Results are still unofficial but late night results indicate that Jonathan Houck has been overwhelmingly reelected to his Gunnison County commissioner seat for a second term. Houck was showing 6,012 votes to challenger Paul Wayne Foreman’s 2,194.
In district 1, the race to replace outgoing commissioner Paula Swenson was won by Democrat John Messner. He was tallying 5,179 votes to Republican Brad Tutor’s 3,609.
Crested Butte ballot issue 2A was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 903 to 137. That will allow the town to use future open space tax revenues on a deal to help keep industrial mining off of Mt. Emmons.
The online report from the elections office indicated that 9,243 votes have been cast in the county. Look for more detailed results in this week’s edition of the Crested Butte News.

Discuss marketing, public lands, climate change, affordable housing

By Mark Reaman

The four candidates for Gunnison County commissioner debated at the Crested Butte News Candidates Forum on Sunday, October 23. In a calm, broad and civil discussion, the candidates took questions that touched on immigration, marketing of the region, impacts of growth and increased tourism, public lands, the importance of broadband, and economic development in Gunnison County.

District 2 candidates Paul Wayne Foreman and incumbent Jonathan Houck, along with District 1 hopefuls John Messner and Brad Tutor, took almost two hours of questions at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts in a forum moderated by Denis B. Hall, with assistance from KBUT’s Chad Reich.

There was a lot of agreement between the candidates on issues such as Crested Butte issue 2A, which would allow the town to use open space funds to be contributed to Mt. Emmons mine owner Freeport McMoRan to ultimately take the unpatented mining claims on Red Lady and put a Congressional mineral withdrawal on the property. That would effectively make an industrial mine on Mt. Emmons impossible. All four candidates supported that idea.

The candidates all agreed that the multicultural center is an important asset for the county that helped immigrants integrate into the community. Each candidate spoke to the essential value of the immigrant population to the economy of Gunnison County.

In other issues:

North Fork protection

When it comes to county input on a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recommendation to extensively open up oil and gas leasing in the North Fork Valley that includes a section of Gunnison County, all four believe it worthwhile to be active in the process.

“It is important to understand we’re a headwaters community,” said Houck. “We are responsible to our community and the communities beyond. It is appropriate for us to cooperate with the other nearby counties and provide our input.”

“It is important to have as much local control as possible,” stated Messner. “We need to continue to push for local controls. I would push for local control over air quality, fracking and cumulative impacts.”

“Working collaboratively with the other counties over there is important,” added Tutor. “There is strength in numbers. We need to protect our resources.”

“I’d take a hard stance,” said Foreman. “Why are we continuing to invest in fossil fuels anyway? We should be extremely careful. Gunnison County is about the only place left on the Western Slope without a constant cloud over us. We should do what we can to discourage these things.”

Global weirding?

Climate change was one point of contention. When asked how county policy could be adapted to address climate change concerns, all felt there were ways to encourage the county to be more sustainable, but Tutor expressed some doubt that humans were a major contributing cause to climate change.

Tutor noted the climate was always changing and pointed out the East River Valley is located in a place that was once a glacier. He said the science was not settled and many scientists had changed their minds on how much humans were contributing to the change.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t move ahead with incentives for builders to construct environmentally friendly houses,” Tutor said. “I think that would be a great way to go. Climate change has been going on forever but I think we should try to go with green business. Let’s put ourselves in front of the game.”

Tutor’s opponent, John Messner, asked why, if Tutor doesn’t believe in man-made climate change, he would make decisions to mitigate it. Messner said he would dust off the findings of a Carbon Task Force study from a half dozen years ago and find steps to implement that were appropriate for today. He also said Western State Colorado University’s master’s degree in environmental management program was a good resource for help with “sustainability practices with the county.”

Foreman said he has seen too little in the way of alternative energy in his 35 years here. “I’d offer incentives to builders to build intelligent homes,” he said. “We also have a lot of sunshine here. Why not take advantage of it? I think the new county courthouse project missed an opportunity with solar.”

Houck countered that the courthouse was tapped into geothermal energy as a heat source and the building is highly energy efficient. “To be clear, I believe climate change is human-caused and we have a responsibility to do what we can. The county is leading with compressed natural gas conversion. The West Elk Mine is the state’s number one methane polluter and we should fund the opportunity to pursue methane capture.”

Health care awareness

Three of the four, Houck, Foreman and Messner, felt a single-payer health care system on the national level was the best way to help alleviate the growing problem of health care costs in the region. Tutor, who said he was uninsured because of the rising premium costs, said the issue was a serious one but he did not know the answer to solve the problem. “I’m not sure of the answer but we have a responsibility to advocate [for lower health care premiums] for Gunnison County. I don’t think Amendment 69 will work because there are too many holes in it,” Tutor said.

Backcountry challenges

All admitted that growing backcountry and trail use was causing major impacts throughout the county, especially around Crested Butte, near Tincup and the Taylor Reservoir.

“Sustainable tourism is important,” said Messner. “It is important to develop a funding source to fund infrastructure improvements like trails, campgrounds and trailheads.”

“The ATV problem in Taylor Park is growing,” noted Tutor. “People need to understand the rules. There are OHV [off highway vehicle] fees that are collected by the state that need to come back to the county trails.”

“The Board of Commissioners has the opportunity to weigh in and guide some of the decisions of the federal agencies that control some of these trails and public lands,” said Houck in regard to the Forest Service and BLM. “We need to take care of this treasure we have.”

“We’ve been discovered and problems come with discovery,” said Foreman. “We can’t stuff it back in the bottle. Collaboration with the federal agencies is important.”

