by Tracy Chamberlin

Believe it or not, it’s election season again. But no need to look out for Super PACS, this time it’s a little closer to home.
Ballots for the Durango City Council go out this weekend, and six candidates are vying for three open seats.

Just the Facts What: Durango City Council Candidate Forum, Hosted by the La Plata County League of Women Voters When: Thurs., March 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Council Chambers at City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Ave. For info.: www.lwvlaplata.org What: Candidates Forum, Hosted by the Durango Business Improvement District When: Tues., March 19, noon - 1:30 p.m. Where: Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave. For info.: 375-5067

City Councilors Sweetie Marbury and Dick White are serving terms through April 2015; Mayor Doug Lyon is term-limited; and Councilor Paul Broderick is not seeking reelection.

Five of the candidates are new to council elections, and one member is running for a second term.

Councilor Christina Rinderle, a Realtor with The Wells Group, is the incumbent as she faces Jordan Golson, a technology journalist; Keith Brant, owner of Durango Premier Vacation Rentals; Floyd Patterson, a former board member for the Durango 9-R School District; Kristen Smith, an artist and musician; and architect Dean Brookie.

The three candidates chosen by the voters will begin their four-year terms at the regular council meeting April 16.

The City Council election is a mail-in ballot election. Prior to 2003, when municipal clerks began utilizing mail-in ballots, participation sat at 18-19 percent. Since then it’s more than doubled with 58 percent or higher, according to City Clerk Amy Phillips.

But they can’t be used for every election. Mail-in ballots can be used for any non-partisan election, but polling places are required for partisan elections.

Completed ballots can be mailed or dropped off at City Hall or the County Clerk’s office. The deadline is Tues., April 2. Residents who have not received their ballots by March 19 can go to the City Clerk’s office to pick up a replacement but they should wait until that Tuesday until doing so, Phillips said.

The Telegraph asked each candidate a few questions, giving them a chance to introduce themselves and their priorities to the community. Here are their answers, in the order they were received:

 

Occupation: Technology journalist
If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would it to be stuck on? AC/DC “Back in Black”

What is your dream vacation? A 30-day coast-to-coast road trip seeing as many amazing American sites as we could cram in.
What is your favorite local restaurant? Ken and Sue’s – the best crème brûlée!

What are your hobbies? It seems that the recreational activity I engage in most is throwing the tennis ball for our dog Chloe, who has an insatiable appetite for playing. Aside from that, I spend time reading the latest nonfiction, playing racquetball at the Rec Center, helping people with DFRA, and grilling delicious James Ranch steaks on our deck.

What issue facing the city of Durango do you consider the most critical and why?
The City of Durango is in great shape. We have a strong tax base from tourist attractions like the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (where my wife and I worked as Chefs on the Polar Express this past Christmas!), our fantastic ski resorts, great hiking and biking, and more. We have great companies, entrepreneurs, stores, small business owners, and restaurants.

However, Durango has a unique problem: how to grow. The city needs more housing – both affordable rental units and for new homeowners.

 

Durango needs more office and commercial and retail space so new businesses can come to town and existing businesses can grow.

Durango has sewer and water systems that will soon need upgrading, serious concerns about road works and telecom infrastructure, and large new commercial development projects ahead of it. These issues will shape the next 15 to 20 years of both Durango and La Plata County.

I believe that I’m the best choice for City Council and I will work every day for the best interests of Durango’s residents, and I ask for your vote.

 

Occupation: Owner of Durango Premier Vacation Rentals

 

If your music player got stuck on “repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? Radiohead

 

What is your dream vacation? Trekking to the base camp of Mount Everest in Nepal in 1998

What is your favorite local restaurant? Seasons (Karen and her team work hard and do an amazing job)

What are your hobbies? Spending time with my wife and our 5- and 7-year-old girls, snowboarding, hiking, camping and traveling.

What issue facing the city of Durango do you consider the most critical and why?
I feel we are at risk of losing our focus on what is a central responsibility of city government. Specifically, ensuring we spend an adequate amount of our time, 4 energy and finances on essential services such as our basic infrastructure (water, sewer, roads). In the first two months of 2013, City utility crews responded to more than 82 emergencies (more than one per day), including frozen pipes, service line water breaks and clogged sewer lines. An additional 22 water and sewer main lines have also had to be repaired. Plus, we must consider (and prevent) the environmental impact of water being wasted and sewage not being properly treated. Clearly, without basic infrastructure, our quality of life diminishes.

