Relevant experience
I’ve been a trustee for the Town of Superior for the last two years. In that time, I’ve tackled some of our most challenging issues, including representing Superior at the Community Noise Roundtable of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA). In that capacity, I created the voluntary nighttime flight pattern to alleviate noise from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. I have also advocated for Marshall Fire victims and leveraged my background as an architect to ensure that residents who planned to rebuild were not hit with exorbitant costs due to recently adopted building codes.
Priorities
A vibrant downtown: Our residents are eager for a vibrant downtown core that we can call our own. Not only will a variety of businesses bring life to downtown, but a broader revenue base will also allow us to serve the expanding needs of Superior residents.
Airport noise mitigation: During my time as the Town of Superior’s Liaison to the RMMA Community Noise Roundtable (CNR), I created the voluntary nighttime flight pattern. We’ve seen these voluntary noise abatement procedures enjoy success as we’ve been able to quiet the skies to a measurable degree between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Although the CNR is now-defunct, I will continue to focus energy on finding solutions that reduce airport noise.
Multi-Generational Housing: Like many of you, I’ve been part of the sandwich generation, needing to care for my children and my aging parents, and I know how emotionally and physically draining this can be. That is why I’m a huge proponent of grants that will allow Superior homeowners to modify their existing homes for multi-generational housing. Multi-generational housing has the benefits of shared responsibilities, shared expenses and built in companionship and care — something that is especially important to children and the elderly. Another benefit of multi-generation housing: it will help us reduce the housing shortage while simultaneously allowing our residents to age in place and generations to create lasting bonds.
Lightning round
Should Superior join local efforts to explore an increase to the minimum wage? Yes
Do you support an end to the state prohibition on rent control? Yes
Do you support interventions for human-caused climate change? Yes
Do you agree with the Superior (Housing in Transit Oriented Communities) unanimously passed in April? Yes
Do you support the adoption of a home rule charter for Superior? Yes
Do you support for SB24-157 which narrowed the definition of what constitutes a public meeting? Yes
When was the last time you paid rent? How much was it? And where?
During the rebuilding process after the Marshall Fire, we lived in a rental in Downtown Superior until our home was rebuilt. $3,200 per month.
Long-form questions
Tell us about your decision to run for Superior’s Board of Trustees. Why are you running, and why now?
I decided to run to retain my seat on the board of trustees because I believe we are not finished with what we have started. It is a critical time during our rebuilding process post fire, as well as mitigating the noise caused by touch and go traffic at RMMA. We also need to focus on the future and that the growth of Superior is done in a thoughtful way that leads to a strong, inclusive community.
For incumbents, what are you most proud of from your most recent term?
I’m most proud of my work on the Community Noise Roundtable. Prior to my participation, no single action was taken in the previous two years to reduce noise over Superior and surrounding communities. With the implementation of the Voluntary Nighttime Flight Pattern, we are finally addressing the resident’s need of relief from airplane noise.
What would you say are the top three issues facing Superior, and what are your plans to address them?
Responsible growth, airport noise mitigation and housing.
The Superior Board of Trustees often votes unanimously. Is that a good sign, representing the ability to reach consensus, or a bad sign, representing a lack of diversity in opinion? What is a recent decision you agree with, and why? What is a recent decision you disagree with, and why?
The times when we’ve voted in unison have been preceded by vigorous debate. The ability to ask another board member to consider your viewpoint, and you being willing to consider theirs, is the hallmark of stewardship. Unanimity is not a bad thing if the result is a good policy for the residents. One decision I agree with was a 4-3 vote, in favor of approving a new hotel in downtown, because we will desperately need to create future generators of tax revenue. A vote I disagreed with as the only dissenting vote, was the purchase of land that was considered unimprovable and in a flood plain. My reason to vote against was that I found the selling price egregious and not in the best interest of fiscal responsibility.
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 Superior?
I plan on balancing this by rebuilding with the latest fire and WUI codes, by making available the resources for residents to understand defensible zones around their homes, by educating them on the best choice of landscaping materials and by providing them with options when it comes to fences. I also want to educate the residents when it comes to open flames in fire pits during high wind events.
How do you think Marshall Fire rebuilding and recovery efforts are going? What do you think is going well and what is something you think the town should be doing differently?
I believe that Superior is leading the way with the rebuilding efforts. We were the first municipality to remove the use tax from the building permit. We allowed residents the option to rebuild to the previous IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), which allowed the residents a substantial level of savings, something so desperately needed after so many were underinsured and not certain they would be able to build back.
Do you believe there is a need for more affordable housing in Superior? If so, what is your plan to make it happen?
There is always a need for affordable housing in any municipality. Superior has a unique challenge in that almost all our buildable land has been developed. Superior must work with developers to create housing with definitive allocations of affordable units. Yet probably the best way forward due to limited opportunity is to make multi-generational housing a reality, and nobody else is talking about this.
How do justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) factor into your policy making?
The best policies come from the lens of inclusion. What we decide now will echo for years to come. When I consider a policy, I must look at who it will affect now and who it will affect in twenty years. Populations are fluid and even in Superior, it would surprise you that we do have a fairly diverse populace. All policies I entertain must be crafted with fairness and allow for the representation of the diverse, underrepresented residents in our community.
What efforts do you make in your daily life to consider and understand people with different lived experiences from your own?
I’m always available to meet for coffee. I don’t think any other board members have made themselves as available to residents as I have. What you have to say is very important to me. I listen, I lean in and I want you to know that your issues are our issues. Growing up in a household that understood food insecurity, I understand the struggles that remain hidden in our community. Behind every smile, behind every “We’re fine,” could be a feeling of isolation, of desperation, not fitting in. I want every resident to feel welcome, that they are valued and know that their contributions are appreciated.
When’s the last time you changed your mind about something, and what was it?
When we convened to vote on the redesign of Rock Creek Parkway, I was initially leaning towards reducing the lanes, but I always keep an open mind. Then we began to receive emails from residents. A LOT OF EMAILS. I personally responded to 200 residents via email. And as I answered each one, it became clearer to me which solution made the most sense for our residents. When we met, I listened further, and it became very clear that my initial direction wasn’t towards the best solution. So, I voted in the best interests of our residents. I believe the final product is much better because of community input and because I was willing to listen and be open to changing my mind.
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
“Can you check your ego and self-interests at the door?” This isn’t an easy job. At any given time, half the residents will have at least a favorable opinion of you and the other half will want you run out on the rails, so you can’t have a thin skin. More importantly, Trustees must care about Superior and put the town’s needs above their own rather than care about their “fiefdoms” and self-interests. We need more people on the board that only desire to create policies that benefit all the residents.