• Andy Schultheiss (response received 9/23/03)
• James Rettew (response received 10/1/03)
• Carl Grodnik (response received 10/3/03)
• Mark Ruzzin (response received 10/4/03)
• Jack Stoakes (response received 10/5/03)
• Robin Bohannan (response received 10/7/03)
• Shaun McGrath (response received 10/8/03)
• Jeep Campbell (response received 10/8/03)
• Crystal Gray (response received 10/9/03)
• Lynn Segal (response received 10/9/03)

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I am a professional environmentalist, an outdoorsman, and a fiscal conservative. I am a supporter of open space and human services programs, and feel strongly the commitment Boulder citizens have always had – in bad times and good – to the warm, small-town feel of our city.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

City revenue is not just “in decline.” It is in free fall, by as much as 20% in the last couple years. This is a critical issue, not for its own sake, but because that decline means that important programs benefiting ALL Boulder residents, especially our most vulnerable, have had to be cut. This is the economic issue the Council has most control over, and through a combination of carefully (and humanely) targeted cuts, and efforts to increase sales tax and other revenue, the next Council can either act responsibly or further exacerbate the problem.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

I do not believe in looking backward. As a member of Council I will look forward to the future, and work with all sides in a solution-oriented manner. That said, I do think that much of the criticism of the current Council has been unfair. They have had to deal with some of the most dramatic, significant changes in our city’s history. Through good hires (especially City Manager Frank Bruno) and responsive initiatives (such as the Economic Vitality Action Group) they have put our city in position to take advantage of the next boom. And they haven’t been panicked into throwing away the things that have made Boulder special, which in fact are our greatest selling points. They have not been perfect – far from it. I think Council business sessions could be tightened and focused, and a move toward issues of concern to the whole community rather than one interest or neighborhood is warranted. But on the whole I believe their service should be honored as we move forward into a different era.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

While I support paying Boulder employees a living wage (it’s embarrassing and disturbing that many of our civil servants can’t afford to live in the city), I believe budget realities at the time made the proposal unworkable.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

I commute every day to Denver, so I understand very well how traffic on US 36 affects peoples’ families and businesses. The problem is becoming a very serious drag on our economy, and needs to be dealt with quickly. I support the FasTracks proposal, on the ballot in 2004, which would begin the process of building light rail on the corridor. I also support regional cooperation in transit, which has the potential to eliminate some of the private car trips currently handled by the highway.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

I have a masters degree in Natural Resource Policy, with an emphasis on Resource Economics. I also spent ten years in Washington, DC, working on policy development both inside and outside the federal government.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

County, regional, and (to some extent) state issues that directly affect Boulder are necessities. In fact, some of our most important issues – transportation, for example – can best be addressed through expanded regional cooperation. National and international issues do not take up a large amount of Council time currently, and shouldn’t. I would suggest that some of these issues can be affected by the actions of municipal governments (such as opposition to aspects of the USA Patriot Act), and are legitimate matters for Council concern. Others cannot be so affected, and should be left for other levels of government to deal with.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

The jobs/housing task force is currently inactive, and likely will remain so. I believe the imbalance between affordable housing and jobs is a critical, and basic, planning issue with which the city must grapple. The solution is not to eliminate jobs, but to steer into Boulder employers that pay salaries high enough for workers to live in the city, and for the city to encourage more affordable housing.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I support the sales tax issue on the ballot in 2003, and am a very enthusiastic proponent of the city’s open space program. We have not completed the acquisition phase of the program yet, but will have to begin shifting resources into the management side in the near to medium term.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

The city’s transportation priorities (roughly 50/50 between transit and roads) are about right. Some of the criticism the city has received over the Broadway improvement project is warranted, however (the impact on downturn could have been alleviated somewhat with better planning).