And the role of the TA

When asked what role the Tourism Association plays in the equation, Foreman noted the “irony” in the desire to promote the place as problems continue to rise as a result of more people coming to the county.

“It requires a coordinated, all-points approach,” Foreman said. “Sure there will be marketing of the area, but we need to deal with the impacts like low-paying service jobs, affordable housing and poverty in the county. Having a nice coordinated front is important.”

“The focus by the TA to go deeper [by heavily promoting trails and mountain biking] rather than broader has been effective,” said Messner. “There has been cooperation with the TA to get signage and information out there. Having a tie with the TA to develop sustainable tourism is critical.”

Houck said the commissioners have ultimate control over the TA as the LMD (Local Marketing District) board. He said a goal should be to look at places to grow. Saying summer is busy near Crested Butte, there might be winter growth opportunities to focus on.

Tutor said while some places such as Crested Butte might be crowded, other places could use some marketing help. “When I recreate I go south,” he said. “There is no one there. The TA can diversify and show the benefits of all the places in Gunnison County. We should be showing people the opportunity in the whole county.”

“Developing a recreational master plan would be helpful,” said Messner. “We need a strategic plan on how to deal with recreation in the county.”

“I like tapping into winter biking,” said Houck. “We have an extensive network of trails and roads in the county. We’ve gone deep into mountain biking. Also, having the largest body of water in Colorado is under-utilized and we can better capitalize on that.”

“A key is certainly spreading the impacts, and diversity needs to be part of it,” said Foreman. “We should use imagination and not just promote traditional avenues.”

Economic development and better broadband

There was no disagreement among the candidates that better broadband and internet access was necessary for the county. Everyone said it looked like progress was being made in that direction and would make the economy more solid for the county.

“That is something that is critical to developing a diverse and resilient economy,” said Messner. “We need to stop talking about it and make significant commitments.”

Foreman said something like better broadband is just one element that comes into play when businesses decide to invest in the area.

“All of our challenges weave into the others,” observed Foreman. “Whether it’s broadband or affordable housing. Everything comes into play when businesses consider setting up here. What can government do? Sometimes it just needs to stay out of the way. The lifestyle here is attractive.”

STRs and affordable housing

Reich brought up the short-term rental situation in Crested Butte and the county. All four candidates stated that private property rights had to be respected and STRs helped many local people afford to stay in the community. But they all agreed that licensing was appropriate and that perhaps there could be a way to utilize STRs to help fund some affordable housing.

Foreman quoted Crested Butte councilman Jim Schmidt in agreeing that when some people have made the argument that restricting short-term rentals was a “takings,” it in fact worked both ways. The people who permanently live in the community also have elements taken from them if STRs are not controlled, he said. “There needs to be some sort of balance.”

All four felt that developing quality affordable housing was important to the overall county.

Foreman said he would investigate incentives that could be offered to builders to perhaps spark some affordable housing construction.

Messner said he would look again at the building fees and building codes as a possible way to incentivize developers of affordable housing.

Tutor too said looking at fee reductions might entice some affordable housing development.

Houck said county fees are not that expensive and are in fact reasonable. “Those fees are in place to cover county services. It is a herring to go after fees and regulations,” he said noting that county fees on a $600,000 or $700,000 home amount to about $5,500.

They all admitted that local builders were busy constructing more expensive and profitable single-family homes and the market was dictating where the energy was focused.

“There is no silver bullet to solve that issue but we can perhaps do a little bit here and a little bit there to motivate people toward affordable housing,” said Foreman.

“Finding ways to work with private investors and the Land Use Resolution in appropriate places in the county is important,” added Tutor. “It is a difficult situation but not unworkable.”

All four answered the final question of the night by stating that having the federal government transfer public lands to the state or counties was a terrible idea at the moment.

The election is almost over. Ballots are due back to the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.

Crested Butte’s newest red light district on the 200 block of Elk

By Mark Reaman

Remember when the Crested Butte Town Council wanted to keep one of the lampposts on Elk Avenue painted blue after the Whatever USA party in 2014 to commemorate the giant beer promotion? There was even talk at the time about painting several lampposts different colors to commemorate unique qualities of Crested Butte. But given the vehement community split over the Bud Light party, the idea caused a huge uproar and was nixed after much debate.

But red isn’t blue and Red Lady isn’t Bud Light. The Town Council on Monday, October 17,  gave a nod of approval to artist Jeremy Rubingh’s request to use a $1,000 grant from the newly formed Creative District “for a sculptural installation project that would create an interactive opportunity to engage the public as well as contribute to the uniqueness of our small, creative and beautiful village,” his proposal stated. “This installation involves painting one of our town lampposts, changing the bulb and creating a small informational placard.”

In other words, Rubingh will be painting the lamppost outside of 212 Elk Avenue a bright red and changing the bulb to red as well.

The informational sign will acknowledge the Creative District and provide information about the history and developments on how the community has kept Mt. Emmons, also known as Red Lady, free of a molybdenum mine for decades. The post, that at a certain angle frames Red Lady Bowl from Elk Avenue, “will subtly and esthetically highlight how incredibly unique we are as a creative and environmentally minded mountain town as well,” wrote Rubingh.

Because the weather is turning cold, the project will be completed by the end of the month. The council doesn’t meet again until November so at the October 17 meeting the council heard the request from Crested Butte Creative District representatives and councilman Jim Schmidt and staff member Michael Yerman. Council support was needed because the project proposed using public property.

Schmidt referenced the controversy over the blue post idea but the council felt the situation was very different. “I think the blue lamppost idea represented something completely different and this is something I believe we can support,” said councilmember Roland Mason.

