The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Between now and the end of election season, the Crested Butte News is asking the six candidates for Gunnison County Commissioner questions related to issues in the community. We have requested they keep their answers to 400 words or less. Remember, all qualified county voters get to cast a ballot for one candidate in each district.
We hope this forum has been helpful to voters before they mark their ballot…
—Mark Reaman
Stu Ferguson
district 1 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a County Commissioner view that potential situation?
Mining and tourism can be compatible. We have a responsibility to manage all economic opportunities with diligence. A mine on Mt. Emmons is clearly the more challenging discussion. The proposed exchange has the potential to be the best solution. The water treatment plant seems to be the last remaining point to resolve. We should not abandon a positive solution because of an intractable position on this point. I advocate for the County to play an active role in overcoming this issue. Spreading the cost of a plant out over a variety of concerned stakeholders could lead to a solution that completely removes a contentious issue from our county. If this effort fails, as a commissioner I would have to carefully evaluate any proposal for a mine, balancing all the pro’s and con’s before making a decision.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
Gunnison County voters chose to add a local marketing district tax for the purpose of marketing Gunnison County as a year-round destination with the specific goal of increasing the success of all aspects of our tourism industry. The Radcliff evaluation of the Tourism Association identified fragmentation among all the stakeholders in our tourism industry as the major issue restraining our success. Gunnison County has had a piecemeal approach to the various elements of tourism in the past. I will actively pursue a seamless integration of marketing, transportation, chambers of commerce, tourism businesses, and government to make our tourism industry as successful as possible.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
I’m a dog person! Each and every one of our pets has been rescued from our local shelter and each has been a cherished member of our family.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
Neither. I favor Western Colorado wines.
Q: Fried rice or burger-and-fries?
We subscribe to the Mediterranean style diet for good health.
Q: New York or L.A.?
Neither. The Heartland of America is our home.
Q: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Who?
Steve Schechter
district 1 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a county commissioner view that potential situation?
Mining is well known for the damage it does to watersheds; water, air, and land quality; and property values. Even for modern mines that have been in operation since the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), the Clean Air Act (1970), and the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974), there is a history of mine-caused degradation that legislation has failed to curtail. A look at the Questa Moly-Corp/Chevron mine in Questa, N.M. is a good example of where Crested Butte might be if the Mt. Emmons molybdenum mine is permitted by the U.S. Forest Service. Questa’s 40-year experience with a large scale molybdenum mine is a disaster, with a polluted Red River which is bereft of fish, a remnant mountain with acid mine drainage, tailings ponds full of heavy metals, and property values stuck in the 1970s. A half-billion-dollar EPA Superfund cleanup is in the works for the mine, mountain, Red River, and tailings ponds. This will entail a water treatment plant, which will need to be funded and operated for the next thousand years. Large-scale mining has not been good for the tourism and recreation economy in Questa, even though Taos is 20 miles away. What commissioner would pre-approve such a disaster under their 1041 powers? Not this one.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
As a candidate who attended most events around the county throughout the summer and fall, I know there are a LOT of great happenings going on here beyond our top rated recreation. I can understand the frustration of the Crested Butte Town Council. A million dollars is a lot of budget and deserves healthy accountability to all the TA’s partners. With the change in leadership, now is a good time for a fresh start, get the stakeholders together, set expectations, and get the most bang for the TA buck.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
Stuart, the sheepdog, is head of ranch security, backed up by two cats doing rodent control.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
How about a good IPA?
Q: Fried rice or burger-and-fries?
Homemade green chili.
Q: New York or L.A.?
Nashville and Central Coast California, forget big cities.
Q: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Jon Stewart is funny, and O’Reilly can be, if on camera with Stewart.
Paula Swenson
district 1 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a county commissioner view that potential situation?
The businesses of mining and tourism can be compatible in a community, but it depends on the community and the mining operation. My mom was born and raised in Silverton into a mining family and in that community, they have turned their history of mining into a great tourism business. I grew up in Grand County—we had the milling operation of the Henderson Molybdenum Mine in our county. In a tourist-based community with a ski area and a large recreational lake, the mine operations did not impact tourism….however, that operation was tucked away in a remote part of our county over 40 miles away from most of our tourist draws. Mt. Emmons is a whole other topic. One of the things that I have done since I have been a commissioner is to re-write the Special Development Project Regulations and enter into a MOU with the town of Crested Butte so that not only would the county have a seat at the table to identify and mitigate impacts of a mining operation; the town would also have the authority to raise concerns of impacts as well if an actual plan moved forward to develop the mine on Mt. Emmons. One thing I have learned in life is that anything is possible, although not always practical.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
We can always be more effective. I have been on the TA advisory board since February of this year. One of the reasons for my appointment was to bring better communication to and from the TA with partners such as, the Chambers, CBMR and RTA. To be most effective with our marketing dollars, we must utilize all of our partners and take a more global approach to our efforts. I am happy to say that we are getting there. The board and advisory board just completed a planning process that outlines goals and objectives and there is more excitement and commitment than I have seen before from this group. Last week I was able to sit down with our new [executive director] and she shared a draft of the new marketing strategic plan that is being developed. It is a great start and we will be better equipped to track our successes and monitor where we need to make adjustments.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
Both.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
Dry martini.
Q: Fried rice or burger-and-fries?
Burger and fries.
Q: New York or L.A.?
Neither.
Q: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Jon Stewart.
continued on next page
Jonathan Houck
district 2 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a County Commissioner view that potential situation?
