the future, both for individuals and communities as a whole. It appears that Routt County school boards, however, are faced with the challenge of maintaining cur-rent district functions, programs and quality staffing while attempting to plan for future needs and enhancements. We’re lucky to have a new Hayden School District Superintendent, Mr. Kasper. With his experience and vision for

Hayden education, along with a passionate school board, administrators and teachers, planning for the future should be a prominent goal.

Q. what are the biggest challenges you feel the school district faces?

A. There are likely many more challenges than I realize, and serving on the school board will certainly reveal more about these chal-lenges. The quality of our education system is an important factor in drawing families to Hayden, not to mention economic growth. Maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio is beneficial. Attracting and keeping high quality teachers is a challenge and should remain a priority. Developing methods for generating student motivation for learning is another criti-cal area to explore.

Q. would you be in favor of consolidating school districts with steamboat and south routt?

A. No. I think Steamboat and North Routt, South Routt and Hayden districts all have very unique characteristics that should continue to influence how each district functions. With the

technology we have available now, however, I think all the Routt County school districts should be collaborating and sharing informa-tion, systems and technologies to benefit one another.

Q. in what academic or programmatic area do you think the school district should focus more resources?

A. Many successful people in our commu-nities are creative problem solvers. Creativity is an area of human development, especially during the early years, which deeply impacts the learning process. The visual and perform-ing arts programs in public schools are often the first to be eliminated when school fund-ing is down. Strengthening these programs would influence student motivation for learn-ing and provide new perspectives for study in the mainstream STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses and core cur-riculum.

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occupation: AxialArts Architecture, co-owner

Hometown: Jamestown, New York

years in Hayden/routt County: 10

Family: wife, Wendy; son, Noah, 11

Civic involvement: Three years, Grant Commission member, Steamboat Springs Education Fund board

lACey RAMoS

occupation: Speech-language pathologist(Master’s degree complete in December 2015)

Hometown: Hayden

years in Hayden/routt County: 34 — native of Steamboat

Family: Husband and one sone and two daughters kids

Civic involvement: This will be my first time

Q. Do you think the school board should extend the calendar to offer additional class-room days?

A. I think we need to maximize our time with students with the calendar days we have, but possibly add more days for teachers for professional development, planning and col-laboration.


A. Yes, I think they have done well.Q. what are the biggest challenges you

feel the school district faces?A. Financial resources are always a major

challenge for rural districts, which then impacts retention of great staff and fewer broad learning experiences for students. Another challenge is to reduce the number of assessments we give our students. Too many assessments hinder true learning. Our teach-ers need to be trusted to teach well, know their students and dynamically assess their areas of strength and need.

Q. would you be in favor of consolidating

school districts with steamboat and south routt?

A. I would have to know more details before making a decision. I can see a benefit in shared resources, but I would want to see our location in Hayden retained. Sending students on a bus every day to Steamboat would not make sense, for example.

Q. in what academic or programmatic area do you think the school district should focus more resources?

A. Families are the biggest contributor to students’ academic success. I would like to see the school district foster better connec-tions with the families of the community as well as offering more family education oppor-tunities. Secondly, healthy teachers foster healthy learning environments. I would like to see some of the pressures and demands taken off teachers so they can better focus on teaching and more professional develop-ment opportunities for teachers in the area of childhood trauma and how that impacts learning and classroom involvement. Our stu-dent population is shifting where trauma and

behavior issues are more the norm rather than the exception.

open-ended question:I have no previous experience as a school

board member, however, I think my roles as both a parent and an employee of a neighbor-ing school district give me valuable perspec-tives to bring to the school board in Hayden. I have lived in Routt County my entire life and have a good understanding of the values, heri-tage and potential of this valley.

At-large hAyDen SChoolS



tAMMie BoweS DelAneyQ. Do you think the school board should

extend the calendar to offer additional class-room days?