The rest of the council agreed, especially given the current situation with the town working with the mine owner to reach a permanent solution that would end the threat of a new industrial mine on Mt. Emmons.

The pole will remain red for a year and then be returned to its original green to match the other 50 lampposts located downtown.

The Creative District granted four creative proposals. They include:

-Josh Legere, Rest + Relax in Crested Butte – proposal to install a bench made with repurposed skis for a site-specific location. The bench will include the Creative District logo.

-Jeremy Rubingh, Red Promise – proposal to paint a lamppost red and install a red light to honor the Red Lady and the long pursuit of the environmental protection of Mt. Emmons.

-William Tintera, Steve Glazer Art Collection Sign – proposal to produce a wooden sign for an art collection to be displayed at the Center of the Arts.-

-Sophia Chudacoff, Modern Folk Songs of the Valley – proposal to compose music and choreograph dancers for a free public performance.

I might be the only one left to think so, but I really don’t believe what the polls are saying about the Hillary-Donald campaigns. A lot of people will privately fill out their ballots and not necessarily admit which name they put a checkmark by. If you think Donald has no chance to be president because polls are saying Hillary has a 96 percent chance of winning the election, think again. I won’t be surprised if he wins more than you or the national pundits think. Remember Brexit? How about Dewey defeating Truman? Not to mention Jesse “the Body” Ventura in MN! Just saying.

Hillary’s military hawkishness and her habit of going with the establishment majority when the surface politics tilt that way turns me off more than just about anything in this presidential election—except Donald’s mental state. As conservative Wall Street Journal writer Peggy Noonan noted last week in a column titled Imagine a Sane Donald Trump: “Oh my God, Sane Trump would have won in a landslide.”

Even nutty Donald Trump is going to draw probably 40 million or more votes. So don’t throw your vote away in this one. Every single vote will count and be important in Colorado. Your vote really truly matters in a swing state like ours, so do not waste it.

Former Crested Butte News editor Edward Stern eloquently made the case for Congressional candidate Gail Schwartz in last week’s paper and we agree wholeheartedly. In this time of toxic partisan politics where party loyalty trumps overall country benefit, Gail might actually be one of those sitting in Congress who could help pull back that poisonous attitude. Her political history demonstrates a willingness to work with members of both parties for the good of a cause and that’s really impressive and important right now. She works hard, she works smart and she will work for people like us living out here in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Vote for Gail Schwartz for the U.S. House of Representatives.

I have to say I like Republican Bob Schutt. He is the Crested Butte physician running for the seat in Colorado House District 61. If I didn’t think Millie Hamner was doing a good job representing this mountain town, I would go with Bob. Plus, he lives here and that’s always an advantage. But Millie is doing a good job and the former school superintendent from Summit County understands Crested Butte. She is running for her final term as a Colorado state representative. Her experience in the chamber is an asset and comes with influence gained from time spent in the trenches. I believe she deserves a return trip to the capital. I hope that Bob’s initial foray into politics won’t be his last because he is really smart and would represent Crested Butte well in Denver. Here’s hoping that if he loses this November, he steps up next time after Millie’s terms are completed.

There are a ton of state issues that are on the ballot this year. Cherry-picking a few:

Amendment 69 is the ColoradoCare initiative. While the intent is good, especially with ObamaCare flailing, the ramifications of this being in the state constitution are too extreme. This could work nationally or perhaps even regionally, but as a single state offering universal health care coverage for everyone there are too many unanswered issues that could ultimately damage Colorado. The gargantuan tax increase, the negative impact on a lot of our local businesses, the uncertainty of too many nebulous things getting embedded into the constitution make 69 a no vote.

Amendment 70 is the minimum wage increase idea. It would take the state minimum wage from $8.31 to $9.30 per hour starting next January. It would then increase 90 cents an hour starting in 2018 until it reaches $12 per hour in 2020. Tipped workers could still be paid much less than the overall minimum wage and that would apply to a lot of people and businesses in Crested Butte and Gunnison. Slowly increasing the wage of the lowest-paid people in our community looks to be a reasonable idea in this resort town. Putting more money into people’s pockets for them to spend at local businesses seems to work. Vote yes for 70.

Amendment 71 is the issue that would make it harder to get something passed into the Colorado constitution. It would require that a certain number of signatures be gathered from state senate districts across Colorado to get a proposed amendment on the ballot. And then instead of the current simple majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment, the issue would need 55 percent of the voters. This seems to make sense. The constitution should not be where laws are made. That will put more pressure on our elected state representatives. And that is the way it should be. But this will still leave an opening for citizen initiatives to go this route if they feel so impassioned. We’ll be voting yes on 71.

Proposition 106 would allow access to medicine for terminally ill patients to speed the process. The so-called Colorado End-of-Life Options Act would permit terminally ill people to request aid-in-dying medication that the individual would have to administer him or herself. The issue includes a lot of safeguards but the idea of allowing someone to make a difficult decision in difficult circumstances makes sense. It provides a humane way for many people to transition to the other side. Vote yes on 106.

And as we mentioned last week, Crested Butte voters get to vote for 2A, the measure that allows some of the town’s future open space revenues to go toward a deal that could ultimately eliminate the threat of an industrial mine on Mt. Emmons. It is a measure that will pay healthy (literally) dividends well into the future and is something to support on your ballot this year. Vote for 2A.

You should have received your ballot in the mail by now. You can mail it back (put enough postage on the return envelope) or drop it off at locations in Crested Butte and Gunnison before November 8.

—Mark Reaman

Just about everyone who small-talks about this November election is ready for it to be over. Election fatigue is setting in with pretty much everyone. And it is close to over for those of us in Colorado. Not every state has early voting.

