Boulder Weekly sent candidate questionnaires to all candidates on Boulder County ballots. These are their written responses, edited for length and clarity. Read more Election 2024 content.
Justin Brooks
mayorbrooks.com
Relevant experience
For the last two and a half years as Mayor, I’ve worked daily to bring commonsense solutions and data-driven decisions to Erie’s council. Working collaboratively with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and across the community, we’ve approved thousands of new housing opportunities, welcomed an average of 35 new businesses (brick and mortar) each year, and greatly diversified our tax base.
In my day job, I’m a senior program manager in the aerospace industry, responsible for business development and leading cross-functional teams while rigorously managing multi-million dollar budgets and timetables for execution. I have worked in the Defense and Aerospace industry for the past 23 years – along with owning two small businesses – and you could say that long-range planning, developing, building, and launching satellites and advanced instrumentation into Earth’s orbit has prepared me to serve as Erie’s mayor in lots of ways.
Priorities
- Keeping Erie affordable for our seniors and families
- Strengthening and diversifying our local economy
- Bringing Erie its first central grocery store
Lightning round
Do you support local efforts to increase the minimum wage?
Yes, but it is essential to conduct a thorough analysis to determine whether this will impose an untenable burden on businesses operating in towns like Erie. We have observed a unique challenge: although most employers already pay significantly above minimum wage, business owners have faced drastic increases in property tax bills due to the rapidly rising value of commercial real estate. We aim to identify methods that not only provide relief and support to the small businesses affected by these issues but also create a pathway for them to offer more substantial wages to keep pace with inflation.
Do you support an end to the state prohibition on rent control?
No. While I am concerned about the sort of rental price gouging that we saw in the wake of the Marshall fire, I believe that establishing a market competitive rental price, while managing your cash flow as a landlord is essential to not only your livelihood but it ensures that properties are able to be kept in good repair or that landlords are able to weather periods of vacancy. My lens for this is as a landlord of a couple of residential rentals for the past couple of decades.
However, the growing trend of real estate investment trust (REIT) or holdings corporations purchasing large blocks of single family homes can have the effect of artificially driving the market. The vast majority of Erie homes are owner occupied, and it is possible that as more affordable homes come onto the market, regular buyers can be outbid by corporations thus driving the rents higher due to limited supply.
Do you support interventions for human-caused climate change?
Yes. Climate change is very real and I have personally noticed the increased haziness of our beautiful mountain view or the increased number of ozone action or poor air quality days. We have to take intentional action to decrease our greenhouse gas emissions, whether through switching to electric lawnmowers, learning how to compost or choosing to walk down to Old Town for events occasionally, every little bit helps.
Do you support Erie joining RTD?
Yes. Half of Erie is already part of RTD. I support a ballot measure this year to bring the Weld County sections of Erie into RTD. When you look at RTD District I, which includes Erie, it looks like a moth ate parts of the map. Without contiguous coverage for the missing areas, we will be challenged to advocate for expansion of our RTD public transit services.
Do you support allowing recreational marijuana sales in Erie?
Yes. State Law already permits recreational marijuana sales in Erie via delivery services, while our local ordinances prohibit the public consumption of marijuana including in our parks, open space or near schools. In the last couple of community wide surveys, we noted that there was growing support for ending the moratorium on recreational marijuana and applying an excise tax to it. The most recent survey conducted by Polco in 2023 indicated 67% supported applying an Excise Tax on Recreational Marijuana, which would require the moratorium to be lifted. The same 67% supported strict zoning ordinances related to the allowable placement of these businesses. The town council recently approved Ballot Measure 3C to decide on this issue, and should the voters approve, an updated zoning ordinance will go into place. If the voters decline measure 3C, then we will maintain our current moratorium and the drafted ordinance will be discarded.
Do you support more diversity of housing in Erie (townhomes, apartments, efficiency units, etc.)?
Absolutely. While there will always be a strong market for buyers seeking larger homes to raise larger families in or to entertain large groups, there are multiple economic factors that require the incorporation of various housing types to not only make the development projects “pencil out” but also to provide a place for the necessary workforce, younger singles and families, as well as those who are retiring/downsizing and wishing to remain close to their friends and family.