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

I am a supporter of the city’s arts program, which costs taxpayers relatively little but gives us a very large benefit, in the form of greater quality of life and a more lively, attractive feel. Making long term commitments to non-profits promoting the arts will help them leverage other funding, and keep the arts scene more stable.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

In concept, regional tax sharing makes sense, since it decreases the incentive for cities to compete with each other for retail business, a process which often leads to sprawl. But in practice, it is extremely difficult to bring to fruition. Many cities’ sales tax revenue is substantially committed well into the future (Broomfield is a good example), while others are in a completely different situation. I would support discussions on this kind of arrangement, but with limited expectations.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I think the bell curve of Boulderites want someone with a balanced approach who will support both the environment and businesses. They realize that everyone needs a good job to put food on the table. At the same time, they also want to protect Boulder's picturesque quality of life and environmental programs.

This is what I mean by a voice of reason: a pro-environment, pro-business approach that focuses our agenda back to the major challenges that affect us on a daily basis. Instead of focusing on whether to call pet owners 'guardians', I want to re-channel our effort back to the basics: regional traffic solutions, managing growth, and rejuvenating retail. Instead of Council's attention going to the loudest group, I want Council to appeal to a wide range of constituencies. Instead of embracing the extreme views of the right or left, I want to return to mainstream but progressive values that mirror good common sense.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

Economic health affects every other single issue. As Vice Chair of the Transportation Advisory Board, we've had to cut almost $3 million from the transportation budget for the past two years. When I'm asked what our worst local environmental problem is, I say it's our declining sales tax revenue from a dwindling retail sector. What other single entity has cut millions of dollars of revenue out of Boulder's environmental programs, hurting everything from land acquisition to park maintenance: High-quality jobs and more shopping options increase local tax revenues that fund vital city services. Economic health is at the heart of all of Boulder's other problems.

To rectify the problem, I would

Expedite Crossroads Redevelopment: Not only is it an eye sore, but it takes away from retail options and acts as dead weight on the City's sales tax coffers. Making Crossroads a competitive place to shop will also make it a viable economic engine. I've looked at the plan for Crossroads. It's not perfect, but we should not hold up its redevelopment anymore. Shoppers should see the completion of phase 1 in two years.

Redevelop Smart In-fill Projects: Smart in-fill projects help us make better use of existing resources. Many existing strip malls like Diagonal Plaza are flat or underperforming. They are often single story strip malls with low volume sales surrounded by moats of surface parking. If we can redevelop these areas with new urban design measures, mixed-use zoning, and multimodal accessibility, then we can provide residents better shopping options within the city, realize higher sales tax revenue, equalize the jobs/pop ratio, and do it in a way that requires no additional land development.

Attract More Tourist and Convention Dollars: Tourists and convention-goers fill up hotel rooms, pack bars, and provide economic vitality. I am interested developing a Tourism Master Plan and taking the discussion about Boulder's Convention Center to the next step.

Increase Savings. The budgeting crisis forces us to look for the biggest bang for the buck. We're not downsizing, we're right-sizing. This crisis provides an opportunity to identify redundant and ineffective services, make better use of technology, and employ progressive management.

Leverage State and Federal Dollars. Broadway reconstruction is an example of a project that has been successful in leveraging millions of federal and state dollars for local transportation projects. The City's contribution is only 25% of the total cost. Leveraging our dollars is one of the best ways to get two to three dollars for every one dollar that we spend.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

Overall, I applaud Council's creative energy and forward-thinking. However, I think that energy gets sidetracked sometimes. Instead of focusing on our major challenges like transportation and growth, they sometimes focus on minor things like resolutions against the World Bank and GPS mapping of dog pooh. Instead of having a clear sense of purpose that appeals to a wide range of constituencies, the squeaky wheel gets the grease with Council's efforts going to the loudest constituency. Finally, sometimes Council seems to meddle too much. Like a big friendly dog in a small room, every time it wags it's tail, it knocks something over. The emergency building stoppage on the Hill is a prime example of getting into things best left to the public process.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

In general, I am in favor of looking into a living wage further. However, because of the current budget crisis, I feel it would be better if we wait until the economy and the budget have turned around.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

As Vice Chair of the Transportation Advisory Board, I have been personally involved with U.S. 36 since the corridor passed the locally-preferred plan. The problem now is that the plan we all agreed to three years ago is not the same plan as in Fastracks. I want to reexamine the plan to continue regional rail up to Longmont and put Bus Rapid Transit back on the table.