Ballots were mailed out early this week and you can finish your democratic responsibility really soon. If you don’t see your ballot in your P.O. box sometime soon, call the county clerk and find out if someone from the Crested Butte cemetery absconded with yours to tilt Crested Butte away from The Donald. If he doesn’t carry Crested Butte handily, that will certainly be just one more piece of evidence that he is right about the election being rigged. What a tool.

There are a lot of things to consider on the ballot this year. But there is one for the citizens of Crested Butte that stands above the rest. Ballot issue 2A. This is a vote of confidence. This is a vote for community. This is a vote for tourism, clean water and recreation over mining. Mining is needed and necessary for our cushy lives, but there are appropriate places for mining and putting in a huge industrial mine with all of its ramifications a couple of miles from a mountain recreation town is not the appropriate place.

While 2A would give the go-ahead for the town to issue $2 million in bonds, it will be put up against the town’s open space revenues. So no taxes will be raised but money that is sure to come in will be spent to pay the mining company a relatively small stipend to dispose of its unpatented mining claims. Once that is accomplished, the town and company will work together to get a Congressional withdrawal of that property for mining purposes. The land is significant enough to forever prohibit an industrial mine on Mt. Emmons. Red Lady would no longer be under threat. That is $2 million well spent and is a game changer to the culture of the town.

The mining company would still be responsible for the cost of the water treatment plant. The town would put some skin in the game. The watershed becomes safer and the community can take a breath from a fight that has been going on for close to four decades.

So when you get your ballot this week, we would suggest that you take it out, vote yes for 2A, set it aside in a safe place so you can come to the Crested Butte News Candidates Forum this Sunday at 6 p.m. to ask questions of the people who are running for county commissioner, and then mark the rest of your ballot with an informed mind.

While there can be understandable debate over things like Amendment 69 and the best choice for Congress or the State House, if you live and vote in Crested Butte, 2A is a no-brainer. These kinds of chances don’t come along every day, so relish your opportunity to send a positive and strong message to the mining company, the U.S. Congress and your neighbors.

Vote yes on 2A.

—Mark Reaman

A watershed moment

As winter knocks on the door, remediation work at the Standard Mine west of Crested Butte on Mt. Emmons is beginning to wrap up. But first a big part of the project will be put in place in the form of a bulkhead in the mine that will manage water coming from the old mine. The concrete work for the bulkhead will be poured Friday.

Christina Progess, Superfund project manager at the Environmental Protection Agency, reported to the Crested Butte Town Council on Monday that construction work on the mine is still going on but some of the tunnels have been rehabbed and some shafts are being sealed off.

In an effort to have more controlled water releases, the bulkhead is being poured this week. Eventually a valve will be installed onto the pipe that will allow water to flow from behind the bulkhead.

“This is a big step for us,” Progess said. “There will be a lot of concrete trucks in the area Friday. The concrete takes about 28 days to cure and then we will go around the outside of the bulkhead and seal it off. We should be done with this by early November. Everything is going amazingly well on the project.”

While saying the installation of the bulkhead is a watershed moment for the project, Progess said there is still work to be done next spring once the snow melts.

Progess said the EPA would be monitoring nearby fissures and cracks in the mountain to see if they are impacted by the water buildup behind the bulkhead, especially in spring when runoff is at its peak. She explained that the EPA would develop an operations and maintenance plan. “But in the long-term, the plan is to hand it off to the state to monitor,” she said.

Mayor Glenn Michel said he appreciated the work done by the EPA in a challenging project.

For the first time since I’ve lived here, I was able to go in an underground mine Tuesday. It was pretty cool. At the invitation of the EPA, which is in charge of remediating the Standard Mine on Mt. Emmons, several people took a tour of the grounds and got to put on the headlamp and emergency air belt and walk back into one of the shafts. It’s dark in there. It’s wet in there. The ceilings (for a guy over six feet tall) are low in there. I gained much respect to those who earn a living underground.

As part of the remediation, a big bulkhead is being poured this Friday to manage water in the mine. Talk about blowing your mind. Half-filled concrete trucks will crawl up Red Lady to the opening and 90 cubic yards of cement will be pumped 800 feet inside the mine. It will be a long 12 hours for the boys. The bulkhead will be 25 feet thick and will take a month to cure. Special caulking will be used to seal the edges. Spending the morning around a bunch of really smart engineers and scientists was a good exercise for a newspaper guy. My mind was blown several times.

It’s not always smooth sailing, even here, but the relationship between this community and its cops is sort of mind-blowing as you look out in the real world. And one big reason for that is leaving this week. Tom Martin, Crested Butte’s chief marshal, is hanging up badge 601 to spend even more time (yeah, it’s possible) on the links. Tom embodies the principled small-town cop. He is honest. He is fair. He is not afraid to take the other side of an issue and has an ability to do it in a way that makes you think, instead of getting defensive.

Being a cop is not like most jobs. You are dealing in the muck. You are constantly between a rock and a hard place. Constant conflict is part of the deal. Tom has seen some nasty things. He has weathered them all with calmness, style and dignity.

Quick story: Tom had said many times he had an outstanding offer for years with pretty much anyone to call him no matter what time of the day or night if they were too inebriated to drive home. No one, he said, had ever taken him up on the offer. So one evening while discussing local politics at an Elk Avenue watering hole I remembered his offer. Being ever so slightly inebriated, I gave him a call shortly after I saw the late news ending on the bar’s TV. Sure enough, he answered the phone and he said “no problem” when I said I might need a ride home. I told him I would call him right back and then I somehow got sidetracked into another conversation—a three-hour conversation that ended when the bar closed. By then I was inebriated enough to call him back at 2 in the morning and he said “no problem” and came and picked me up and drove me home. The next day, Tom saw my son working at the Club and told him the story. He told Ben he was glad to do it (and disagreed with my 2:30 a.m. assessment that I could have made it home safely on my own) but next time asked that I call once, when I really wanted to go home. Fair enough. Sorry about that Tom—but thanks.

