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.
Andrew Sawusch
AndrewSawusch.com
Relevant experience
Current Council Member for the Town of Erie
Former Town of Erie Planning Commissioner
Former Town of Erie Comprehensive Plan Amendment Steering Committee member
Town Council liaison to the Town of Erie Tree Board
Town of Erie Airport Economic Development Advisory Board
Colorado Municipal League Legislative Policy Committee
Boulder County Resource Conservation Advisory Board
Erie Economic Development Council
RTD Rails to Trails
Top three priorities if elected
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Manageable Growth & Sustainable Infrastructure
- Economic Vitality
What are you most proud of from your most recent term?
Asking the tough questions that others wouldn’t, advocating for our residents and the town's future. Staying true to who I am and not giving way to pressure from staff or other council members
When was the last time you paid rent? How much was it? And where?
2009 in Boulder’s University Hill. I don’t remember the cost.
Lightning round
Do you support Erie joining RTD? Let the voters decide
Do you support allowing recreational marijuana sales in Erie? Let the voters decide
Do you support more diversity of housing in Erie (townhomes, apartments, efficiency units, etc.)? Yes
Do you support the development of the Draco Pad? Not Erie’s jurisdiction
Do you support local efforts to increase the minimum wage? No. Erie businesses do not support
Do you support an end to the state prohibition on rent control? No. This 2023 proposed bill failed.
Do you support government interventions for human-caused climate change? Depends. The Town has a sustainability master plan to reference (and a sustainability department and board).
Do you support SB24-157, which narrowed the definition of what constitutes a public meeting? No
Long-form questions
What would you say are the top three issues facing Erie, and what are your plans to address them?
1.) Fiscal Responsibility: Since 2022, simply put, Erie's spending has greatly outpaced how much the Town earns in revenue: Operating expenses are increasing by 55% and capital expenses by 108%, but revenues are only increasing 15%. Based on staff projections presented during the July 2024 Study Session, the town’s current financial forecast — which only provides $6.5 million in funding for capital projects in years 2027, 2028 and 2029 — indicates an expected depletion of our Capital Fund in 2028. That is only three years away.
While I have voted “no” on annual budgets and have been very vocal in expressing my opposition to this spending trend, I would like to see a council seated which prioritizes fiscal responsibility and our future needs — instead of (as some have called it) “living outside of our means.”
2.) Manageable Growth & Sustainable Infrastructure: We continue to see immense strain — and faster "wearing out" — on our roads and utility infrastructure with Erie's rapid growth. The town has grown to a population of over 37,000 residents. Between 2015-2020 alone, the town saw a 40% growth rate, exceeding by more than double the previously projected 16%. As of 2024, there were enough tentative or official development agreements to increase the Town's population between 60,000 to 75,000 residents. (See “planned growth” question for how to address.)
3.) Economic Vitality: Due to the town's rapid growth and the current economic situation, we have seen that specific fund accounts have been significantly reduced or depleted, compared to years past. Ensuring that reliable and steady recurring revenues are in place for years to come to avoid any potential shortfalls is crucial to maintain our continued successes.
For Erie to be successful for years to come, a focus must be placed on alternative revenue sources — drawing in businesses that add jobs and sales tax revenues. I would like to see a council seated that prioritizes current funds towards our economic development needs, in order to jumpstart the creation of a sustainable revenue stream for the town.
What are your perspectives on the planned growth? What mechanisms would you use to handle growth responsibly?
First and foremost, the “future Erie” must be based on what residents want to see and need, now and in the future. That creates the vision for our town and serves as the basis for the planning required to make it a reality without straining the town's resources today.
Our future growth ultimately must balance new developments that are years away by preparing with the infrastructure required for it now. That all must consider the impact on our neighbors, the future maintenance requirements and how that infrastructure can be adapted in the future without overburdening our residents' convenience and the town's funds. With the rapid growth that occurred to-date (e.g. 40% growth between 2015-2020, when the town planned for 16%), it strained our town’s infrastructure and required upgrades sooner than initially expected. We feel that daily as residents.
The best way to ensure responsible growth in the town is by providing an understanding of where we are now (our "current position"), where we are going (our "upcoming needs") and where we want to be (our "future growth"). It starts with assessing what's needed at this moment, preparing for what's needed later and then having a vision to plan for the future.
Do you believe there is a need for more affordable housing in Erie? If so, what is your plan to make it happen?