Our biggest challenge is to find a funding mechanism for regional rail. I want Council to use its bully pulpit to promote passing a funding mechanism next years when the issue comes on the ballot.

But regional traffic solutions do not all have to be big-ticket items. I am also a strong proponent of the Eco Pass. The Eco Pass has proven to be wildly effective in getting people to ride the bus. Since its inception, ridership has gone from 5000 riders per day in Boulder to over 22,000 today. However, two months ago, RTD tried to cut the Eco Pass. I testified to RTD that the Eco Pass made economical and environmental sense, and I and many, many other (especially the group who formed Ecopass.org) helped keep the Eco Pass from the chopping block.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

Transportation. For the past three years, I have been the Vice Chair for TAB (Transportation Advisory Board) and have been instrumental with a number of transportation issues including passing the new Transportation Master Plan, reviewing three neighborhoods for speed mitigating devices, working with RTD on the bus network and regional rail, providing more signage on bike lanes, deciding on parking districts around Goss Grove and Fairview High, and developing a Transportation Demand Management toolkit for businesses. I've enhanced my own personal transportation knowledge by attending the Railvolution conference in Washington D.C., and by attending many of the regional meetings about the U.S. 36 locally-preferred plan.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

I believe that Council has a responsibility to work with neighboring communities about regional issues including congestion, growth, water, open space, and retail. However, I do not think Council should pass resolutions on international matters. We have limited time and staff resources to handle our local problems, and if testimony about local matters must wait past midnight in order to hear international concerns, I think that is an injustice to the public process.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

I support past council's efforts to managing growth, but I disagree in the manner that it has been done. Boulder needs to flip the sign around on the doorway to say 'Open for Business'. I don't think anyone wants to pave over Boulder and make it look like a New Jersey strip mall. Boulder's beautiful environment and quality of life is the very key to our economic engine, and no one wants to kill the golden goose. Smart 'in-fill' redevelopment will make better use of our existing commercial areas, providing residents more shopping options without additional sprawl. Good, high-paying local jobs help create a more livable community while reducing commute times and keeping tax revenue local.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I am for the open space initiative. Open space is one of the crown jewels of Boulder. It is one of the defining characteristics that makes this place so special. Who would have thought 50 years ago that farmland and open space would be developed at such a severe rate? It is due to the forethought and investment of our predecessors that we enjoy the Boulder we do today. Now, we are the stewards of that land. While I do not like to increase taxes, I look at this measure as an investment, so that future generations will be able to enjoy the Boulder we've come to know and love today.

Open space acquisition should be balanced with maintaining the open space we currently hold. There are currently some land tracks that are rightly on the fast track to acquisition. The land around the Hogan property on the Jeff Co / Boulder County line will provide a contiguous open space belt along Hwy 93, and the federal government antenna property in northern Boulder County provides important elk habitat. For areas designated in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, lands under immediate threat, water rights areas, and lands that have multipurpose, acquisition becomes a priority. For some parcels, it may be the last chance of obtaining it.

At the same time, we cannot let our current land holdings falter. Seasonal hirers, trail maintenance, weed control, wildlife protection, and wildfire management have all suffered due to the budget crunch : all programs geared to maintenance. Should the land become unsafe, unusable, susceptible to forest fire, or undesirable, we know we have gone to far - a place I hope we never get to. My expectation is that if the open space initiative passes, we will be able to manage our current holding better to provide an equitable balance.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

As Vice Chair of TAB, I helped create the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), the community's vision of where we need to go next. My priorities include:

Regional Traffic: While commuting miles in the City of Boulder have stayed
relatively flat, regional miles have skyrocketed. Regional commuters also
have a disturbing mode share – more single-occupant-vehicles and less
multimodal use. Boulder should pursue a multi-faceted solution including
high investment alternatives like regional rail to lower cost alternatives
like strengthening the Eco Pass.

Multimodal Corridors: Boulder's main arteries will be transformed from
common roadways to multimodal arteries. Maximizing limited right-of-way for
all modes helps limit congestion, benefits the environment, and makes
Boulder a more livable community.