And really: Thanks for everything. Thanks for understanding this quickly changing community and being an integral part that keeps it special. Thanks for your leadership in trying to pass on the things to your deputies that will make them better officers for Crested Butte and not just big dudes in uniform in a resort town. Thanks for explaining the other side when I came with hard questions or concerns about the department. Thanks for working through another Vinotok and really trying to work with anyone and everyone who showed respect for you, the department and the town. That is a lesson worth remembering in life in general.

I remember Tom once explaining that the department was hiring marshals to enforce the laws, but it was his job to explain how to do it in Crested Butte. Right on. Now that responsibility will fall to new chief marshal Mike Reily. We hope Mike has gleaned some lessons from a good man who is heading to warmer climes.

My mind was blown the entire end of September but the beginning of October blew the leaves—off the tress. The last remnants of the glorious fall color are hanging on but it is safe to say the peak has come and gone. And what a great color show it was. No wonder so many people claim this time of year is made up of their favorite weeks. We are now left to bare aspens, time to chat, open parking spaces, cooling temperatures and the beginning of the next ski season. After the busyness of the summer, that is enough to blow anyone’s mind.

—Mark Reaman

It is election season and between now and the end of October, the Crested Butte News will be asking the four candidates for Gunnison County commissioner questions related to issues in the community. We have requested they keep their answers to 500 words or less.

If you have a burning question for the candidates, feel free to email it to editorial@crestedbuttenews.com. Please, no questions on their views about their missing emails from personal servers or their stand on Miss Universe gaining weight. We’ll take care of that for you…

Remember, all qualified voters in Gunnison County get to cast a ballot for one candidate in each district.

And everyone is invited to the Crested Butte News Candidates Forum on Sunday, October 23 at 6 p.m. at the CB Center for the Arts.

Jonathan Houck

District 2

Let’s start with the proverbial softball question. Why are you running for Gunnison County commissioner?

I was moved to service out of a love for this place. I have lived my entire adult life in Gunnison County. I am seeking re-election to the District 2 seat because I feel I have demonstrated the commitment, experience and proven leadership to continue the work and move ongoing projects to completion. With a new commissioner coming on in District 1, and a new commissioner coming on in two years in District 3, providing continuity on the current board is important also.

As I promised when I ran four years ago, I have treated the position of commissioner as a full-time job and work hard every day for the citizens of the county. I have invested time and energy not only into the responsibilities of keeping core county services functional but have delved into issues and opportunities that are important to our community. I have taken a lead on issues like Mt. Emmons, GPLI, Thompson Divide, Gunnison Sage-grouse, the One Valley Prosperity Project, coal mine methane capture and valley-wide planning to strengthen the work the county can do alongside the towns and anchor institutions.

What past experience do you bring that will be beneficial representing the people as county commissioner?

My experience serving the citizens as county commissioner over the last four years was built upon my two terms on the Gunnison City Council, including a term as mayor. Additionally, I am the longest-serving member of the RTA board, I chair the Gunnison Basin Strategic Sage-grouse Committee, and have experience serving on the city Planning Commission as well as nonprofit boards.

I also think my experience as an educator with the school district for 10 years and then GCSAPP is significant in connecting with a large spectrum of our community. Along with my wife, Roanne, we own two businesses (Acli-Mate and the Main Street Clinic), which has given me a good understanding of the pressures and challenges of owning and running a small local business. I am a Western grad and have worked locally in retail sales, food service, residential and commercial construction and ranch work. I coach Little League and am a Cub Scout leader. These things are all pathways to being connected to the community and really having the opportunity to hear what folks want and need.

Finally, I am a resident of the whole valley. My wife, Roanne, is a Crested Butte native and we see ourselves and are raising our children, Iris and Porter, as citizens of the Gunnison Country, knowing and living the awesome diversity that this place has to offer. One of my strongest qualifiers as a commissioner is my connectivity to community. This Experience Matters.

Classic rock, jazz, blues, country, classical, rap or New Age?

I’m a fan of Alt-Country, or as I like to call it Y’alternative….artists like Uncle Tueplo, Son Volt, Whiskeytown, Jason Isbell, Wilco, The Jayhawks, etc. Stuff you would hear on the “Dirt Farmer’s Revenge” or “Song in the Walls” shows on KBUT.

Activity you want to still get in or focus on before the snow flies:

Sure would like to get in another backpacking trip with Roanne and the kids, a bike-packing trip or two, and top off the firewood pile.

Paul Wayne Foreman

District 2

Let’s start with the proverbial softball question. Why are you running for Gunnison County commissioner?

When I found the Gunnison Country in 1980, no doubt existed that I wanted to live here. None. The natural beauty, the work ethics of the ranching community, the liveliness and freshness of Western State students, and the eclectic lifestyles of those living in an out of the way, “undiscovered” ski area seduced me irresistibly. After moving here in 1981, I knew I wanted to spend my life and, yep, die in the Gunnison Country. My election to the RE1J school board and the Met Rec board in 1994 began 22 years of public service and devotion to this land, the free-flowing streams, the lapis skies, the flora and fauna and people living on it. In 1996, I became a hard news reporter for the Gunnison Country Times, covering the county’s comings and goings, and arriving at a clear understanding of how county government works. Covering county action led to my dream of being a county commissioner. Yeah, I have dreamed and do dream of being a county commissioner. Weird, but then, hey—it’s me! Today, I ask for your vote. I’m confident my passion will prompt me to be your exemplary county commissioner who listens to his constituency, acting accordingly.

