Meet the CandIdates for the Crested Butte Town Council

Given the nature of a county mail-in ballot, some people may have voted already. We miss the celebration that used to be an election day instead of an election period. Anyway, this will be the final CB News question for the candidates for Crested Butte town council.
They will be gathering Thursday, October 20 at the Center for the Arts to answer your questions at the Candidate’s Forum. For those who have not yet returned their mail ballot, you have until November 1. That’s coming up sooner than you think.
We hope the Meet the Candidates series has helped shaped your reasoning when it comes time to check the ballot.
—Mark Reaman

 

 

Aaron “Huck” Huckstep
Q: Share with the community some thoughts on how to deal with potential major projects near but not inside town boundaries. Two examples might be a theoretical mine development or an on-mountain ski area expansion.
First, the scenario you describe is exactly why “communication and collaboration” with our neighbors is so critical, and is one major initiative I will focus on as Mayor. The Town (and the Council) needs to understand the project, assess its impact and provide feedback to project proponents and the deciding body in a reasonable timeframe. In developing a position on a potential major project, the Town needs to consider the project’s impact on the economic sustainability of the Town. Economic sustainability is another major initiative that I will focus on as Mayor. We have a unique culture and lifestyle; the Town’s position on proposed projects should be designed to support and protect these characteristics. If a project will negatively affect the economic sustainability of Town, then there would be little reason to support it. By communicating effectively with our neighbors, the Town can help to ensure that our position is considered—not just heard—when decisions are made outside of Town boundaries.

Q: And from a voter in town…How can you balance business growth with protection of the environment?
I presume this voter is asking how you do this within the boundaries of Town. First and foremost, we need to put business growth where it belongs: areas that are either (1) not environmentally “valuable” (i.e. the undeveloped lots on Belleview in the C-zone), (2) historically used for business—since 1883, in the case of the Mountain Heritage Museum, or (3) designated for business growth due to their zoning classification. Second, the community should encourage smart growth decisions by businesses. For instance, a number of commercial kitchens employ a “heat dump” system to take heat from their kitchens and use it elsewhere in their operation, generally interior heating and snowmelt. In addition, one local restaurant recently purchased an industrial stove that is significantly more efficient than the old stove, resulting in a nearly 50 percent decline in monthly utility demand. Local builders frequently use non-toxic paint, highly-rated insulation systems and no- or low-waste building practices during construction. Employing these strategies is neither required nor incentivized by Town code. All of these practices result in lower demand for energy, lower life-cycle environmental impacts, and thus help protect the environment while supporting business growth.

Q: Favorite TV show of all time:
The Dukes of Hazzard

Q: Favorite President:
Clinton. Very intelligent, very effective at getting things done, and still having an impact well beyond his presidency.

Q: On Halloween, I might dress up as :
A Nickelashka.

Q: Favorite Halloween candy:
Candy Corn.

 

David K. Owen
Q: Share with the community some thoughts on how to deal with potential major projects near but not inside town boundaries. Two examples might be a theoretical mine development or an on-mountain ski area expansion.
The Town does have some say in what happens in our backyard. For one, we have an Area Plan, mandated by the State, which is what we as a community want to see occur within three miles of town limits. I would use the Area Plan as the framework for what development near but not inside Town should look like. The Town also has a Watershed Ordinance which gives us regulatory authority in the Town’s watershed in order to protect our drinking water. A mine on Red Lady would be located in our watershed, and it would have to take significant steps in order to meet the requirements of the watershed ordinance. These are tools that the Town has available to deal with large projects.
The County has an important tool as well: The Special Development Project Resolution, created during my tenure on the County’s Planning Commission. The SDPRs are designed specifically for these types of projects. Since the County has jurisdiction, working closely with the County will be important in getting Crested Butte’s concerns addressed with any major project north of Round Mountain. My experience at the County level, my familiarity with County processes and working relationships with County decision makers will be useful if I am on the Town Council and one of these projects comes up. And, as always, I will treat all parties with respect, I will listen to my constituents, I will listen to the advice of Town staff, and I will make decisions balancing protection of our environment and the promotion of our economy. (For an expanded answer by Mr. Owen, go to the Online Extra tab at www.crestedbuttenews.com)