Funding: The gap between the fiscally constrained plan and the action plan
in the new TMP is about $100 million. The City should not only identify
funding mechanisms to provide additional income, but also look at areas
where we can save money, using precious tax dollars for their maximum
effect.

TDM: Travel Demand Management is an important element of any transportation
plan because it helps us use our existing resources more efficiently.
Employers will soon be able to pull from a TDM toolkit to customize
transportation solutions for their unique workforce. This toolkit
encompasses a wide range of ideas, from car sharing, carpooling, and
telecommuting, to Eco-Passes, parking buyouts, and land use policy.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

Boulder has a number of public-private partnerships that rely on the city's financial help to maintain our human service safety net and foster a strong arts community. Therefore, the best way we can help them is to solve our financial crisis. Please see my answer to question #2 about how the City should strengthen its revenues.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

I would entertain the concept. The current tax system creates incentives for towns to sprawl and outbid each other for big box retailers since those are the sources of large tax revenue. Regional tax sharing would take away this incentive since all taxes would go into the same pot. However, I am not as optimistic about pulling this off. Towns like Broomfield that have heavily invested in large retail centers may not be willing to share.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I have a very broad range of perspectives that allow my values to be representative of wide range of Boulder citizens. From my experience and history, I can relate and understand with sentiments from the business community, many residents who are working to make ends meet, and the student population here in Boulder. I started a small business in Boulder in 2001 called NightRiders. We provide designated drivers for people who have consumed alcohol and want their car at home in the morning. Starting and operating NightRiders has given me first-hand experience in the business realm and allowed me to understand the current economic situation. Also NightRiders is still growing, so I understand the plight of many citizens who are trying to get their foot in the door so to speak. Finally, being a graduate student at the University of Colorado here in Boulder, I share values with both the younger students and the faculty at CU.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

The downturn in our local economy is the most important issue facing Boulder today. It is essential that we work to increase sales tax revenues in order to help Boulder maintain its high quality of life. The City Council needs to play a very important role in this process. In order to increase sales tax revenues, Boulder needs to regain its status as a regional employment center. To become a regional employment center, Boulder needs to become attractive for businesses to locate themselves here. This is where the City Council comes into play. It is necessary to make Boulder a business-friendly area. The City Council can develop an incentive strategy to entice businesses to coming here and setting up shop. All these new businesses in town would allow for their employees and owners to spend their money here on a day-to-day basis, increasing our sales tax revenues and helping revitalize Boulder’s economy.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

This is not surprising, but no matter what a City Council does, they are going to upset some people with their decisions. And this has most definitely happened with the current council. I must applaud their intentions; they tried to maintain Boulder’s high quality of life. But their train of logic was very flawed. For instance, on the Jobs Population Study, the current council proposed limiting the number of jobs in Boulder to curtail the growth that is happening. Now I’m no trained economist, but I do understand the basic principle that people need to have jobs in order to have money to spend. And when the area is already losing a large number of jobs due to a down economy, the last thing to do is put a cap on the allowed number of jobs in that area. That is in direct opposition to any economic revitalization. If I am elected to City Council, I will use common sense and basic economic principles to base my decisions on. Either way, I see this election providing a fresh alternative and opportunity for a welcomed change on City Council.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

I understand the need for jobs to have good wages. However, in these times of economic hardship, a living wage is not a feasible option to require of employers. I applaud any efforts done to provide a living wage on a voluntary basis though.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

I believe that transportation along U.S. 36 is where the most growth is going to happen in the recent future. With the proposals of a light commuter rail and a rapid bus transit system, U.S. 36 has a great potential to become a model for alternative modes of transportation. Regional efforts will become significantly more important to emphasize due to the greater number of people coming from outside of Boulder to work on a daily basis. I fully support any and all efforts to minimize the number of single-occupancy cars on the roads in our surrounding areas. If elected to City Council, I will work to locate funding for the Transportation Master Plan, increase availability of alternative modes of transportation, and increase usership of these programs.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