Do you support the development of the Draco Pad?
Absolutely not. When examining the schematic illustrating the pattern of wellhead and directional drilling, it’s alarming to see that the oil and gas operator appears to be metaphorically sweeping a giant spatula beneath the entire town of Erie, stretching from roughly WCR7 to US287. They claim that their horizontal drilling will occur miles beneath the surface; however, it’s critical to note that they have yet to attempt such a deep drill — for approximately five miles — in Colorado. This raises significant concerns, particularly considering the specific composition of our soil and the thousands of homes directly above where they intend to operate.
The potential risks associated with an industrial accident from this type of drilling are not just theoretical; they could lead to catastrophic consequences for our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and vital town infrastructure. It’s essential for us to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community over any industrial ambitions.
Moreover, it seems that the proposed Draco Pad approach is an engineering workaround to circumvent the Town's refusal to approve new Oil Well permits within our limits. While it may appear to be an innovative solution, I firmly believe—drawing from my own engineering background—that the risks it poses to the health and safety of our residents are simply too great to accept. We must stand together and advocate for the protection of our community against such hazardous operations.
Do you support for SB24-157, which narrowed the definition of what constitutes a public meeting?
Coordinating among multiple council members can be quite challenging, especially when navigating the Open Meetings Law (OML). While the intent behind the OML is commendable — promoting transparency and accountability — it poses difficulties in modern contexts where technology allows for rapid communication.
For instance, consider scenarios that may unintentionally breach the OML. A staff member might send an urgent, confidential notice to the council, leading to a council member responding in an open text thread or hitting "Reply All" by mistake. Similarly, council members might desire to collaborate on internal documents via shared online platforms, inadvertently crossing lines of compliance.
Even simple communications, like announcing an event, can lead to issues if a council member mistakenly replies to everyone, or if multiple members engage online with the public, potentially creating a perception of a collective decision-making process.
The challenge is compounded when community members email the council, potentially triggering a "Reply All" situation that violates OML guidelines. While the law aims to curb secret or serial meetings that could undermine public trust, it can also stifle innocent interactions meant to foster community engagement.
To address these limitations, I recommend offering leniency for unintentional breaches of the OML, particularly when actions are taken in good faith for the public's benefit. This approach could help balance compliance with the law while allowing council members to effectively communicate and collaborate in today's fast-paced environment.
What are you most proud of from your most recent term?
- First permanently affordable housing in Erie in more than 25 years
- $100M invested in new roads, drainage and infrastructure
- 30% increase in sales tax revenues, and attracting more than 80+ new businesses
When was the last time you paid rent? How much was it? And where?
When I first moved to Erie in 2009, we rented a home for $1350/mo until purchasing our current home in 2010 just down the street in the same subdivision. Having recently relocated from the Houston area, I recall having sticker shock at the cost of living, so we got lucky in finding a HUD foreclosure that enabled us to stay in the community and neighborhood that we had fallen in love with.
What would you say are the top three issues facing Erie, and what are your plans to address them in a way that differs from the current approach?
I. Growth and Development
We are Colorado’s fastest-growing community. Past and current Comprehensive Plan updates have the buildout of our Town reaching 60,000 to 80,000 over the next 20 years. Our opportunity now is to plan for the long term. That vision includes walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with more diverse housing types and sizes and supporting a thriving business environment. More rooftops at sufficient density are also important preconditions for attracting commercial retail investment in central Erie, namely a grocery store at Town Center, and this has been one of my biggest priorities.
II. Diverse Housing Opportunities
Nearly nine out of every 10 homes in Erie is single-family housing, with the average home price rising above $800,000. And up until this summer, just .001% — or 12 units total out of 10,400 — of our entire housing stock was dedicated to affordable housing. Concurrently, seniors are the fastest-growing demographic in Colorado, and the shortage of senior housing is profound. We must build more housing for seniors, enabling them to either age in place or downsize without being displaced to another community. Creating a spectrum of housing types and sizes for seniors, our workforce, recent graduates, and families saving for their first home benefits all of Erie. There is a direct economic development benefit to the potential workforce, allowing them to live closer to their employment or the other generations of their families.