What past experience do you bring that will be beneficial representing the people as county commissioner?

My years as a county reporter, my seven years as an effective director and president of the RE1J school board, and my 16 years as a member and president of the Met Rec board establish my political bedrock. I’ve raised a family here, and at times worked long hours in multiple jobs. I am first-hand familiar with how difficult living in the Gunnison Country can be, especially for young adults and families. I understand. During the Great Recession of 2008-2009 I hovered a heartbeat away from moving to Texas to start an organic farm with a longtime friend. Ultimately, I couldn’t move. It would have left behind much too much of my heart.

Classic rock, jazz, blues, country, classical, rap or New Age?

I’ve loved music since I was a very young child, good music of any genre. However, I love most the music I play, the music that inspired a generation to question authority and think for themselves: rock music, the gift of my generation to the world. From the beginnings, Buddy Holly, the Beatles and Stones, the Beach Boys, Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield, and the Grateful Dead, rock evolved into a high art form, the rock music of the ‘80s and ‘90s and beyond: Bowie, Prince, Sting, Clapton, Knopfler, Winwood, U2, Tom Petty, and Springsteen.

Activity you want to still get in or focus on before the snow flies:

Right now it’s “nuts and bolts” time around the Foreman household: putting the garden to bed, cleaning the windows to transparency, stacking firewood, and reading all the forecasts, but only believing the ones that are calling for a nice, snowy winter. Hey, in my world dreaming is the first step towards being a commissioner or having a nice, snowy winter. Let’s dream together and make my first winter as a commissioner a snowy one.

Brad Tutor

District 1

Let’s start with the proverbial softball question. Why are you running for Gunnison County commissioner?

I am running for office because I can bring a true balance to the Board of County Commissioners. The experiences in my life have brought me to the point that I can make a real impact for all of the county. Throughout my campaign I’ve stuck to one motto, bringing our county together for everyone. Honesty and integrity are two things that I was raised with and value deeply. I do believe in fiscal responsibility and spending public funds wisely, transparently and with the support of the public. I have been given the opportunity to work with many groups and find that common ground is what we really should be working toward. Also, I’m not now nor have I ever had a desire to be a politician. I just want to do what’s best for all citizens of Gunnison County.

What past experience do you bring that will be beneficial representing the people as county commissioner?

I’ve worn quite a few hats throughout the years and been successful in many ways. I’m a GHS graduate (1978) and WSC grad (BA 1985, MA 1987). I taught in public education for 15 years, have been on countless committees, and coached high school sports. I served 10 years on both a volunteer and professional Ski Patrol and was a patrol and regional director for the National Ski Patrol. I have been EMT certified and served several years on a volunteer EMS/firefighting department and understand the need to continually support all our local EMS, firefighting, law enforcement and search and rescue services. I’ve worked several years in the construction industry in Gunnison County gaining an insight to the challenges of building in our county.

Currently, my wife and I own a very successful small business in downtown Gunnison. In addition, I married into a ranching family. I’ve been involved in one capacity or another on the ranch for over 36 years, several of them on a full-time basis. I have a vast knowledge of this industry, including the all-important aspects of water and public land usage. I still represent the ranch at Forest Service meetings dealing with grazing permits, land usage and recreational access. I understand the struggles of landowners trying to maintain a profitable and viable business with the steady increase of recreational use on a firsthand basis. It is with this experience that I can make a great impact for our county.

My experiences speak to balance and leadership skills. I have held many leadership positions on both volunteer and professional organizations, starting as an Eagle Scout at 14 years of age. I learned early in life the value of a strong work ethic and will bring that with me as a commissioner.

We have many pressing needs in our county, and I am excited to go to work with the citizens of Gunnison County and find solutions together.

Classic rock, jazz, blues, country, classical, rap or New Age?

I’m partial to 1980s-90s country, with a little classic rock from my youth.

Activity you want to still get in or focus on before the snow flies:

I’d like to take a little time to catch my breath and just watch the leaves fall. It’s been an awesome fall season!

John Messner

District 1

Let’s start with the proverbial softball question. Why are you running for Gunnison County commissioner?

This county is my home, our success is my passion and in the simplest terms I want us all to thrive. Notice I used the term thrive and not survive. Our county can be a tough place to be successful. We all work hard, harder than most, to make a life here. But this is a special place, full of vibrancy and potential. While we all may come from different backgrounds, have had different experiences and may even have different opinions on how to move forward, I believe each of us has a desire and willingness to work together to make the county we live in successful, for us to thrive.

What past experience do you bring that will be beneficial representing the people as county commissioner?

It is essential that a county commissioner understands the community they are representing and puts in the time and commitment to serving. I have been involved in the One Valley Prosperity Project and am one of the few individuals who attend meetings in all four subgroups as well as the Community Builders Task Force. I also am present at meetings for the RTA, TA, BOCC, Sage-grouse Strategic Committee, Gunnison Public Lands Initiative, Met Rec, UGRWCD, BOZAR, CB Town Council, Crested Butte Arts, Gunnison Regional Housing Authority and the Gunnison City Council, to name a few. I am on the Gunnison County Planning Commission, which has given me a comprehensive understanding of land use issues and the LUR (Land Use Resolution), an integral part of the role of county commissioner. I understand that sustainable development is important to the economy of Gunnison County and believe it is critical that we ensure our LUR and codes support and encourage the type of development that helps us overcome our affordable/available housing challenge. I have been an entrepreneur and owner of a national manufacturing and internet/catalog retail company based in Gunnison and am on the Region 10 board of directors. A business background and an understanding of entrepreneurship, manufacturing and the technology needs of business is very important to the role of county commissioner, especially as we move toward job growth, developing connectivity and creating a diverse and resilient economy.