My area of study for my Master’s degree will be of great use to the City Council. At CU, I focus on the concept of sustainability and conserving building energies. The concept of sustainability can be applied to many issues, ranging from the environment, to how the council spends budget money and what issues the council concerns itself with. My studies use an engineering approach, whereby a problem is first determined, followed by an effective solution. I will be able to use our resources efficiently and minimize waste, be it physical or simply fiscal, if elected to City Council.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

It is definitely necessary for the City Council to address local issues that are directly affecting us from the surrounding region. Generally, however, that is where our jurisdiction stops, so that is where our involvement should end. Concerning ourselves with national and international issues is generally a waste of resources and I believe that should be kept to an absolute minimum.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

Please see my answer to question #3 for this response.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I am an overall strong supporter of the Open Space program here in Boulder. It is one of the characteristics that helps make our city truly unique and beautiful. I believe the acquisition of Open Space should be kept at the current level until our economy provides enough funds to go for even more land. Along these lines, I do not support the tax initiative on the ballot. If this initiative does not pass, we will still be acquiring Open Space at the rate of approximately 100 new acres a year. That is a very sizable portion of land. I believe it makes more sense to acquire Open Space at the current rate and focus on revitalizing Boulder’s economy, so we will have the funds available to acquire and maintain even more Open Space in the future.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

Mainly, changes in transportation priorities will focus on regional efforts in the future. However, I would like to develop an action plan to better market and increase membership in Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) Network organized by Go Boulder. I believe this program could be very effective in reducing traffic congestion if properly marketed.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

I agree that local fine arts organizations, in addition to non-profits, have most definitely taken the brunt of this economic downturn, causing many to lose funding. These programs are necessary to help maintain Boulder’s level of cultural programs. However right now, with the city having to worry about losing funding for some of the most essential public safety programs such a fire and police protection, funding for these programs must be put on hold until it is economically feasible to donate funds.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

I would definitely listen to the idea of regional tax sharing. I do not think that all communities would be open to the idea, but it would be worth it to see what the suggestions were as far as specifics. As long as the option made economic sense, I would look at it further.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

Boulder is a community that prides itself on its environmental ethic, its commitment to economic diversity, and meeting its obligation to those who are less well off. I, too, as a person, reflect these values, and have worked as a city councilmember to strengthen them in our community.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

Our local economy is indeed the biggest issue facing Boulder today. Most of our fortunes are tied, as are all governments be they municipal or state, to the vagaries of the national economy. That said, the city council can play a role in restoring and enhancing Boulder’s economy. Short term, we should do we all we can to prevent the outflow of sales tax revenue to other communities by plugging the leaks in our retail market. The Crossroads Mall redevelopment will play a role here. Long term, we must play to our strengths and values. Repairing our relationship with the University of Colorado; strengthening relationships with the national labs; and exploring ways to build on Boulder’s reputation as a national leader in the health food and outdoor recreation industries are three ways we can accomplish this.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

I believe that this council has done some great work to set the table for the next generation of city leaders which will emerge from this fall’s election. The Economic Vitality Action Group work, the expansion of the Community Transit Network, moving forward the Transit Village concept, and the hiring of new city manager Frank Bruno and new city attorney Ariel Calonne are a few examples. Certainly some missteps were made, but I believe that to a large degree the frustration directed toward the council is more a result of the challenging times we face on the national and state levels.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

While all workers deserve a wage that will enable them to live in decency, the budgetary impact to the city and the accompanying administrative challenges made the proposal untenable. I supported the position ultimately taken by the council.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

The Locally Preferred Alternative was developed through significant effort on the part of the city of Boulder. As the city council’s alternate to the Denver Regional Council of Government’s board of director’s, I am intimately familiar with the challenges facing this corridor.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

Many of the critical issues facing Boulder are land use related to some degree. I served for five years on the city’s planning board, and have developed a deep understanding of our land use processes and the role land use can play in resolving some of our challenges.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

It is absolutely critical that the city council involve itself in the important county and regional issues that will impact our residents, if we are to move these issues forward in ways that will benefit Boulder. Regarding national and international issues, if a strong nexus can be made to how such an issue will impact Boulder, and if our citizens express concern over the issue, then I believe it is incumbent for the city council to take a stand.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