A. Hayden has a long history of starting the school year after Labor Day weekend and ending prior to Memorial Day weekend. As a parent of elementary school students and one who loved spending summer time with my kids, I loved our long summer vacation. This perspective changed dramatically as my kids advanced and in high school were taking Advanced Placement and college-level cur-riculum with only receiving the very minimum contact requirement hours for students. It is remarkable how well our academically inclined students do on AP and honors courses, con-sidering how limited their classroom contact hours are. This puts them at a distinct dis-advantage when competing on a state and national level for merit scholarships, college placement, advanced placement ratings and national and state ratings. Hayden's demo-graphic has changed dramatically from a pri-marily agricultural community (which was the initial basis for the calendar) to a very diverse

workplace. It is time for a serious look at revis-ing our school calendar to enable our strong academic program to be one of excellence.


A. Our school board has been faced with several transitions in superintendent leader-ship, including having a retired superintendent that returned to serve in a part-time role. This has been a struggle to place a priority on envisioning the best desired outcomes for our district and determining the strategies and implementation plans to achieve collec-tive success. This past spring, three excel-lent superintendent candidates emerged for the leadership position, and an outstanding superintendent was hired to continue to bring Hayden Schools on their path to excellence. I believe our current school board (along with the pool of candidates) has the tenacity, energy and talent to collectively work with staff, administration and our community to form a solid “compass point” for the future of Hayden School District and to diligently set

the plans in place to accomplish some great achievements.

Q. what are the biggest challenges you feel the school district faces?

A. Unfortunately, the Hayden Schools have some severe challenges with facilities — from high utility and maintenance costs to major repairs due to our outdated structures. Financial challenges continue to increase and, in particular, with policy restrictions that will continue to impact both K-12 education along with higher education for the state of Colorado. Teacher retention and ensuring teachers and staff are competitively compensated and sup-ported is critical. Ideally, with strong strategic planning and putting the infrastructure in place to prioritize and develop long-term solu-tions, Hayden will thrive.

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occupation: Small business owner — Wild Goose Coffee and the Hayden Granary


years in Hayden/routt County: 21 years in Hayden; lifetime in Routt County with exception of school and career traveling

Family: Husband, Patrick Delaney; son, 20, and daughter, 18.

Civic involvement: Colorado Agritourism Association board of directors, Hayden Economic Development Council, Hayden Chamber, Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism Program, Colorado State Extension Advisory Board, Routt County Extension advisory board

gReg heRMAnn

occupation: Consulting engineer, Colorado P.E. #17422. I hold a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and machine design and a master’s of business admin-istration from Cornell University.

Hometown: San Francisco, California

years in Hayden/routt County: 38

Family: Single

Civic involvement: Board of Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, current, for 12-plus years, executive committee of same for four-plus years; board of Morrison Creek Metro Water and Sanitation District, past chair for two years; board of Stagecoach Homeowners Association, four years.

Q. Do you think the school board should extend the calendar to offer additional class-room days?

A. I would rather see the board consolidate the school calendar so as to provide the same or a somewhat higher number of classroom days in a shorter period of time — with longer breaks for the students and staff. It is a well established fact that students reach “learning saturation” and then need a break in order to learn most effectively.


A. I have yet to study the Hayden School District's books in order to determine how well the board has provided for the future by depreciating existing infrastructure properly and setting aside reserves for future capital improvements and/or expansion. Via word of mouth, I have been informed that the board has not done this. Beyond saying this, I shall reserve comment until I have reviewed the district's books in detail.

Q. what are the biggest challenges you

feel the school district faces?1. Seeing to it that our children are given ade-

quate tools to become informed, productive citi-zens of whatever community in which they might choose to reside in the future. This emphatically includes a thorough course in civics, as well as the founding principles of our nation and state as a requirement for graduation from high school. 2. Providing for future capital investment needs WITHOUT asking the taxpayers to contribute more to the District than they already do.

Q. would you be in favor of consolidating school districts with steamboat and south routt?

A. No. I believe strongly in local control of schools. While it might appear that there are economies which could be achieved via consolidation, not only do I think local control would be eroded, my experience indicates that larger entities tend to cause bureaucracies to metastacize and end up costing more, rather than less, besides diluting the level of control which can be exerted by citizens (as well as parents, in the case of a school district).