I am the manager of my family’s small time horse and hay agricultural operation in the Ohio Creek Valley. I understand the importance of agriculture and water rights to the history, present and future of Gunnison County and will be an advocate as county commissioner.

Currently I own a company that specializes in grant writing and project management of recreation amenities and have been an outdoor educator and manager of a local nonprofit. Recreation and public lands are an essential part of our economy and quality of life. My experience supports my goal of working in cooperation with agencies, the ag community, local citizens and nonprofits in developing a recreation master plan for Gunnison County with the goal of improving the recreation infrastructure, dispersing impacts of use, and ensuring public lands stay in public hands.

Classic rock, jazz, blues, country, classical, rap or New Age?

Don’t Stop Believing!

Activity you want to still get in or focus on before the snow flies:

Wait, what? You mean I can do something other than campaign stuff before winter?

It’s hard to not be happy during these peak fall days. The changing leaves, the perfect light, the space to breathe. There’s time to reconnect with people in the community and find isolation on the trails if you desire. These are the good weeks and let’s hope you are getting out to experience what are some of the best days on the planet, ever. Seriously. And with the moisture flowing in for a few days this week, it adds a dramatic look with low clouds popping the colors and framing the mountains. It is the next indication there is no turning back to summer.

I can report that we should be happy with the progress being made toward the withdrawal of unpatented mining claims on Red Lady. The town attorney says he is working with his counterparts at Freeport-McMoRan on language that will put a finite end to any threat of an industrial mine on Mt. Emmons. The players are engaged and productive and appear to still be holding hands and marching in the same direction. The citizens of Crested Butte should be happy to pull the lever in favor of Crested Butte ballot initiative 2A that will commit open space funds to the project but not raise any taxes.

Those who want some regulation of short-term rentals in Crested Butte should be happy, since the council has picked up the ball again and will hold a special meeting to discuss the issue next Monday. Frankly, my eyebrow is raised a bit over the sudden re-emergence of urgency expressed at the meeting on Monday. I mean, the council rejected the idea of imposing a moratorium so they could deal with the issue without distractions. Five of the seven council members actually have short-term rental licenses themselves—and two rushed in to get them when the issue started to get real in August. That all took some steam out of the process. But the citizens’ committee spent a lot of time hashing over the issue from every angle and it deserves a hearing. Given the makeup of the committee I will wager they have some good ideas that should be discussed. That discussion begins in earnest Monday at 6 o’clock.

On the other hand, it’s not all Champagne and unicorns out there. For that we are reminded pretty much hourly because of this weird presidential election where few are enthusiastic about the two main choices. While the majority of people seem to want to blow up the current flawed political system, there is a real fear that Donald may literally blow up the world if elected and Hillary may sloppily focus on blowing up her bank account. Neither candidate option brings great joy for a great many people.

And then there’s the email we got Tuesday from U.S. senator Cory Gardener lambasting the recent projection that health care premiums in Colorado for the individual market will increase by 20.4 percent on average in 2017. That makes me want to blow up the world. It is becoming ridiculous and untenable and I can see why people will grasp at any straw, including the idea of a new amendment to the Colorado constitution that says all medical services will be free for every resident. Something has to change with the current health care system and that will take cooperation between political parties. So, yeah, good luck with that.

And let’s not even get into Brad and Angelina. Angelina is filing for divorce? Weren’t those two just here in Crested Butte a couple of winters ago with their six kids? Maybe they should pop back in for Friday’s handfasting ceremony at the community feast and give it another go. Give the world some hope, Brangelina!

As we move toward ski season, we received the latest press information from the ski area and it sort of made us happy in the office. It starts out: “While many ski resorts are focused on bigger, newer, faster and more, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) is working harder to simply provide guests with the best experience at the ‘Last Great Colorado Ski Town….’”

And after touting a new coffee place in the Treasury Center and bragging on the Umbrella Bar as something new, the next highlight was a promo for the new bathrooms and “hydration station” (a water fountain?) in Paradise Warming House. “Looking for an upgraded experience, but burned by restrooms in the past, guests at Crested Butte can leave their wounded hearts behind and take another shot at finding love… The pursuit of happily-ever-after just got a whole lot easier,” the CBMR press release stated.

Connecting love and new bathrooms made me happy.

And finally, I have to mention the passing of a true Crested Butte pioneer. Actually the true Crested Butte pioneer when it comes to the current ski area in this valley. Dick Eflin, who was a founder of the resort that began the turn of this little mountain village from a quiet former mining community to a (sometimes) bustling ski mountain, moved to the great powder run in the heavens last week. His family did not want a formal story or “in memory” in the paper and we respect that. But we must note his contribution to all of us here.

Eflin was one of those fellows that, to me, always struck a Euro ski vibe that I love in these hills. His grace, the way he carried himself, his sweaters all provided a dignity that represented his vision of a joyous alpine retreat. His tales of the old days and of trying to make this place a real resort were wonderful and funny. Dick’s flair for telling his stories made me smile. Heck, just the fact that he envisioned this valley as a ski resort in the early 1960s shaped my life and yours since without his vision 99 percent of us wouldn’t be here today and our lives would be very different. In that sense, Dick has made me very happy. Thank you sir.