Q: And from a voter in town…How can you balance business growth with protection of the environment?
Business growth in our resort community depends upon strong environmental stewardship. The business of Crested Butte is primarily selling a variety of recreational activities in a pristine mountain environment. Even the businesses that are not directly selling recreational services, from lodging to retail to real estate to construction, depend upon a pristine environment and a mountain lifestyle to attract people to our remote location. Protection of the environment is key to protecting our business vitality as well as our way of life. The old timers used to say, “you can’t eat the scenery,” but to a very real extent, our spectacular scenery is the underlying economic driver for our community. Protecting it is a business necessity.
There are many business and employment opportunities involved with protecting the environment. For example, renewable energy sources create more jobs per megawatt than energy produced by fossil fuels. (http://rael.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/WeiPatadiaKammen_CleanEnergyJobs_EPolicy2010.pdf) Practicing conservation principles not only saves our environment and creates jobs, it also saves businesses money. For example, companies save money otherwise spent on energy consumption by investing in energy efficiency. Plain and simple, being green is good business. Locally, that means supporting organizations like the Office for Resource Efficiency, a tremendous resource for local businesses to realize these opportunities.

Q: Favorite TV show of all time:
The “new” Battlestar Galactica.

Q: Favorite President:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He knew how to deal with an economic downturn. Plus my grandma adored him, and I adored her!

Q: On Halloween, I might dress up as:
Johnny Cash.

Q: Favorite Halloween candy:
Little chocolate bars, lots of them.

 

Shaun Matusewicz
Q: Share with the community some thoughts on how to deal with potential major projects near but not inside town boundaries. Two examples might be a theoretical mine development or an on-mountain ski area expansion.
Lincoln said if you have six hours to chop down a tree, spend the first four sharpening the blade. When it comes to a theoretical mine outside the town limits, there are many folks in Crested Butte that have been sharpening their blades for a very long time. As a councilperson I would listen fairly and openly to any mine proposal, then when the time came I would use the best blades available to me.
A ski expansion is a more delicate story. Our local hill has done a great job of looking past previous expansion attempts and focusing on growing their summer business. The zip line, downhill trails and adventure park show a willingness to work in a new direction and a commitment to consumer experience, local and visitor alike.
I believe any immediate ski expansion plans would look in a different direction then their last proposal. It is important to consider future plans carefully and with deliberate attention, while also getting the public pulse. Beyond this very basic motion, I think it is important to truly partner with involved parties – simply agreeing or disagreeing with our neighbors is not enough. We need to become active partners and work together to move forward

Q: And from a voter in town…How can you balance business growth with protection of the environment?
After our people, the environment and town culture are Crested Butte’s biggest assets. The idea of compromising the environment for business growth is an old way of thinking and one that I don’t think fits in particularly well with Crested Butte.
Many traditional businesses like restaurants and building/real estate are tapped out. Locally some of them are doing okay, some are not, but regardless there is not a lot of room for more competition. We need to look to new models of business growth – ones that are sustainable for the long run, fit in with our town values and environmental concerns, and help support current businesses.
High-speed internet is a good example. There are amazingly talented folks out there that would love to live in Crested Butte and telecommute to work, folks that can set up shop in a home office or garage, and could hire and train locals, but these folks need increased bandwidth to do so. Because these businesses work virtually outside the valley we benefit in a number of ways, not limited to: Outside money coming in and staying/being spent in Crested Butte, no real ceiling on growth/competition within the market, and more stable, non-seasonal businesses in town.
It is a win for business, locals and visitors – as well as a growth model that takes into account environmental concerns.

Q: Favorite TV show of all time:
MacGyver. He doesn’t use a gun but loves to blow things up.

Q: Favorite President:
Lincoln. I’ll always remember his quote, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”

Q: On Halloween, I might dress up as:
David Ochs. I am starting to grow the pork chops now…

Q: Favorite Halloween candy:
Candy Corn.

