Meet the candidates for CB mayor

Election Day is next Tuesday! Incumbent Crested Butte mayor Ian Billick is seeking a third term while councilmember Anna Fenerty is seeking the same seat. We had anticipated last week would be the final set of Q-and-As, but we received a few questions from readers. So here they are….

Ballots are out and must be returned by November 4.

Here’s what the mayoral candidates had to say:

Anna Fenerty

Why do you think you would be the better mayor for Crested Butte at this time?

We are still a community in crisis. Despite a commendable amount of community housing investment by the public sector, residents making their living locally are still choosing to plan lives elsewhere, where affording a house is realistic. Like the national trend, local businesses face increasing costs, and slimming profit margins. Competition with billionaire backed businesses locally makes all these elements of running a business overwhelming. Climate change is already impacting Crested Butte, with warmer summers, increased wildfire risk, and changing snow and high-water patterns. These crises will continue. The commodification of our lifestyle has led us here. I offer a mayor who can admit that we do not have the situation under control; previous policies have failed to protect us from ourselves. We need leadership that admits we do not have all the solutions yet. Unless the solution is to simply stop doing things. I propose doing thing differently. I can see the erosion, yet I know we have not yet failed. There is still time to turn everything around, we can still fix this. We still have power in our hands. Now is the time to speak up and include the many brilliant and caring people that want a future in this valley, in our solutions. I can be a better mayor at this watershed moment. I can inspire people to be involved and feel represented. We all have a choice between transformational action and business as usual. A choice between a poet and a scientist.

Can you run an effective meeting? What is your philosophy for running a public meeting?

I can and have run an effective meeting. During the roll out of FirstTracks, I was able to step up and mitigate a very tense meeting between Paradise neighbors and the Mountain Express Board. Running a meeting isn’t simple, but it isn’t a huge task. Being attentive, actively listening, and encouraging input is the basis of my philosophy. Being honest about what the council can and cannot do. Ensuring a decision is made and that there is progress forward. The fact that we have had earlier endings to our meetings during Ian’s leadership will be carried on. Our meetings can benefit from an increased level of outreach to the community. From the executive position I would encourage advisory boards, businesses, health professionals, and neighborhood leaders to play a larger role. To use social media to announce and invite more attendance. Providing anonymous feedback forms to those who do show up, to help us learn what worked well and what can be improved, so the board can continuously learn. Ian has set the tone for how to be prepared before a meeting, I think after a meeting is just as important. Having a post meeting summary sent to the elected officials, and updating the community about decisions, action items, and next steps will be initiated if I become mayor.

“Before the meeting, educate the public. During the meeting, educate the public. After the meeting, keep educating the public.” -unknown

You both have been very gracious to one another in this campaign, so looking inward – what is something you need to work on that would help you with public life?

It took me a while to understand this question, and some council from my community. I think there are a lot of platitudes I could offer, with hollow words like patience, empathy, communication. Looking inward, something that would help me with public life is time management. I have worked two to three jobs outside of my town council commitments over the last four years. Stepping into the role of mayor will allow me new flexibility. I can renew my commitment to connecting people to their power on a new level.

Favorite season in CB?

Historically off-season has been my favorite time of year for reasons I need not explain to anyone reading this paper. Recently I have really found an appreciation for the colder months. Listening to snowfall, the melting, freezing, movement of water. Dustings of storms higher up. The shadows felt inside as sunlight is blocked by our ancient crown of rocks. If you choose not to find joy in snow, you will have less joy and the same amount of snow.

Ian Billick

Why do you think you would be the better mayor for Crested Butte at this time?

My approach to being Mayor is informed by my long-term community engagement, including being a parent, extensive work in and with non-profits, and through community boards such as Gunnison MetRec and the school’s accountability committee. I have experience finding leverage points to drive action in service of community goals, including knowing when to act and when to lead from behind. My non-profit background taught me the importance of being effective at influencing others, which can be a challenge for municipalities that are used to being decision-makers. As the Town participates in the County’s North Valley Corridor Plan and works on regional housing and mass transit our success will be defined not just by our decisions but also by our ability to build broad alignment with our regional partners, including Mt. Crested Butte and CB South as well as Gunnison County.

Can you run an effective meeting? What is your philosophy for running a public meeting?

Having managed ~200 public meetings as Mayor and as Chair of the Gunnison County Planning Commission I have a track record of running effective meetings. My time as a non-profit Executive Director means I have experience from both sides of the table using meetings to drive strong outcomes. Multi-person boards should leverage everybody’s experience and knowledge to drive great decisions, though usually they just moderate bad impulses. I focus on strong framing, including supporting materials released in advance and tight staff presentations that engage and focus rather than stifle. Every council member should have a voice in the conversation, with a focus on understanding everybody’s best arguments rather than finding weaknesses to score political points. 

I always keep in mind Sissela Bok’s admonition, “Whatever matters to human beings, trust is the atmosphere in which it thrives.” As social media uses condescension and conflict to manipulate us to monetize our attention, mutual respect and deep listening will be the superpowers that move our community forward.

You both have been very gracious to one another in this campaign, so looking inward – what is something you need to work on that would help you with public life?

Patience and impatience both have their place, but I can be better with patience.

Favorite season in CB?

The deep, relaxing breathing and beautiful colors that come with fall.