Q. in what academic or programatic

area do you think the school district should focus more resources?

A. I believe that the following are all areas which demand serious attention:

• Focus on more traditional methods of teaching reading, writing and mathematics. Switching to “new,” different and expensive (and often confusing) programs in these areas every few years is nonproductive for both stu-dents and teachers and also needlessly costly.

• American history taught in an unbiased manner. Teach our children about all the won-derful things that our veterans have sacrificed and fought to bequeath to them.

• Civics — teach our children how our (and their) government functions, as well as the details of the founding principles and docu-ments of our nation and state.

• Vocational education. It is well-proven that one of the most effective learning paths involves use of the hands to do more than tap a keyboard. Not to mention that many children are best suited to make a living in their adult lives using craft skills.

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JoSeph “Joey” AnDRewQ. Do you support the proposed $92 mil-

lion bond measure? why? A. Yes. Programs should be based off of

student needs and desired learning outcomes, not limitations of buildings without enough space. Growing up on my family’s homestead just south of Steamboat, I know how to find creative solutions to resolve/fix issues. However, I can also appreciate the need to make investments for our long-term future. 3A and 3B represent a creative community-driven solution for addressing our building/classroom needs while planning Steamboat’s future. Personally, I had the great fortune of benefiting from the careful planning this school district did in the late 1970s and early '80s when the current middle school and Strawberry Park Elementary School were built outside of town in 1981. A lot has changed since then, and 3A and 3B allow our district the opportunity to continue to find creative solutions as our district grows.

Q. what direction do you believe the dis-trict should take if the bond measure fails?

A. The $92 million ballot measure 3A also

represents $14 million of repairs for our cur-rent buildings including new roofs, climate control, plumbing repairs, electrical systems and fire alarms. If the bond and mill levy override fail this year, I believe the Steamboat Springs School Board should return to the vot-ers in November 2016 with two mill levy over-rides and no bond. The first mill levy should address the $14 million in needed repairs. The second is to fund programs, staff and increas-ing operational costs. This accomplishes a few things. First, the district should be able to save voters interest on the $14 million dollars in repairs by doing a short, three- to five-year override rather than financing for a 20-plus-year bond. Second, this plan allows the SSSD to protect our community’s investment in our buildings. Finally, this gives the district time to analyze why the bond failed, and possible asset divestment(s) with revenues to offset repair costs and continue to work with the community on finding a long-term solution.

Q. How would you describe any involve-ment you’ve had with the local school dis-trict or any background or experience you

have had with education? A. Having attended Steamboat Springs

Schools K-12, worked in our district K-12, been elected to the Steamboat Springs School Board, served as the SSSB rep to strategic planning, served as the SSSB rep to the Education Fund Board half-cent sales tax and a current chair of a local and regional scholarship committee, I have a multifaceted perspective of our school district, which I will continue to use if re-elected.

Q. what do you believe the role of a school board member should be in relation-ship to administration, staff, parents and students?

A. School board members are voluntary representatives of the community to the school district. With so many stakeholders, our primary focus should always be student centered and driven. It isn't a board member’s role to teach classes or engage in daily district operations.



years in steamboat: Fifth generation resident

Family: Recently engaged

Civic involvement: Elected to the Steamboat Springs School Board as director for District 2 in 2013; Steamboat Springs Board of Education repre-sentative to Education Fund Board, 2013 to present; Steamboat Springs Board of Education representative for strategic planning, 2014 to now; chair of Elk Mountain #118 Education and Scholarship Committee

MiChelle DoveR

occupation: Circulation services man-ager, Bud Werner Memorial Library

Hometown: Steamboat Springs; I grew up in Denver


Family: My immediate family includes myself and my 7-year-old son, but my four grown children and their friends are frequent visitors.

Civic involvement: Steamboat Springs Youth Soccer coach, elementary school classroom volunteer, fundraising and donating for charity on a local and global level.