—Mark Reaman

Sometimes understanding perspective is difficult in the moment. It is sort of like living every day with a grade school kid and not noticing that he or she is growing. But if you are a friend and not a parent and happen to run into that kid after a couple of months, the change can sometimes be dramatic.

So, when you or your kids are reading the “20 Years Ago Today” column in the paper in 2036, it might show that these last few weeks or months in 2016 were probably pretty momentous to the town. These are indeed interesting times. You might not see it every day but the kid is changing pretty fast right now.

Here’s why…

—If we are lucky, this could be the year that the threat of a mine on Red Lady is forever gone. The steps are in place to make that a reality. For 40 years, the community has had a fighting chip on its shoulder as the people have relentlessly fought the idea of a molybdenum mine on Mt. Emmons.

But now, if Crested Butte citizens approve a $2 million ballot issue this fall (that won’t raise any taxes) and the pieces fall into place with mining company Freeport McMoRan, the U.S. Congress and the president of the United States, there could be a permanent withdrawal of any mining of minerals on that mountain. It sounds pretty far-fetched but it could actually happen. The town is ready, the mining company appears ready and the politics with our U.S. senators and representatives could come together. It would be pretty incredible for the pieces to fall into place but it appears there is a real shot. Even if the voters approve the issue, there would still be a lot of heavy lifting to do, but it will be as close as we’ve come in decades. So let’s make it happen.

To take the communal mind shift from a community fighting for its spiritual mountain against global mining interests to a community walking hand-in-hand with an international mining company to focus on mine-related remediation and improved water quality is huge. What will that do to our general community reputation? Will we go from jumping into immediate fighting stance on almost anything to cooperation in all aspects of community? Will the loss of a mining threat put the place into resort hyper-drive?

It seems to me that it would be a significant change of attitude and one that will benefit future generations of Crested Butte. Like getting a high school back in town, it is certain to bring significant change to the community and it should be a major change for the better. This is exciting stuff if those pieces fall into place and it will start with how the citizens of Crested Butte cast their votes this November. We will look closer at this throughout the fall.

—Last week the Crested Butte Board of Zoning and Architectural Review (BOZAR) approved an expanded Crested Butte Center for the Arts. It will be a big building in Town Park and one that can cater to the growing variety of arts in the upper valley. It is not a small project and there is still a lot of work to be done. But if the money can be raised to complete the new facility, it should prime the pump for the north end of the valley to really make the arts an even more valuable piece of the spiritual and economic makeup of Crested Butte. Add to that the fact that the Mt. Crested Butte Biery-Witt Center is close to its fundraising goal and the community could end up with two major arts facilities in the near future. That’s a lot of art potential for a small town.

—The first big affordable housing complex began filling up last month. Anthracite Place provides a spot for low-income folks trying to stay here and make a life and a living. As Crested Butte becomes more and more expensive—and with no mine threat and better arts facilities—that will likely continue at an even faster pace. It’s no longer easy for ski bum types to buy a place up here. That’s a sad reality and why we need subsidized affordable housing. There will always be a need for such projects if you want the town and valley to be able to keep workers living in the broader community and not commuting from Montrose or wherever. Not every resort community has places for the dishwashers, the bus drivers and the musicians to reside. It is important to this town to keep workers living here and Anthracite Place provides such an opportunity.

In that vein, this is the week the first locals were able to go under contract for deed-restricted affordable housing lots on blocks 79 and 80 in town. These will be tilted more toward families and young professionals who want to make the commitment to stay here. That is another step in the struggle to keep the community real.

—The new Sixth Street Station proposal made it through its first BOZAR review last week. It is not a done deal by any means but the developers are no longer asking for a zoning change. They are looking at a number of hotel beds that might alleviate some VRBO-type mania inside the town limits. It too would be a big building and it would certainly be the new focal point for the northwest part of town.

—The Cypress Foothills developers received the first major county approval for their proposed “hybrid” development that entails a potential town annexation and some more county home sites just to the north of the current Crested Butte boundaries. The public land that is part of the proposed deal could include a school site, an emergency services center such as a fire hall, parks, river access and affordable housing. It too will have a big impact on the look and feel of the community.

—There is the fact that for the first time ever, more than 700 students enrolled this year in the Crested Butte Community School. Families seem to have figured out that living in a small town with a great educational opportunity is unique in this country. Throw in the ski area and countless outdoor amenities (and now a faster growing arts community and hopefully no threat of a mine) and the attraction probably won’t go away for people with the means to resettle in a good mountain village with their kids.

—Add in the hiring this week of a brand new Crested Butte town manager to guide a lot of these new developments, the state coming to the Town Council this month to start to solidify a Red Lady roundabout plan, the idea of developing a camping area in Avalanche Park, more buses serving both ends of the valley and CB South, a potential new Kapushion subdivision development in town, marijuana becoming a booming business throughout the county, the county shifting to power its vehicles with compressed natural gas, the ski area looking to expand into Teo 2—and who knows what else is brewing under the radar. There is no shortage of big changes happening right now.

Now to be frankly honest, not all of these changes are going to be great for everyone. If you live here and saw a future job at a mine, the change isn’t helping you. The prices of real estate in the valley always go up—and then go down—but I would imagine the floor is getting higher.

So while you may feel things are shifting a bit and the town is becoming a bit more gentrified, I think the real perspective is that we are in the midst of some major potential changes for the community. The details are still not settled on every issue. So if you want to look back at the “20 Years Ago Today” column in 2036 and help determine what it says—and how this place evolves —now is the time to jump in and help shape the big changes that are now happening. As the old Chinese saying goes … We are living in interesting times.

—Mark Reaman