Through its 30 years of growth management experimentation, past council actions have very positively affected the community, as they have made Boulder an attractive place to live, work, and play. More recently, the council-adopted Resolution 922 will move the jobs/housing discussion forward in a positive way, with its focus on reducing overall growth while meeting other community goals.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I do support the open space tax. The acquisition component of the open space program should be expanded to complete the system, while at the same time the department needs to begin transitioning to becoming a more management-oriented program.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

No. Boulder’s transportation priorities, as spelled out in the 1996 Transportation Master Plan and updated in the recently-approved 2003 Transportation Master Plan, build on the successes Boulder has had in moving to a multi-modal transportation infrastructure and providing our residents with a multitude of transportation options.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

Through its Arts Commission, the city currently does a great deal to support the arts in Boulder. Long-term, I believe we should pursue the funding of a facility comparable to the Arvada Center for the Arts. Such a facility would provide much-needed performance space and become a focal point for the arts in Boulder County.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

Many of the challenges facing Boulder also contain a regional component. I am a firm believer that regional cooperation is a must if we are to make progress on these issues. Conceptually I support regional tax sharing, though many bridges must be crossed before any kind of real program becomes feasible.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I have been a resident of Boulder for the past 36 years. When asked to describe a Boulderite after a while I find I'm merely describing myself.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

The decline in city revenues is top priority. Everything we like about Boulder is driven by sales tax. Keeping our community safe, transportation, open space, human services, libraries, and recycling are all funded in large part by sales tax.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

Boulders transportation program including small busses is great. The hiring of city manager Frank Bruno was also good. Allowing Crossroads to fail is a major failure.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

Providing a living wage to all is a noble goal but may be impractical. Typically the market in general drives salaries in any given area and will prevail as such.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

I have long been a supporter of and worker for transportation improvements. I worked on both the Hop and Skip programs. I presently serve on the transportation demand management group assisting with the transportation master plan update process. We need to develop dedicated bus lanes as well as commuter rail as part of the transportation improvements to hwy 36.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

I believe my 40+ years as a retail businessman may be very helpful on council especially regarding budget issues. As mentioned earlier I have worked for many years on transportation programs. I was the transportation coordinator when I served on the Downtown Boulder Inc. board as well as when I was on the board of the Chamber of commerce. I have long been a champion of supporting human service groups and non profits. My business has been supportive for the past 21 years under my leadership.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

The city should have a voice in national/international issues especially involving war. Focus should be maintained on more pressing local issues like the economy. Many of the issues facing Boulder like transportation, the environment and working relationships involve the region and the county and the city must be involved.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

Many business have been forced out of Boulder into surrounding cities like Longmont as a direct result of council actions. The city is doing a passable job dealing with the housing problem but more needs to be done.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I do support the open space tax. 90% of the funding for open space comes from sales tax and is down. We need funds not only to acquire a few of the remaining parcels but also to maintain the existing holdings. The market is down interest/bond rates are down. Now is the time to buy what little is remaining.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

The transportation master plan has options for improvements. The only thing we need is money. As Crossroads is redeveloped and sales tax improves it will help but we need more funding like a "head tax"

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

At this time of major budget crunch the city will be hard pressed to maintain present commitments to non profits and human service organizations. Private business needs to step up and be supportive of the vital role these groups play in our community.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

It's a nice idea that is unlikely to come to fruition. It is more likely that we may achieve regional fund sharing on transportation partnerships that have definable value to both entities.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I have lived in Boulder since 1988 and have experienced the challenges and changes Boulder has faced during this time. While I value the qualities that have made Boulder unique (open space, a commitment to the environment, alternative transportation modes, a community of strongly passionate and educated participants), I have also worked hard to create a meaningful life for my children and myself. This means sometimes making choices based on convenience, daily stressors, and the needs of my kids that may not mean taking the bus or shopping in Boulder.