Q. Do you support the proposed $92 mil-lion bond measure? why or why not?

A. I am aware of the issues on both sides of the Steamboat Springs School District’s $92 million bond measure. I believe in adequate facilities for our children. I am ready to sup-port whatever decision the community decides upon as a member of the Steamboat Springs School Board. I strongly encourage citizens to educate themselves with credible information by looking at both websites that represent different perspectives on the bond measure. Read, think critically and vote with informed confidence.


A. A community conversation would be necessary if the bond fails. As a board mem-ber, I would advocate for implementing tar-geted public engagement conversations to get at the core of how the community would like the board to proceed. As much as we will want to move quickly because of space needs, I’ve learned from participating in the expansion of the Bud Werner Library that it’s better to

start slowly and have voices heard in order to achieve a fiscally responsible plan.

Q. How would you describe any involve-ment you’ve had with the local school dis-trict or any background or experience you have with education?

A. I graduated from Manual High School in downtown Denver. I have an undergradu-ate and graduate degree from Colorado State University in English with an educational focus, as well as a K-12 teaching certificate. My four grown children all attended Steamboat Springs schools, and my second grader cur-rently attends Soda Creek Elementary. I calcu-late that I have had children in the Steamboat Springs School District for 19 of the 22 years I’ve lived in the valley. My degree as an educa-tor led me to teach composition at Colorado Mountain College off and on for more than a decade.

Q. what do you believe the role of a school board member should be in relation-ship to administration and staff? To parents and students?

A. A school board member is a trusted

elected official. Parents, students, administra-tors, staff and the community need to trust that their democratically elected school board is going to listen and represent the values of their community. School board members are responsible to their constituents to act in a bipartisan manner without political agendas or commercial incentives. Being a member of a school board is part of a trusted American tradition.

Q. why are you uniquely qualified to serve on the school board?

A. I am well-prepared to listen and advo-cate for our families, teachers, schools and community while remaining fiscally respon-sible. My diverse experience allows me to view issues from multiple perspectives. I am an educator, a manager, a parent and was an active participant in the expansion of the Bud Werner Memorial Library. I may be Steamboat’s biggest fan when it comes to my tax dollars supporting public libraries, public outdoor space and public education.


At-large SteAMBoAt SChoolS



MARgARet huRonQ. Do you support the proposed $92 mil-

lion bond measure? why or why not?A. I support the work that the current

school board members and the community have done to bring this to a vote. I believe the process was as open and inclusive as pos-sible, and my one vote will be counted along with all those other voters who are interested in the future of Steamboat Springs schools and our children.


A. Overcrowding is an issue that no one denies at this time. If the bond measure fails, it will be a challenge to address this concern in a timely manner to provide the best resources for our schools. I will be open to hearing all ideas that address a long-term solution that does not waste financial resources.


A. I am a retired college professor and have taught for 30 years. I also served as

an associate dean of a large community col-lege division. We were involved in expanding our campus facilities after a bond issue was passed, and I served on a committee to pro-vide input into the building design.


A. I believe it is important for us to provide the best resources possible, which means being responsive to the administration and staff concerns and ideas, as well as support-ing parents and students in meeting the objec-tives set forth in our mission and the strategic plan that was developed in the past year. As a single member, I can listen to individual com-ments, ideas and concerns. As a member of an involved school board, I can research the facts and assist the group in making rational decisions that best meet our students needs.

Q. why are you uniquely qualified to serve on the school board?

A. I don’t know that I am uniquely qualified. What I am is able and willing to work for the

district. I would like to be a part of helping to keep our schools performing to the high stan-dards that they have already met and finding ways to improve on their achievements.

Q. Do you think the new state law requir-ing school districts to hold collaborative bargaining meetings in public has had a positive or negative impact on the negotia-tion process? why?

A. It is my understanding that our school district already met that criteria before the law was passed, so I don’t believe the law has made any impact on collaborative bargaining here in Steamboat Springs.

