Touching base with the GV2H PAC as local election gears up

Developing a long-standing voice

By Mark Reaman

As we dive into the heart of the local election scene we thought it time to touch base with the GV2H Political Action Committee. The PAC began putting up signage in support of Gunnison County Commissioner candidates Trudy Vader and Dave Taylor. We reached out to PAC organizer Jim Moran via email and he responded below:

Crested Butte News: How active will the PAC be in this county election?

GV2H: We will continue to build a permanent voice pre- and post-election. Pre-election we will be placing additional signs and buying a few ads where appropriate. Nothing we do will remotely approach the claims of “buying an election” that have appeared in nearly every GV2H related letter to the editor. Placing a couple of ads and two dozen signs falls far short of those uninformed, if not paranoid claims. Our activities look far more like what I have said in my previous public statements. To be clear, our goals go beyond this election. We intend to develop a long-standing voice so that our contributions to, and concerns for this community won’t ever again be disregarded in the way they were this spring. Unfortunately, that disregard continues today. You might recall Roland Mason suggesting to me that second homeowners should have a formal avenue to participate in the political discussion. Thus far, that’s just another empty promise. I like Roland and will remain hopeful that he will represent all of us and keep that commitment. Or you may have seen that Liz Smith’s signage presents her as the “Unity” candidate. I’d love to visit with Liz and hear specifics of how she intends to unify a community wherein she is not having dialogue with all constituencies. I’d like to see action instead of slogans. Career politician Jonathon Houck touts his “experience.” We’ll never forget our “experience” with his poor judgment. Perhaps when the incumbent candidates realize that GV2H is supported by and represents both part-time and full-time residents across the political spectrum, they’ll wake up, stop the division and reach out to this constituency. In our view, they cannot disregard us as their constituents and claim to be unifying at the same time.

Crested Butte News: Did you all choose your board of directors? Were they elected or selected?

GV2H: It was my plan previously to have completed the board selection by now. I have since chosen to wait until after the election. There are ample, capable and willing candidates from both the second homeowner community and the business community. I believe it will be fairer to the candidates under consideration to wait until after the election. I have withstood a ton; from minor criticism to physical threats. I believe in what I’m doing so I’m not distracted or discouraged by it. I knew what I was getting into. However, asking others (especially local business owners) to subject themselves to the abuse that is prevalent in the political climate surrounding this election is another thing altogether. I decided the board will have a much better opportunity to form, develop and mature as a group after the election.

Crested Butte News: Want to share their names?

GV2H: I will be happy to when that time comes.

Crested Butte News: How many contributions did the PAC get?

GV2H: In our first and only funding request, we had 70 or so donors who made donations as small as $20 and as large as $10,000. A week hasn’t gone by where we haven’t received additional funds or commitments of support. Donors include non-resident second homeowners and Gunnison Valley business owners. Residents have also contributed their time and talents in designing our “Balance the Board of County Commissioners” campaign, graphics and marketing, ad development, building, installing, placing signs and offering their property for signage.

Crested Butte News: And how much $ was raised?

GV2H: Less than that fake news $3 million that was alleged to be our goal by somebody that I had never met or spoken to. However, an adequate amount to appropriately and modestly support candidates in this election and build the organization beyond the election.

Crested Butte News: Did you or the PAC make a separate filing with the Colorado Secretary of State now that you are spending money on political campaigns?

GV2H: We did. Once the bank account was opened, which was an unnecessarily lengthy and bureaucratic process, we were clear to complete our registration as an Independent Expenditure Committee and have done so. I was advised by counsel and our accounting firm, both of whom specialize in these types of entities and filings, that the account was a prerequisite for the filing. The account opening delays were on the banks; not on the PAC. Wells Fargo actually opened the account and then abruptly closed it, stating that it was their “national policy” to disallow PAC accounts.

Crested Butte News: Any reaction to Mikki Couch’s charge that the PAC is definitely not “non-partisan” and that has alienated some who had originally supported and helped to fund the PAC?

GV2H: I have no direct reaction to Ms. Couch’s charges. As a matter of policy, I avoid naming names and entering into letter to the editor battles; as much as that might help out the Crested Butte News. I will say that no matter how hard we would try to please all the partisan sides of the political spectrum, there are always going to be those that demand their way or the highway. To those, I say, “enjoy the highway.” To be “non-partisan” is a statement about acceptance of participation from all political ideologies. However, it does not mean “non-political” or unwilling to take a position. PACs are by their very definition, political. A PAC that doesn’t take a position wouldn’t be very effective. We’re probably going to win some and lose some every time we take a position. That’s the nature of the beast. No hard feelings. The idea that there would ever be 100% agreement on every issue within any group this large is absurd on its face.

Crested Butte News: Any plan to hire someone to attend county and town meetings to monitor and comment on issues pertinent to second homeowners?

GV2H: Not presently, but we’ll always leave that option on the table depending on the issue. It is likely to happen but I will be judicious with donors’ dollars. A political win would be money far better spent than a legal win.

GV2H: Mark, the bottom line is that in our political process, folks ought to have the ability to assemble, debate, take positions, advocate for their voice to be heard by the elected and hold their elected officials accountable, without exception. It’s a process as old as democracy itself. We’re currently in a state of one-party rule and imbalance. There are a small minority of closed-minded, fear-driven people in this county who want to silence any voice of dissent or change. I believe most of us do not feel that way. When one side of the spectrum holds all the elected offices, they will take that opportunity to centralize decision making, eliminate transparency and competition and impose their will. We have seen exactly that. The TAPP is perfect example. Most of us would rather see balance. Balancing the board of county commissioners with one Democrat, one Unaffiliated and one Republican will give power back to the people, create competition and transparency and ensure that the collective will of the people is the only will imposed.