I have devoted my professional and personal life to advocating for those who have traditionally not had a voice or the same chances to succeed as most. Boulder prides itself as a place of opportunity; however it has become more and more difficult for residents of every race and economic background to build a good life for themselves and their families and participate in our democracy. I believe my commitment to this goal is representative of what the average Boulder citizen believes – that Boulder is a caring community.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

The impacts of the state, national, and international economic decline (as well as the repercussions of TABOR) have certainly been felt locally. There is a perception that all of this is the “fault” of the City, or of City Council. It is common human nature to look for a target or place to put blame in times of stress and certainly the Council is an easy target. That said, the City is faced with an enormous budget deficit, largely due to the 20% decrease in sales tax revenues. This has a domino effect – city services are at risk, the delivery of the human services safety net is at risk, and the loss of jobs and health insurance for many in our town mean that the economy is on many people’s minds.

The council has a responsibility in setting forth priorities for the City and policies that set those priorities in motion. The most meaningful of these for the time include supporting the City Manager’s Economic Vitality Policy, listening to the citizens priorities that guide budgets and budget cuts, and being flexible and open to opportunities to bring economic development to Boulder that is in line with Boulder’s values.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

Just like the media, I think the general public pays attention to the most absurd or the perception of what has happened – without much thought to the day to day workings of the Council and its accomplishments. Many point out the Council’s attention to prairie dogs, pet guardians, international affairs, etc. as proof that the Council has been ineffective. Putting the complete blame of Crossroads on the Council is ill informed and not helpful. The council has had great successes – traffic mitigation, alternative transportation modes, encouraging mixed use development – all while maintaining Boulder’s beauty, partnership with the arts, cultural, and human services that impact our great quality of life – these are the results of a hard working Council in the midst of a diverse, passionate, and committed citizenry.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

This has been a painful conflict for me. As a nonprofit human service provider, I know firsthand the challenges of low-income wage earners have trying to make it in our community. My agency has prioritized employee compensation as a major factor in the successful delivery of services, and we pay more than many other similarly sized human service agencies – above the living wage proposed recently. However, mandating nonprofit human service agencies that contract with the City of Boulder to supply a living wage to its employees would mean cutting essential services provided to those the living wage is directed to support, as well as laying off employees within agencies itself.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

While I am one of those Boulderites who attempt to minimize my travels along U.S. 36 – since I live and work in Boulder my travels are limited to work-related meetings in Denver (which I drive to) or recreation-related experiences (also reached through car transportation). My children’s father lives in Boulder and works in Denver and relies on the Eco-Pass program to utilize RTD for his commute. I support the attempts of regional cooperation to provide a light-rail solution along the U.S. 36 corridor and as a downtown business member that benefits from the Eco-Pass program participated in fighting the recent attempts to end that program.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

As the executive director of the Boulder County AIDS Project, I am responsible for revenues and expenses that run close to a million dollars annually. As the chair of the Human Services Alliance, I am a proud member of the nonprofit sector that returns over 700 million dollars into the local economy – 300 million dollars of which is payroll alone. Nonprofits are on the frontlines, addressing problems, which, if left unattended, would escalate and cause our community much more in the long term. And most importantly, this is a sector, which combines social wisdom and business practices to create the world we’d like to see.

All of my professional career has involved bringing people, communities, the public, private, and nonprofit sector together in order to expand our understanding of the problems facing our community, and to leverage resources to meet gaps in service delivery. This experience and skill is transferable to the role city council members must play. The collaboration and partnership that exists in the human services community in Boulder is held up as a model not only statewide, but nationwide as well. There is a value and an expectation that stakeholders bring together their individual talents, resources, and ideas in order to address the common good – not the good of one special interest group or special needs group. This is because we know that there is a web of service delivery that many of our clients intersect with – they don’t just use the Peoples Clinic, or just the Shelter, or just BCAP. This analogy can be placed upon Boulder’s community as well. An Open Space trail user is the same citizen who wants diverse shopping options who wants a job and who wants choices and convenience in leaving their car at home while they do all of the above.