III. Continued Infrastructure Investments
We have invested heavily in much-needed infrastructure improvements for the benefit of today’s residents, and that can responsibly meet future demand. Our council has made clear that insufficient infrastructure (such as road capacities and stormwater drainage) cannot support dense housing developments, and it’s in our shared interest to invest in these improvements that enable more housing opportunities. Our investment in both water shares and water treatment capacity has placed the Town of Erie far ahead of many of our neighboring municipalities, and I’m very proud that our improved water treatment facility can now eliminate PFAS chemicals from drinking water.
What are your perspectives on the planned growth? What mechanisms would you use to handle growth responsibly?
Without question, Erie is growing — and it will continue to grow at a sustained and measured rate of 3.3%, according to the guardrails enshrined in the community-led Comprehensive Plan. When I moved to Erie 15 years ago, our population was around 14,000 — today, it’s close to 38,000.
Our updated Comprehensive Plan significantly emphasizes diversifying our housing stock, including new multifamily, fourplexes, townhomes, ADUs and mixed-use. We are also one of the few — if not the only — communities in the Front Range that has achieved its Proposition 123 commitment to create new affordable housing.
Our updated Comprehensive Plan also takes an integrated approach to mobility by updating our Transportation Safety and Mobility Plan. These plans prioritize improved road conditions, safe bike lanes, drainage and water storage, water treatment, and other infrastructure needs that will help us meet future needs while still maintaining the small town charm and access to surrounding metropolitan areas that we currently enjoy.
Given the realities of a changing climate and limited government resources, how do you plan on balancing mitigation and adaptation for already-impacted populations in Erie?
- No more oil and gas permits.
My opponent is perhaps best known for approving nearly 60 oil and gas permits when he was mayor from 2004-2010. We cannot go back to this.
- Water resources, infrastructure, and conservation.
Every person wants to live in a home with clean water. I’m proud that we’ve invested in significant upgrades to our Town Water Treatment Facility, and Erie now has a brand-new water filtration system that will protect our families from forever-chemicals otherwise known as PFAS.
- Water access and water-wise features.
Our updated Comp Plan estimates that our population will double in the coming decades. As one of the largest investors in the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), the Town of Erie has a water infrastructure worth over $500M. Depending upon density and typical usage patterns, we can support a population of approximately 70,000 to 90,000. Unlike older homes, we can proactively work with the development community to utilize water-wise fixtures, smart meters, greywater recycling, native landscaping and other water-saving features.
As a town council member, what tools at your disposal would you use to protect residents from the impact of oil and gas operations, both existing and future?
Unlike my opponent, I won’t approve oil and gas permits. I’ve also voted against proposed housing developments that would have been built on former drilling sites to ensure that future residents and families aren’t exposed to the toxic and cancer-causing contamination that these drilling sites are known for.
Equally important, we must recognize that neighboring communities in Weld County are eager to approve oil and gas permits in lands that surround our community. For this reason, we have increased our schedule to acquire and annex lands surrounding Erie to ensure that new drilling and fracking doesn’t take place.
Do you believe there is a need for more affordable housing in Erie? If so, what is your plan to make it happen?
As mayor, we’ve created more affordable housing units this year than in the last 25 years combined. Creating a spectrum of housing types and sizes for seniors, our workforce, recent graduates and families saving for their first home benefits all of Erie. We are also one of the few — if not the only — communities in the Front Range that has achieved its Proposition 123 commitment to create new affordable housing. With a commitment to increase our permanently affordable housing stock by 3% per year, we have already issued building permits for 35 permanently affordable units, representing a 191% increase in that same timeframe.
Erie is developing an Inclusionary Housing and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee ordinance, which we look forward to working with the homebuilding and development community to ensure that we arrive at terms that do not slow home sales while also supporting the introduction of more permanently affordable product inventory.