Q. what do you think is the most impor-tant issue facing the steamboat springs school District in the coming years?

A. Overcrowding in the schools. This does not create a good environment in which to learn and requires students and teachers to waste resources on workarounds, instead of learning.


occupation: Retired college professor



Family: Married with three adult children and four grandchildren

Civic involvement: Volunteer with vari-ous events, such as Art in the Park, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Balloon Rodeo, the move to the renovated Bud Werner Memorial Library, member of the Arts Council, director on boards for the Steamboat Golf Club and Steamboat Springs Pickleball Association

Anne lowe

occupation: Clinical pharmacist at Yampa Valley Medical Center and part-time work at Lyon Drug

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah

years in steamboat: Settled here full time eight years ago.

Family: My husband, Rich; 3 grown chil-dren, all Colorado college graduates

Civic involvement: Volunteered in past years for the therapeutic riding program with Humble Ranch (now part of the STARS program); on the board of direc-tors of The Steamboat Institute – a non-partisan, nonprofit organization.

Q. Do you support the proposed $92 mil-lion bond measure? why or why not?

A. While I support solving the district’s capacity needs and strategic programming goals, there are concerns. 1. The current plan is comprehensive and addresses pres-ent as well as future structural needs, but I’m concerned this project will not create a corresponding increased benefit in educa-tional outcomes for the high price. 2. The bond measure places a large burden on busi-nesses with taxes at 3.5 times the tax rate of residential property owners. This may nega-tively impact economic growth in Steamboat Springs. Education should be one of the eco-nomic drivers, and we can’t afford to overbur-den this important aspect of our community. 3. Our immediate needs are for K-8, not high school. If we’re planning for the future, will we be prepared for what the delivery of education looks like for high school-age students? In 10 to 15 years will it be dependent on buildings, or will we see technologically advanced ways of providing education?

Q. what direction do you believe the dis-

trict should take if the bond measure fails?A. If 3A and 3B fail at the ballot, then I

will propose we find a more cost-effective and a simpler solution to address our future needs. We must act quickly to prioritize the most critical needs and put out a full effort to engage the community in finding acceptable solutions immediately. Now that more people are paying attention to this issue, we should be able to get a high response rate. My job as a board member will be to help facilitate a productive process in finding the most finan-cially responsible and valuable solutions. With the current high school facility, we are able to absorb growth for a period of time. It’s also apparent there are many community members who value having the high school in the cen-ter of town. Therefore, I would like to see us focus on the elementary and middle schools exclusively. We need to be in a solid position, not overextended in structures, to embrace the exponential possibilities of future discoveries in effective education delivery.

Q. How would you describe any involvement you’ve had with the local school

district or any background or experience you have with education?

A. My value for quality education has been a driver all my life, not only for myself (bach-elor of science in biology, pharmacy and a pharmacy doctorate), but for my children as well. All three of our children attended public schools and the Colorado state higher educa-tion system (CU and CSU). While I have not been personally involved with having my own kids in the Steamboat School system, I was very involved in their educations as we moved around the country for my husband’s work during their earlier years. I gained a broad understanding of different school systems in Utah, Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio as I sought out the best educational opportunities every place we lived.




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ANDREW

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EXPERIENCETwo years on School Board, Education Fund Board and Strategic Planning Committee.

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Elect Lindsay WertSteamboat Springs Board of Education


For more information about me please visit www.walkerforcitycouncil.com

If you have questions please email me at [email protected]

Your support means a lot to the success of my campaign. To donate please make checks payable to Erin Walker for

City Council and mail to: PO Box 883228 - Steamboat Springs, CO 80488

Or visit www.walkerforcitycouncil.com

A FRESH, INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY

I am running because it is time

for a perspective that takes into

consideration the community’s

input while creating solutions to

benefit Steamboat Springs. Working

in non-profit, with business and government

agencies, has given me the experience needed to convene

and collaborate while promoting teamwork. I am invested

in our future and want to have a part in shaping it.