 

Glenn Michel
Q: Share with the community some thoughts on how to deal with potential major projects near but not inside town boundaries. Two examples might be a theoretical mine development or an on-mountain ski area expansion.
I have learned when dealing with major projects there are three key actions to take. The first is to become as informed as possible about the subject. Second, communicate and visit with all the parties involved even when their views might conflict with your own. Third, listen to views of the public. In the end it is vital, whether it is a quasi-judicial or legislative decision, that the council has a fair hearing where the members listen to the evidence, debate the issue, and vote their conscience.

Q: And from a voter in town: How can you balance business growth with protection of the environment?
Protection of the environment and business growth can go hand in hand. My view is that sensitivity to the natural world around us is part of a sound and effective business plan. As a carpenter I have seen this in many of the new houses we are building, including my own. Homes that take into account the environment are healthier, last longer, and use less energy—providing more value to the owner in the long run. Another example is when the BOZAR was asked to provide comments for the proposed Foothills annexation. In this development the lots were designed to maximize their potential for passive and active solar gain. In addition the lots were sensitive to the wetlands that existed close by and created unique corridors of greenway through the development. In these examples the desire to protect the environment helped push creative new ways of mixing growth and the natural world that were both valuable and sustainable.

Q: Favorite TV show of all time:
ABC’s Wide World of Sports

Q: Favorite President:
Thomas Jefferson

Q: On Halloween, I might dress up as:
A dad handing out candy!

Q: Favorite Halloween candy:
Peanut M&Ms

 

Kevin McGruther
Q: Share with the community some thoughts on how to deal with potential major projects near but not inside town boundaries. Two examples might be a theoretical mine development or an on-mountain ski area expansion.
As a functional neo-executive, successful entrepreneur, effective not-for-profit pioneer and profitable business man I look for an observable history of intelligent and successful project execution in any proposal that comes across my desk regardless of the domain. Projects that meet the criteria I support and those that do not I don’t.

Q: And from a voter in town: How can you balance business growth with protection of the environment?
First, I am a big believer in leading by example rather than mandating the behavior of others where it is not otherwise flagrantly incompetent. The core of my campaign for Crested Butte Town Council has been ZERO MONEY / ZERO WASTE. I have diagnosed that both money and waste have contributed excessively to the public apathy, antipathy and general frustration with the political system. My political career consists of neither spending nor receiving money while at the same time eliminating the impacts of waste within our community. Given the realities of today’s American political landscape I would be ashamed of myself to have spent money producing waste impacts upon the community that we all live in. I am proud to report that my financial details for this campaign yields a total of $0. In a world where the political conversation has been dangerously garbled by money I am confident that the only way to bring genuine change to the government is to be the change by acting out the policy.
Second, I have studied and executed the economic theories of EF Schumacher, author of Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered. As the human population continues to expand, within Crested Butte or otherwise, the limits on our ability to expand into finite space become smaller. If we refuse to recognize these physical limits we will reap economic ruin. The present global economic situation is a great example of where Keynesian economics have failed on a grand scale. EF Schumacher was a protégé of Keynes and yet by the end of his career had journeyed very far from the origins of Keynesian economics. Schumacher instructs that work places should be ethical, dignified and purposeful first, efficient next, and that keeping natural resources in a state of health promoting the general well-being of the community is priceless. I have largely followed this model within and without this community to great personal success. In fact, the economy that I have engineered within this community has done nothing but exponentially grow over the previous 5 years generating gainful self-employment and revenue generation on “Main Street” while those who have followed the orthodox Keynesian economics have generally found disaster at worst and stagnation at best. I prefer successful, intelligent and dynamic economic models every time because anything less is simply unsustainable and often times dangerous. Small is beautiful and so is Crested Butte —let’s work together to keep it that way.

Q: Favorite TV show of all time:
Curb Your Enthusiasm/Deadwood—both describe Crested Butte life in their own way.

Q: Favorite President:
A reluctant politician that turned farmers into an army that triumphed over incompetent government—George Washington.

Q: On Halloween, I might dress up as:
The Lorax.

Q: Favorite Halloween candy:
Whatever it is mine’s better than yours.