As mayor, I helped shepherd council approval of an expedited development review process for developments with at least 12% of the units being affordable. Inspired by the Proposition 123 standard of being able to issue a building permit within 90 days, our new expedited permitting will play an essential role in lowering development costs and bringing much-needed housing online faster than ever before while still being adequately reviewed for compliance and compatibility with the existing townscape.
How do justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) factor into your policy making?
My experiences and those shared with me underscore the necessity of intentionally incorporating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles, along with continual re-evaluation. As mayor, I understand my responsibility to influence policies that affect lives. The four JEDI principles represent fundamental expectations of human decency in our interactions.
In public safety and consumer protections, fairness and justice must prevail. This can mean supporting programs like Restorative Justice, which prioritizes compassion and healing over punitive measures for youth. It may also involve collaborating with commercial providers to quickly address residents' concerns.
When implementing municipal programs, I emphasize considering access and potential unintended consequences to avoid creating equity disparities. Recent efforts, such as enhancing ADA accessibility in parks and on our town website, illustrate intentional policymaking.
Representation is crucial; when people find common ground, they foster community and challenge stereotypes perpetuated by media or tradition. By valuing diverse viewpoints, we can identify and include missing voices in discussions.
Sharing various cultural and lived experiences enriches our community, making Erie a welcoming place for all. This ongoing practice of inclusion involves engaging in difficult conversations to confront biases and work together for our residents' benefit.
Though Town Council members may not always agree on policies, adhering to these principles and soft skills allows us to operate respectfully and focus on our community's needs.
What efforts do you make in your daily life to consider and understand people with different lived experiences from your own?
To better understand and consider people with different lived experiences from my own, I engage in conversation, listen to their story and for what is important to them and I keep my personal “filter” on for any unconscious bias that I may be susceptible to applying. Unconscious bias is something that everyone has, therefore it takes us recognizing them and actively correcting our own thoughts as to not treat others in a manner that we would not wish to be treated ourselves.
When the lived experience is vastly different from what I have encountered, I try to listen more intently and ask questions to gather a better idea of what the experience must have been like for the other person. Oftentimes, we find that while someone's lived experience may be vastly different from our own, the core elements of life that most people have are common (e.g. affection for family or friends, dreams and aspirations, a need for belonging, a desire to be heard).
I believe that we humans are far more alike than we are different. While there are most certainly a wide spectrum of lived experiences, both positive and negative, our humanity is a common thread that enables us to live in community with one another.
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something, and what was it?
Earlier this year, I learned that a new music artist that I like, October London, was playing a concert in Las Vegas in October. Not thinking about election season at the time, I booked it and had been looking forward to it ever since. More recently, I am looking at the calendar and recognizing that time is getting short for me to knock on as many doors as possible to meet and talk with residents who are prospective voters. Talk about first-world problems. :-)
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter asked if I wouldn’t mind traveling with her to help with a beauty pageant that she will be participating in, which happened to be the same weekend as the concert. We have a great relationship, so when I teased her that Daddy had plans, she quipped that, “You wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to watch your only daughter win Miss Black Teen Colorado, now would you.” Yep, I canceled immediately. She has my number, as do all of my kids. :-)
Being Mayor of the Town of Erie is just one of the things that I do, and juggling life to keep up a full-time career with public service is a sacrifice that I willingly make. Being a Dad is who I am, and I wouldn’t trade that job for anything.
A pair of great seats are up for sale if you know anyone who would be interested.
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
The Town of Erie has all but about two square miles of its 44 mile planning area zoned to some sort of use with the vast majority of that space having previously been zoned as some variety of residential. Along with this existing zoning of the various planned developments, there are currently 5,000 dwelling units entitled for construction, meaning that with no further planned development approvals, we will see a 50% increase in households over the next several years. Recently, there has been a focus on incorporating more commercial and mixed-use development, to provide commercial space for businesses to provide goods and services.
What would you propose that we do differently in terms of managing the growth of our town, such that it remains the vibrant and welcoming place that it is today?