We need to ensure that our existing infrastructure is properly renewed and rebuilt in a timely fashion. If we proactively manage these basic services, it will cost less than if we manage them reactively, which ultimately leaves more funds available for other valuable services like the arts, recreation, etc. And with the General Fund balance increasing over $2 million to $9.8 million in 2012, it appears we have adequate funds available.

 

Occupation: Business owner, consultant

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? Enya

What is your dream vacation? Tahiti

What is your favorite local restaurant? Serious Texas Barbeque

What are your hobbies? Fishing, gardening, travel

What issue facing the city of Durango do you consider the most critical and why?

Land Use Code! This very important issue faces many property owners, including myself, and deserves prudent thought and serious decision making over the next few months. We need more public input as people have worked hard to buy property, they should be afforded an opinion in our decision-making process. Many have ideas that need to be heard and with all of our open communication, we can come up with resolutions that will take a fair and balanced approach.

This should not be just one or two people making laws for everyone, but a public forum where we can all take part.

 

 

Occupation: Realtor at The Wells Group

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? The Wrecking Balls. Their first full album couldn’t come out soon enough. Look for it.

What is your dream vacation? An uninterrupted, unscheduled, guilt-free month away from email and cell phones outside in the warm sunshine.
What is your favorite local restaurant? I love Zia for a quick bite, Ken and Sue’s or Guidos for a ladies’ lunch, and Cyprus Cafe for a date night.
What are your hobbies? Running, mountain biking, yoga, traveling and dinner parties.

What issue facing the city of Durango do you consider the most critical and why?

Each of us has issues we’re passionate about, but if I had to pick one issue that would likely resonate with the majority, I’d say it would be how do we allow for growth and change without compromising the character of our community and the fabulous quality of life we all enjoy.

Growth doesn’t just mean new buildings and more people. It means supporting more opportunities for our youth; expanding our arts and culture; enhancing our vibrant downtown by continuing to buy locally from our merchants, friends and neighbors; increasing trails, open space and parks for us and our kids; advancing technologies; and expanding innovative local business opportunities like Mercury, Chinook and StoneAge Tools through our Economic Alliance and FLC’s Small Business Development Center; supporting the Regional Housing Alliance and efforts to create affordable housing; and celebrating our local farmers, organic foods, and farm-to-table opportunities.

Smart growth is embracing environmental stewardship and technological innovations galvanized with all of our community’s existing strengths to provide a foundation for opportunities that will sustain our community well into the future.

 

 

Occupation: Artist, educator, beertender, skier

 

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? “Takin’ It to the Streets,” Doobie Brothers

 

What is your dream vacation? I’m living it! I’ve chosen Durango as my home for a reason. 

 

What is your favorite local restaurant? Raider Ridge Cafe for breakfast or lunch, Ore House for dinner

 

What are your hobbies? I live a very active lifestyle including painting, skiing, bicycling, playing music and restoring vintage roller skates – I don’t have much time for hobbies. 

 

What issue facing the city of Durango do you consider the most critical and why?
I feel the current City Council under-represents residents who work in the service and creative industries, and those who work for a paycheck to make a living wage in Durango. I’m here to provide a voice and a choice for Durango residents who feel their city government can do better to utilize the resources at hand to better serve the community.

 

 

Occupation: Architect/land use planner

 

If your music player got stuck on “Repeat,” what would you want it to be stuck on? Alison Krauss, “Lucky Man”

 

What is your dream vacation? Bicycle touring in Northern Italy and visiting architecture in the Venetto.

 

What is your favorite local restaurant? The Durango Farmers Marke

 

What are your hobbies? Fly fishing, hiking, percussion …

 

What issue facing the City of Durango do you consider to be the most critical and why?
Guiding our growth. The next few years will be critical to Durango’s future as we work to emerge from the economic downturn and begin to implement our new Land Use and Development Code. It is a time of immense opportunity and certain challenge.

Land use is the common denominator underscoring virtually every aspect of what we associate with our quality of life in Durango.

Effective land use plans for and integrates commercial and residential uses, quality affordable housing, transportation, health care and schools, and provides for clean air and water, open space and recreation. It provides adequate infrastructure to support our diverse needs.

Land-use decisions must encompass all of a community’s needs and opportunities. We have to determine how and for whom do we want to grow? We have to answer, for example, how many rental units do we need for young families or seniors? How many affordable homes do we need? What do businesses need to thrive? What are the services these residents require? First we need to determine what problems we are trying to solve, then make good decisions, incrementally, for our future.

When all these elements are in balance, our economy thrives, our families thrive and our quality of life is enhanced.