{"id":804330,"date":"2020-02-18T17:01:26","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T00:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=379182"},"modified":"2020-02-18T17:01:26","modified_gmt":"2020-02-19T00:01:26","slug":"breckenridge-town-council-candidate-forum-gives-voice-to-current-council-members-and-newcomers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/breckenridge-town-council-candidate-forum-gives-voice-to-current-council-members-and-newcomers\/","title":{"rendered":"Breckenridge Town Council candidate forum gives voice to current council members and newcomers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The public comes out to listen to mayoral and town council candidates participate in a forum Tuesday, Feb. 18, at The Lodge at Breckenridge.<\/strong>
Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

BRECKENRIDGE \u2014 Candidates for Breckenridge Town Council and mayor faced off Tuesday, Feb. 18, at The Lodge at Breckenridge ahead of the municipal election in April. The forum, which focused on growth in the community, was hosted by the Breckenridge chapter of the Summit Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n

There were eight candidates at the forum who are running for four open Town Council seats, including Dick Carleton, Kelly Owens and Jeffrey Bergeron, who are running for reelection, and newcomers Emily Wahl, Dennis Kuhn, Harold Vatcher, Kristen Stewart and Jennifer McAtamney. Michael Cavanaugh was not in attendance.<\/p>\n

All three candidates who are running for mayor were present: Mayor Eric Mamula, Nate Nadler and James Manella.<\/p>\n

Mayoral candidates<\/strong><\/p>\n

The forum began with each candidate introducing themselves and stating their experience and priorities, beginning with Mamula, who joked that he moved to Breckenridge in 1986 for a month and ended up staying \u201ca couple extra days.\u201d He noted that he has served on several local boards, the Breckenridge Planning Commission and Breckenridge Town Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of some great projects right now, including a parking structure and a water plant, and I would like to see those things through,\u201d Mamula said.<\/p>\n

Candidate Manella went next and shared his motivations behind running and his respect for the current council.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here because I believe that democracy demands that the citizens be given a choice when they vote,\u201d Manella said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to sit here next to Mayor Mamula, who I have a great deal of respect for and who I think has done a tremendous job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The final mayor candidate Nadler introduced himself as Nate Dogggg Nadler<\/a>, spoke to his 22 years in Breckenridge and gave props to the current council. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs a true local, I wanted to become part of this and lead, not as a business owner, but as a true local that can have a voice for us little guys,\u201d Nadler said.<\/p>\n

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Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula, right, joins mayoral and Breckenridge Town Council candidates in a forum Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Lodge at Breckenridge.<\/strong>
Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Mayoral candidate<\/strong> questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayoral candidates then were asked three questions, the first about the biggest challenge the town faces as the population grows and what they have done to address such challenges. Nadler said it is difficult to find a happy medium between visitors and the workforce, and he stressed the importance of mitigating traffic at peak times. Manella said the challenge is to keep community character and said parking and transportation ties into that. Mamula said there is not just one challenge to the community but there are several, including housing, child care and transportation.<\/p>\n

Candidates then were asked about their leadership styles. Mamula said his has evolved to become a manager of council rather than a leader of council and that he has learned to not push his own agenda. Nadler drew on his experience as a chef and said he has learned to lead by example rather than with an iron fist. Manella said he is a good listener and has the ability to think critically about other people\u2019s points of view.<\/p>\n

The final question asked what candidates think the town can do to further support year-round residents and business owners. Mamula said that this is always top of mind for council and gave examples of what council has done for locals, Manella said that the town is in the business of tourism and is very successful in this but is doing everything it can to manage crowds and Nadler said that tourism is here, but the town needs to work on figuring out where to put people and get them to town happily. <\/p>\n

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Breckenridge mayoral and town council candidates engage in a forum Tuesday, Feb. 18, at The Lodge at Breckenridge.<\/strong>
Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Town Council candidates<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bergeron was the first council candidate to speak, sharing that he served eight years initially on council, took four years off, has served another four years and is running for reelection. He talked about his past career in the hospitality and media industries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough it all \u2014 as a waiter, a bartender and then later as Biff<\/a> \u2014 I was always active and outspoken in local issues,\u201d Bergeron said, adding that he was a pioneer in advocating for limits on development and noting his work with the town\u2019s Open Space & Trails department.<\/p>\n