While some call it an "Affordable Housing" issue, in reality the root of the problem is a lack of housing diversity. During the town's massive growth over the years, a lack of available inventory and the national housing market have created a housing affordability issue as the town's makeup has comprised almost entirely of single family homes. The best way to resolve this issue is to work with our stakeholders in the community — our development partners — to address the cause, not the symptoms of the issue.
As noted in a September 2022 presentation to the Council by the town’s consultant, CZB, the goal of reaching 12% permanently affordable housing stock town-wide by 2035 is not realistic. In order for the Town to reach this goal, approximately 20 to 40% of the total dwelling units produced each year town-wide would need to be “affordable”.
The true issue that should be addressed is the lack of housing diversity within the community in terms of the housing types available. As noted in the same September 2022 consultant presentation, 88% of all housing units within the town are single-family detached, meaning there is a very limited stock of alternative home types (duplexes, townhomes, condos, apartments, etc.). This has led to an average home price of +$800,000.
We should attempt to achieve a solution to this issue by working with some of the stakeholders and partners in our community — our development community. This means bringing them to the table, sitting with them and saying, "How can you help us achieve these goals? How can we work together to attain the best results for our town?" If we approach the situation in this way, the development community will respond positively and will actively work with us on this initiative to increase the stock of diverse housing options in the town.
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?
The town’s sustainability department and sustainability board have done a great job of keeping the town one step ahead. While I am always open to hear the perspectives of residents, personally, I believe it is best to follow their guidance instead of interjecting with my own views or trying to subvert their role within our community. Doing so would undermine their efforts.
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?
I am a big believer in owner's rights, but also believe in responsible extraction — specifically around health and safety — is paramount. Since the passage of SB181 and with other policy making activities, a different oil and gas landscape has emerged in Colorado since 2020.
I was on the Planning Commission when our "Regulations for Oil and Gas Operations” and “Development and design standards related to oil and gas facilities and locations" were passed. These made clear the rules and regulations for any company that had goals of extracting or building near active operations in Erie. Comparing the drafts that initially came before us with what was later recommended to (and passed by) the council not only enforced health and safety for residents of any new developments, but also ensured that future development was not completely impeded town-wide.
Being on Erie's Town Council, we have learned to lean on our town staff. Our Director of Environmental Services is the single most reason that I know Erie's voice is being heard at both the county and state level related to oil and gas. Whether written or in-person testimony, sitting down with the operators to lay out (and ensure enforcement) of the conditions to their operations — he has been on-top of it and provides us with guidance on how to proceed.
Unfortunately, as we have seen over the past 3 to 4 years (and I expect to continue), oil and gas operators simply move just outside of the town limits in Weld County so we don’t have enforcement over them.
What I do see though in terms of the "future" of oil and gas within Erie, is a need for more attention to future and previously plug and abandoned wells. We will want to place more efforts in the coming months and years, especially due to some of the failures that have occurred recently, and sheer amount of plug and abandonments that have been occurring throughout town.
How do justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) factor into your policy making?
We live in a community where everyone should feel like they are heard and appreciated. No mater which walks of life an individual may come from, their views and opinions should always be heard.
At the Town, we have taken many great steps since 2020 to ensure DEI isn’t an afterthought. Today, our DEI Director is housed within our Human Resources to ensure that the Town is not only a great place to work, but also instilled in our various departments to ensure that Erie is also a great place to live.
When making any decision, the interests and impact of all residents must be taken into account — not just to accommodate those that are either most vocal or most engaged.
What efforts do you make in your daily life to consider and understand people with different lived experiences from your own?
I listen to understand. Too many times, I see individuals closed off from others, unwilling to even hear what they have to say — because their opinions or experiences differ from the other person’s and the focus is on how to respond.
Others’ lived experiences can bring insight or an understanding that wouldn’t have been known without their story or them sharing their views. Even if those views differ from my own, I believe that “everyone is entitled to their own opinion” — as long as we can sit and discuss the topic, that is what is most important!
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something, and what was it?
The last time I changed my mind about something was when I decided to respond to this questionnaire. Initially, I saw the questions within and thought, “This does not pertain to Erie”, since some of the initial questions received were polarizing and did not relate to our local matters (which I felt was done to divide the community — instead of providing a bonafide reason for having the question in the first place).
After an individual spoke with the editor-in-chief and clarified this view, the questions were removed.
Essentially, while I am human and may form an initial opinion on an item, I am open to discuss the topic further to better understand all sides of an issue. After gathering additional information, I am willing to change my view of a topic to do what is best in the situation.
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
What excites you about Erie’s future, and what scares you most about Erie’s future?