The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Lehnertz appointed to council; Peatross goes to planning commission
by Cayla Vidmar
The Mt. Crested Butte town council appointed a political newbie to fill a seat on the town council this week. Dwayne Lehnertz received five of the six council votes on Tuesday, May 15.
Lehnertz was one of four people who applied for the position. He said he had been a property owner in Mt. Crested Butte since 2001 and is a former ski school instructor, volunteer fire fighter, EMT and “registered independent voter.” Cynthia Peatross had applied but was a couple of weeks shy of the one-year residency requirement. Michael Bacani did not show up to the council meeting and withdrew his name after being called away for job obligations. Craig McManus, a longtime local, avid fly fisherman and former Mountain Express bus driver was the other candidate and he received one of the council votes.
Lehnertz will officially be seated on the council at the June 5 meeting. He will have a two year term on council.
Following the town council selection, the council voted on a new planning commission member, choosing between two of the applicants who originally applied for the town council seat, Peatross and Bacani.
Peatross voiced her desire at the council meeting to take on the planning commission board member role. Peatross comes with 25 years experience as an attorney, working primarily in real estate. The board voted unanimously for Peatross. She will begin her tenure at the May 16 meeting.