Carleton spoke to his 40 years in the county and community involvement volunteering for events, organizations and serving on several boards and committees, including the child care advisory committee and the police advisory committee. He also highlighted the importance of striking a balance with events, town developments and growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the last two years of serving on council, it\u2019s really hit me just how important the work that we do is, just how important it is that we have a real depth of knowledge of the community to do it, and a willingness and ability to wear a lot of hats in doing so,\u201d Carleton said.<\/p>\n

Kuhn said tat the issues that are front and center for the town are workforce housing, child care, parking, traffic, short-term rentals and the \u201cfeeling of many residents that we\u2019re bursting at the seams.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMy focus as a council person would be to maintain our small town sense of community and livability,\u201d Kuhn said. \u201cAs we continue to grow, and grow we will, it needs to be smart growth because we only get one shot at it, and we need to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

McAtamney, who previously served an eight-year term on Town Council, spoke about her eight years on the child care and housing council task force as well as her work with sustainability on the original Sustainable Breck committee. <\/p>\n

\u201cI realize that while I have this incredible work that I am doing with my other time,\u201d McAtamney said, referring to her role as executive director of Building Hope, \u201cI more than anything want to do stuff for the people in my community. I want to make sure that families can live here. I want to preserve open space. I want to make sure that we balance growth and development. I want to make sure that we balance congestion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Owens discussed her work with council over the past year as well as her 10 years of experience \u201canalyzing impacts of recreation on communities.\u201d She noted that she has been on the board of Little Red Schoolhouse since 2014, became a member of the Summit County Planning Commission in 2015 and still serves on both boards. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a big focus for their master plan on wildfire and wildlife habitat as well as short-term rentals, and so I\u2019ve been a part of those conversations, which have been very helpful for my last year in council, and I hope that I get another four years to continue to provide my voice,\u201d Owens said.<\/p>\n

Stewart said she was formerly the head of public relations for Breckenridge Ski Resort as well as the Breckenridge Tourism Office and now owns a small consulting business, works in retail and at a ticket office. She added that she is on the board for CASA of the Continental Divide, works with Building Hope and teaches a class for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, I\u2019m speaking for myself and others like me who are kind of the hustlers in town,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cI want to help people live this dream that we live here and live it well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vatcher shared his involvement with the town, including attending council work sessions for the past seven years, being involved with the lift ticket tax initiative and serving on several boards and committees. He pointed out that he has a technology background to bring to the table. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an independent candidate,\u201d Vatcher said. \u201cI don\u2019t own a business. I don\u2019t own a real estate office. I don\u2019t own anything. I\u2019m just going to be one of those unbiased people that has an opinion, but it won\u2019t be because I own a business. I\u2019m retired. I\u2019m available. I have the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wahl opened by stating her passion for being on Town Council and sharing bits of her childhood as part of an immigrant family. She said she went to Cornell University before entering the technology field and has spent the past few months meeting with residents and the workforce to get a \u201cgood handle on the issues of this town,\u201d which she said include housing, health care, child care, fair pay, growth and environmental issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bring tremendous experience to the table,\u201d Wahl said. \u201cI\u2019m compassionate. I\u2019m committed. I\u2019m a capable leader.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moderator introduced Cavanaugh, who was not in attendance, by saying he became a permanent Breckenridge resident in 1972 and has since been involved in town projects, including restaurants and buildings, and has served as a ski instructor, trustee for the town of Blue River and on the board of directors for the Breckenridge Finance Authority. He is also the longtime owner of the Historic Brown & Fox\u2019s Den.<\/p>\n

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Breckenridge mayoral and town council candidates participate in a forum Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Lodge at Breckenridge.<\/strong>
Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Council candidate questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each council candidate was asked about pressures on the town from growth, the most pressing issue and what they would like to address if elected.<\/p>\n