MY PRIORITIES

• Communication, collaboration and transparency to ensure efficient government

• Ensuring local businesses have the support they need to be successful

• Encouraging public-private partnerships to solve our challenges with attainable and employee housing

MY VALUES

• Transparency is a must

• Integrity matters

• Fairness should prevail

• Service above self

• Honesty is a given

• Humility is a gift

• Family comes first

For more information about me please visit www.walkerforcitycouncil.com

A FRESH, INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITYMY PRIORITIES• Communicating and collaborating transparently to ensure efficient government• Ensuring local businesses have the support they need to be successful• Encouraging public-private partnerships to solve our challenges with attainable and employee housing

MY VALUES• Transparency is a must• Integrity matters• Fairness should prevail• Service above self• Honesty is a given• Humility is a gift• Family comes first

I am running because it is time for a perspective that takes into consideration the community’s input while creating solutions to benefit Steamboat Springs. Working in non-profit, and with business and government agencies, has given me the experience needed to convene and collaborate while promoting teamwork. I am invested in our future and want to have a part in shaping it.

linDSAy weRtQ. Do you support the proposed $92 mil-

lion bond measure? why or why not?A. I generally support the measure but

with some reservations. Everyone needs to recognize that no plan can be perfect. This community elected the school board to repre-sent them, those representatives considered many alternatives, all aspects of the process leading to the plan were transparent, several community meetings provided the commu-nity with ample opportunity to participate and those representatives have given the result to the voters for final approval. With that in mind: Demographic studies indicate continu-ing growth in school population. Elementary and middle schools are already over capacity, and the high school is not far behind. This is a long-term plan to avoid the many band aids of the past and greater cost in the future. While I am very concerned about increased taxes for residents and business, resulting taxes will be consistent with 2007 levels. Current school sites all have limited expansion space, and there are few other suitable local sites.

Q. what direction do you believe the dis-

trict should take if the bond measure fails?A. Since the elementary schools and the

middle school are presently over capacity, the capacity problem will soon affect the high school. In fact, there are already some effects on the high school in terms of space avail-able for classrooms with special characteris-tics, like science classrooms. With this basis, something must clearly be done. The district will continue, in the meantime, with cost-ineffective band-aids, like modular additions, to meet immediate needs. All approaches must again be considered, and the board must provide leadership with greater community involvement to ensure an acceptable solution. Specifics of those solutions are multi-variate, with consideration of student needs, commu-nity needs, regulations and cost.


A. My experience with Steamboat schools is primarily limited to the interactions I had while our son was enrolled. That experience

was sometimes gratifying and sometimes disappointing. After some time reflecting on this experience and consideration of the pres-ent school board direction, I would like to help generally perpetuate current direction and reduce the disappointments we experienced. I am prepared to pursue this direction in a thoughtful and responsible manner. Although not related to primary and secondary educa-tion, I have had leadership roles in several professional development activities through-out my career.


A. Since the community pays for educa-tion and receives benefit thereof, the board of education serve as representatives of the community to ensure children’s educational benefit for reasonable cost. I believe the board of education is in place to ensure interests of the students, parents and the community as a whole are served by the district.


occupation: Engineering consultant

Hometown: Denver


Family: Married with one son who graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 2007.

Civic involvement: This is really my first concerted civic involvement for Steamboat.





At-large SteAMBoAt SChoolS, continuedJoSeph “Joey” AnDRew fRoM pAge 23It is our responsibility to ensure a strong working relationship between the school district and community, that needs are met, goals surpassed and to plan for the future.

Q. why are you uniquely quali-fied to serve on the school board?

A. Since I was elected to the Steamboat Springs School Board, I have worked hard to answer emails, phone calls and meet for coffee to discuss the community’s concerns.

I actively seek out varying per-spectives and ideas on issues prior to making decisions.

I believe that all district staff need the opportunity, time and support to do what they do best.

Q. Do you think the new state law requiring school district to hold collaborative bargaining meetings in public has had a positive or negative impact on negations process? why?

A. Proposition 104 passed with 69 percent of the popular vote in November 2014. Prior to that elec-tion, I voted to move all school dis-trict collaborative bargaining meet-ings to be held in public.

