Why do you want to serve on the commission?
I have lived in Superior for nearly 12 years and appreciate the lifestyle this community has afforded me and my family. I want to serve on the Home Rule Charter Commission to give back and be a member of the team that will help shape the future of local government in our town.
Why do you think a home rule charter is right for Superior?
Home rule governance is all about local control. Superior is a small town, and there is a risk that local concerns about future statewide initiatives will be drowned out by the louder voices of larger communities. Across the country, state governments are attempting to roll out broad new policy initiatives, like upzoning, to combat the housing crisis. Being a home rule municipality will give Superior greater flexibility to tailor the implementation of statewide policies in ways that make sense for our small community.
What do you think is the biggest pro of a home rule charter? What is the biggest con?
Home rule municipalities have more control over their finances. A major pro of becoming a home rule community is that Superior would be able to collect sales tax directly from local businesses, instead of having it collected centrally by the state. This would give Superior more control over its finances and ensure that all of the sales tax revenue collected locally is returned to the community.
One con of becoming a home rule community is that the Home Rule Charter can be difficult to amend. This makes it essential for the Home Rule Charter Commission to develop a charter that is principle-based but flexible enough to adapt to changing needs.
What should be included in the charter? What should be left out?
The Home Rule Charter should be an enduring document that provides guardrails for effective governance while allowing local elected officials to respond to emerging needs of the community. To achieve this goal, it is essential to establish sound procedures for electing and removing local elected leaders in the Home Rule Charter.
I believe that the Home Rule Charter should not address specific issues of the day, such as airport noise, marijuana sales, or public transportation. Instead, it should focus on establishing broad principles and procedures for governing the community. An overly prescriptive charter could limit the community’s ability to respond to future municipal challenges.
What are some of the values and priorities you think the charter should reflect?
At a high level, I would like to see the Home Rule Charter provide as much local control as possible. The residents of Superior have the ultimate power to elect their representatives. The Home Rule Charter should establish mechanisms for ensuring the community can hold these elected officials accountable.
Open government policies allow citizens to see how their tax money is spent, how decisions are made, and who is responsible for those decisions. Transparency empowers citizens to hold their government accountable and to ensure that it is working to serve their best interests. I would like to see a commitment to open records and proactive public disclosure strongly codified in the Home Rule Charter.
The Town website says that a possible disadvantage of a home rule charter is the “possibility of a restrictive Charter that could make completing Town business more difficult.” How will you aim to mitigate that disadvantage?
If I am elected to the Home Rule Charter Commission I will seek to keep the focus of the charter on broad issues of governance. A Home Rule Charter that is too restrictive could make it difficult for Superior to respond to changing fiscal, infrastructure, and environmental challenges. There are 100 Home Rule communities in Colorado. We can learn from the experiences of these municipalities and borrow inspiration from what has worked across the state.
What do you hope to learn from community members that will inform how you draft the charter?
The voters of Superior will decide if a charter commission will be formed and then vote again in 2024 on the adoption of the proposed charter. They get the ultimate say.
Superior is a community of commuters; most residents work outside of Superior. Superior has also seen a lot of population growth in recent years. Our neighbors’ experiences living and working in other communities can provide valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in local government. I hope that residents will bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to the Home Rule Charter process. This is our chance to ensure a vibrant and thriving future for Superior.
What is another home rule charter in Colorado you like and why? Candidate did not provide a response.