The businesses of mining and tourism are compatible in Gunnison County, since we have both already. Is Mount Emmons being mined compatible with the tourism industry of the Upper Gunnison River Valley? For me, no it is not. A good part of the community has been opposing the mine for 30 years and would like to see resolution to what our future looks like. I like where the discussions are headed now: finding a way to have the claims acquired and giving permanent protection to Mt. Emmons from mining. As a commissioner it would be my job to work on behalf of the people and their wishes. In Gunnison County, there are some who would like to see the mine open, but I believe there are more who are interested in finding a solution that protects not only our environment but our current economic base of tourism. Another reason to make this decision is that it allows better opportunity for long-term investments in the valley once the mine decision is finalized.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
I think the LMD funds have helped increase our exposure and have gotten more people to Gunnison County. We do have some areas of disconnect that could use some attention and I think it is the responsibility of the commissioners to look at opportunities to stretch the impact of our tax dollars. Are there other programs or ideas beyond the TA that could be considered for LMD funds? I think so, but we must make sure that these efforts are coordinated. We need to look to the parameters that the voters approved in the ballot language and make sure we are doing the work they approved. Additionally, are there opportunities to maximize the marketing efforts of the TA in conjunction with WSCU, CBMR and the municipalities along with event coordinators? Could the county use an event coordinator that interfaces with the TA as the marketing arm? I am willing to look for positive ways to better how we allocate these funds. We have room in all programs to find better efficiencies and stronger collaborations.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
I am a dog person—Australian Shepherd to be specific.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
Ice cold beer—preferably a Fat Tire or PBR.
Q; New York or L.A.?
Somewhere in between with great skiing and mountain biking, a cool arts scene, a university and unspoiled ranch lands and amazing people! A special place to raise my family.
Q; Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Jon Stewart
Polly Oberosler
district 2 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a county commissioner view that potential situation?
Mining and tourism do co-exist in many areas around the west, but not in as close proximity as Emmons is to Crested Butte. There is no denying Mt. Emmons has a water treatment plant for a reason, and that is to filter contaminates out of water that got there because of a previous mining operation. In the north end of the valley surface water is abundant so it makes extraction and milling without contamination incredibly difficult. Those headwaters have to be protected for human consumption, ranching and the wildlife we all depend on. It is hard to imagine zero contamination with so many water sources at the mine, the milling area and all points in between. It would be a hard sell for this area where millions have been spent to restore water and land after previous mining activities. I personally do not think we will ever see another mine on Mt. Emmons, but it will be up to the people of this county. I am fully aware that people cannot stay here and raise families without decent paying jobs, but it will take 10 to 20 years to launch any large scale mining operation. I believe there are other things we can do to help the economy here in the short term and we need to get on with making that happen.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
I have said from the beginning of my campaign that we are not working together in advertising the area and we need to pick up our game. It seems the Chamber is doing one thing and the Tourism Association another, and businesses pay into both. Obviously someone is doing something right when it comes to summer tourism, but businesses are just barely getting by the other eight to 10 months of the year. We are also fighting to keep airline service, which would be a whole lot easier if the demand were there for the available seats. In my view the businesses are not getting great representation, and the reason I see for that is we are not working together. We are all advertising the area, but in different capacities. We are not selling the area as one, rather our efforts are scattered, ultimately costing us far more than it should. Personally I would like to see Western State and CBMR working side by side at trades shows and recruiting events and the Chamber/TA right there with them. We have the money, but let’s spend it wisely…together.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
Three dogs, two cats, eight horses and one old mule.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
Yuck! Water now—back in the day, beer.
Q: Fried rice or burger-and-fries?
Brown rice.
Q: New York or L.A.?
San Francisco.
Q: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Jon Stewart—he is partisan with humor not blonds.
Warren Wilcox, district 2 candidate
Q: Are the businesses of mining and tourism compatible? Could a molybdenum mine work on Mt. Emmons and how would you as a county commissioner view that potential situation?
I do believe that mining and tourism can be compatible. The Roaring Fork Valley, where I was raised, encompassing Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Aspen had extensive mining as well as amenities for the tourists. The industries co-existed for years. In order to be a successful community, I believe it must have many components. If there are many economic sectors, the community is less dependent on any one. Tourism in Gunnison County includes numerous businesses and many working people. Unfortunately, many of the jobs available in the tourist industry are service jobs, which don’t pay particularly well. The revenue to the county associated with the tourism industry is sales taxes, and property taxes for the associated businesses. If the tourists decide to stay in the area and purchase second homes, there are additional tax benefits. I would like to see economic sectors like mining be a part of the county because it brings in greater revenue through severance taxes that can be utilized in many ways. We live in a state founded in mining law. For patented mine claims Colorado law has historically given mineral rights more weight than surface rights. As a county commissioner I will abide by the rule of law.
Q: A reader sent us a question about the T.A. The county commissioners have ultimate responsibility for almost a million dollars a year used to market this county. Do you think those funds are being used effectively?
I do believe that the Tourism Association is spending the money effectively. Over the last four years the average American has lost about 40 percent of their net worth, and the world’s economic condition has left far fewer families with vacation money. I do believe we need to become more efficient in the coordination of our efforts in that regard. Businesses within the tourism industry should be working harder to make the tourists’ stay better so they will want to return. Probably the hardest job is getting them here in the first place. Once they have a memorable experience here, they are likely to return. Citizens, business people and government agencies must come to a consensus, and work together to improve, and broaden our economy. That is not just for the tourists, but for our citizens, so they can be a part of a positive, growing community. Personal selfishness and polarization must end if we are to succeed as a community.
Q: Dog, cat or other?
Both.
Q: Dry martini or Shirley Temple?
Single malt Scotch.
Q: New York or L.A.?
Neither—Ohio City.
Q: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
Neither.