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MiChelle DoveR fRoM pAge 23Q. Do you think the new state

law requiring school districts to hold collaborative bargaining meetings in public has had a pos-itive or negative impact on the negotiation process? why?

A. I support transparency and good-faith negotiations with our local education association to produce an employment contract acceptable to all stakeholders. I am unaware of changes locally either positive or negative. The teachers I’ve spoken with reported that the meetings were poorly attended, but a step in the right direction.

Q. what do you think is the most important issue facing the steamboat springs school District in the coming years?

A. Everything seems to be revolved around infrastructure at this point in time. Maintaining adequate school facilities for learning outcomes to be reached will be a top priority.

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MARgARet huRon fRoM pAge 24Q. in what academic or pro-

grammatic area do you think the school district should focus more resources?

A. I don’t have enough experi-ence or information with the current situation to address this question thoroughly. I realize there is a push for more focus on STEM, and while I believe those elements of the curric-ulum can be strengthened, it should not be at the expense of other areas, such as the arts.

Q. what would be your top three priorities as a newly elected board member?

A. I believe the community will set my priorities as we deter-mine how and if they are willing to address overcrowding. I am aware that the school board has a strategic plan with action items scheduled for this year, so those would be a prior-ity. I would also want to familiarize myself with resources available to school board members so we are not “reinventing the wheel” when we address issues.

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Anne lowe fRoM pAge 24Q. what do you believe the role

of a school board member should be in relationship to administra-tion and staff? To parents and students?

A. School boards are established to make policy and provide guidance through these policies for success-ful operation of the school system. This happens by the board member envisioning the community’s educa-tion future. In doing so, I recognize there is a fine line between board oversight and governance versus being too involved in day-to-day operations. The role of a board member is to develop policy as opposed to delving into administra-tive functions. In order to be effec-tive, I will listen, gather facts and represent the community, but I will carefully follow policies and com-municate through proper channels in a respectful way with administra-tion and staff. Finally, as a board member, I will advocate on behalf of parents, students and schools.

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linDSAy weRt fRoM pAge 26The board is in place to set policy and priorities and allow administra-tion to execute in accordance with those policies and priorities. School board members are not in place as advocates for individual students and parents, but instead, as advo-cates of opportunity for all students.

Q. why are you uniquely quali-fied to serve on the school board?

A. I have been effective in several leadership roles during my profes-sional career.

I have a focus on outcomes pro-viding quality in a cost-effective manner and will apply the same for the district. I am fiscally responsible and will work to ensure the district is as well.

Q. Do you think the new state law requiring school districts to hold collaborative bargaining meetings in public has had a pos-itive or negative impact on the negotiation process? why?

A. I believe it has a positive impact.

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ELECTION FORUM

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ELECTION FORUM

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Paid for by The Committee to Elect Jason M. Lacy. Treasurer, Dervla Lacy, PO Box 883389, SS, CO 80488.

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JASON LACY

Paid for by The Committee to Elect Jason M. Lacy. Treasurer, Dervla Lacy, PO Box 883389, SS, CO 80488.

JASON LACYJASON LACYCommunity Involvement:• City of Steamboat Springs Planning Commission (2009-present) • Chairman, 2011–present• Routt County United Way (2009–2015) • Past President, Vice President & Treasurer• Routt County Habitat for Humanity (2009–2011) • Past Treasurer• Seminars at Steamboat (2013–present)• Steamboat Springs Education Fund Board (2012–2014)• STARS (2008–2014) • Past Treasurer • Yampa Valley Autism Program (2009–2014) • Past Treasurer• Northwest Colorado Bar Association (2007–present)• Colorado Bar Association (2007–present)• Downtown Redevelopment Committee for Steamboat Springs (2012–2014)• Yampa Street 2A Funding Committee (2014–present) • Chairman, 2014–present• City of Steamboat Springs Survey Committee (2015)• Rocky Mountain CASA Dancing with the Stars Event (2015)• Best of the Boat Award Recipient, Best Attorney (2014 and 2015)• Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council (2014–present)• Leadership Steamboat (Class of 2007–08)

COMMITTED TO STEAMBOAT

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