Ballot Issue 3B
Should Superior residents raise taxes and borrow money to pay for big projects?
- This measure would add 31.5 cents in sales tax to every $100 purchase made in Superior.
- The money would be used to renovate town pools, tennis courts, other parks and recreation facilities and roads and sidewalks.
- Superior would not have to share revenue from this sales tax.
- The tax would end in 25 years.
Home Rule Charter
Adoption of a home rule charter will no longer appear on the November general election ballot due to “a clerical error.” Superior will hold a special election Dec. 10 on its adoption, according to town officials.
Town Board of Trustees
Three seats on the town’s board of trustees are up for election. Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot.
Heather Cracraft
heatherforsuperior.com
12+ years as Superior Chamber of Commerce executive director, Superior home rule commissioner, four years as assistant to the athletic director at CU Boulder
Priorities
- Economic development
- Transportation infrastructure
- Implementation of home rule (if passed)
Other things to note:
- Cracraft has lived in Superior for 26 years and lost her home in the Marshall Fire. She says she wants to continue to be part of fire recovery and resiliency efforts.
- It’s difficult to pin down Cracraft’s stance on particular issues. She didn’t answer the majority of our yes/no questions and gave non-answers to some of our long-answer questions.
- Cracraft is endorsed by current mayor Mark Lacis and former mayor Clint Folsom, whom she worked with on the Home Rule Commission. She’s also endorsed by current trustees Stephanie Miller and Jason Serbu.
Read Cracraft’s full questionnaire
Jason Serbu (incumbent)
jasonserbu.com
Two years as town trustee, town representative on the Community Noise Roundtable of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, architect
Priorities
- Vibrant downtown
- Airport noise mitigation
- Multi-generational housing
Other things to note:
- Serbu says he is a “huge proponent of grants that will allow Superior homeowners to modify their existing homes for multi-generational housing.”
- He says he is most proud of his work on the now-disbanded RMMA Community Noise Roundtable and the establishment of the voluntary nighttime flight pattern, which aimed to reduce nighttime traffic over the Rock Creek neighborhood.
- In addition to multi-generational housing, Serbu says the town “must work with developers to create housing with definitive allocations of affordable units.”
- He says he is always available to meet with residents for coffee. “I don’t think any other board members have made themselves as available to residents as I have,” he wrote in his questionnaire. “What you have to say is very important to me.”
- Serbu is endorsed by current mayor Mark Lacis and former mayor Clint Folsom. He’s also endorsed by fellow trustees Stephanie Miller and Jenn Kaaoush and fellow candidates Mike Foster and Heather Cracraft.
Read Serbu’s full questionnaire
Mike Foster
mikeforsuperior.com
15 years with the city of San Jose in green building and environmental programs, three years with Jefferson County Open Space, three years with Boulder County Open Space, several years with Pacific Gas & Electric Company working on energy efficiency, four years as chair of Superior’s Advisory Committee for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), vice-chair of Superior’s home rule commission
Priorities
- Economy
- Environment
- Equity
Other things to note:
- Foster says the fire rebuild is top of mind, and he’ll continue to “advocate for rebating permit fees and town use tax until everyone that wants to return has returned.”
- He supports the town’s lawsuit against the RMMA and says he’ll lobby for landing fees and a nighttime flight ban. He also says he’ll take legal action to stop further expansion of the airport.
- Foster says he will “work to remove regulatory barriers to support the construction of a variety of housing types” and will “build on the work the Town has already done to allow ADUs and seek out partnerships and grants to help us achieve a more diverse housing stock.”
- He’s been endorsed by current mayor Mark Lacis as well as former mayor Clint Folsom, whom he worked with on the home rule commission. He’s also endorsed by Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann and Superior trustees Jenn Kaaoush, Stephanie Miller, Jason Serbu and Neal Shah.
Read Foster’s full questionnaire
Gregory D. Horowitz
horowitz4superior.com
U.S. Navy veteran, director of sustainability for an international consulting firm
Priorities
- Sustainable development
- Fiscal transparency
- Community engagement
Other things to note:
- Horowitz says he will work to “explore creative solutions for affordable housing,” including public-private partnerships, zoning adjustments to allow for more diverse housing types and incentives for developers to include affordable units.
- He says he disagreed with the board’s decision to “pass up certain opportunities for affordable housing development.”
- He says he once believed rapid development was necessary, but after “discussions with community members and further reflection, I realized the importance of sustainable, thoughtfully planned growth that preserves Superior’s unique character while addressing the needs of current and future residents.”
Read Horowitz’ full questionnaire
George A. Kupfner
George A. Kupfner did not respond to repeated requests to complete our questionnaire. Boulder Weekly could not identify a candidate website for Kupfner.
Bob McCool (incumbent)
Bob McCool has withdrawn his bid for reelection. He will still appear on the ballot.
“My decision has not been made lightly, but due to personal reasons related to my health it is necessary,” he wrote on his website.
He will finish his current term as trustee, he wrote.
Sandie Hammerly
sandiehammerly.com
Town of Superior Trustee (2016-2020, 2022-2024); Superior Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Advisory Committee (four years, three as vice chair); Summit at Rock Creek HOA Board (seven years, VP, treasurer); 40+ years non-profit professional (executive director, finance director, marketing/fundraising director)
Priorities
- Mitigate impacts of Rocky Mountain Metro Airport
- Fix roads, pools, playgrounds and community gathering spaces
- Build community
Other things to note:
- Hammerly says she is “firmly committed” to expanding programs to engage and support seniors in Superior. According to the town’s 2024 strategic housing plan, the population of seniors (65 years and older) experienced the fastest growth since 2011, increasing by 246%. Still, the population in Superior skews younger, with 30% of residents under age 19, and 29% of residents between 25 and 44 years old.
- As an incumbent, she says she is most proud of the legal action the town took against RMMA as well as supporting residents who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire.
- On her website, Hammerly promises “fiscal discipline” and “deliberative budgeting.” In a recent public meeting, she called herself one of the most conservative board members in terms of spending.
Read Hammerly’s full questionnaire
Where they stand on the issues
All of the candidates who responded to our questionnaire supported the adoption of a home rule charter and agreed with the town’s resolution opposing HB24-1313 (Housing in Transit Oriented Communities). Candidates were split on whether the state should end its prohibition on rent control and on narrowing the definition for public meetings. While some candidates supported exploring an increase to the minimum wage, others were noncommittal.
Here’s how it broke down:
Should Superior join local efforts to explore an increase to the minimum wage?
- Yes: Jason Serbu, Gregory D. Horowitz, Mike Foster (“Explore”)
- Undecided: Sandie Hammerly
- Did not respond: Heather Cracraft, George A. Kupfner
Do you agree with Superior’s resolution opposing HB24-1313 (Housing in Transit Oriented Communities)?
- Yes: Cracraft, Serbu, Foster, Horowitz, Hammerly
- Did not respond: Kupfner
Do you support the adoption of a home rule charter in Superior?
- Yes: Cracraft, Serbu, Foster, Horowitz, Hammerly
- Did not respond: Kupfner
Do you support an end to the state prohibition on rent control?
- Yes: Serbu, Horowitz
- No: Foster
- Undecided: Hammerly
- Did not respond: Cracraft, Kupfner
Do you support government interventions for human-caused climate change?
- Yes: Serbu, Foster, Horowitz, Hammerly
- Did not respond: Cracraft, Kupfner
Do you support SB24-157, which narrowed the definition of public meetings for elected officials?
- Yes: Serbu, Foster, Horowitz
- No: Hammerly
- Did not respond: Cracraft, Kupfner