I have proven leadership skills in my sector enhancing relationships, leveraging resources, and making clear and inclusive decisions. This is what I would bring to my role as a councilmember.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

City Council’s priorities should be those issues that most impact the City. However, Boulder has a long history of thinking globally and acting locally. It is in line with Boulder’s values to make statements about the war, human rights violations, and such. It is these unique qualities and compassion that are reflective of the Boulder citizenry that make Boulder – Boulder. It is what attracts tourists to Boulder, businesses, and residents. The challenge is to run an efficient and effective Council while addressing concerns that impact residents – concerns that may lie outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

One only has to look at the urban sprawl that exists in adjacent areas to Boulder to understand our successes. The past “Jobs/Pop” process struggled and evolved into an attempt to provide a solution that didn’t fit the problem. The challenges of smart growth while attending to the need for housing for those who work and serve Boulder continue.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I am a dog owner and I frequent the trails with my dog, obeying leash and voice control regulations. I am concerned with how much stress and polarization has occurred over the use of the trails – at times I have felt the dislike/distrust/anger that accompanies my hikes (again, all while obeying rules, and picking up dog poop). It is difficult to explain to my five-year-old son. There has to be a mechanism for compromise – offering differing levels of use in different spaces while ensuring options for taxpayers who have supported the program – must be considered. I am dismayed with the increasing attitude of “Me, Mine, and More for Me and Mine,” that seems to have replaced some of Boulder’ values of diversity and community.

I am concerned that our “buying power” has decreased by half, and that our ability to acquire prioritized lands that would leverage the amount of Open Space has been compromised. I am in favor of the proposed Open Space tax increase in order to acquire these pockets of space and return the levels of new trails construction and maintenance that have been lost with the cuts.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

I support the City’s goals and priorities outlined in the Transportation Master Plan update and do not have any changes to advocate for at this time.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

Boulder has proven its commitment to the nonprofit sector and its understanding of its role in partnering with local arts and human service agencies. We know that an investment in human services is the biggest bang for its buck around – nonprofits have long been asked to provide $1 worth of service for .50 – and now we are asked to do the same service delivery for more people for .20. Boulder understands the correlation between a creative community and a tolerant one – and that what attracts businesses and employees to Boulder is that correlation.

Offering new venues for cultural attractions such as what is being proposed through the conference and civic center discussions can support struggling arts groups – as well as an ongoing commitment to implementing the Economic Vitality Policy. “Turning the ship around” and changing Boulder’s perception to being open for business will help revitalize the tax base that has funded the nonprofit sector.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

The concept is a good one – putting it into practice is more of a challenge. Boulder is no longer the king pen in this regard. We are more at the mercy of our adjacent regional partners to support this practice. This is also a new area of expertise for me that I have not had time to fully investigate. These, along with other ideas such as a “head tax,” as opportunities for economic development are ones I look forward to furthering my understanding and learning curve.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

"Average" is a pretty difficult term to define. To me, the average Boulder citizen is someone who deeply appreciates the natural beauty of our surroundings, and is committed to protecting them; enjoys the outdoors and outdoors activities; lives a healthy life; is an advocate for, or at least supportive of, alternative modes of transportation; and supports a healthy, sustainable economy over unfettered growth and the ensuing sprawl it creates. These are certainly my own values, and characteristic of my lifestyle.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

Boulder sales tax revenues declined 6% in 2001, 7.89% in 2002, and are estimated to fall 6.73% in 2003. To address these declining revenues, the City is planning up to $12 million in General Fund cuts in the next two years. Clearly, this is a significant problem facing the City. At the same time, I believe the current Council and City Manager are doing a commendable job in making the across-the-board cuts, and will hopefully result in the City becoming more lean yet efficient.

With regard to the City's role, clearly, some of the problems were out of the City's hands, .e.g. the tanking of the national economy and the dot.com bust that both impacted Boulder. At the same time, the Council should play a role in attracting back retail shoppers and visitors to the City. Some of the programs that I am advocating to accomplish this include:

• Work with Westcor to expeditiously redevelop the Crossroads Mall
• Continue current efforts for developing the Transit Center at the Pollard site
• Target key businesses in Boulder to make Boulder a nationally-recognized hub and incubator for those business sectors in which Boulder is already a leader, such as, outdoor recreation, environmental sciences, health food, and aerospace.
• Work to retain current jobs at CU and NOAA labs
• Take better advantage of the opportunities to attract tourism to Boulder. This might be accomplished through better access and management of the city’s open spaces.
• Convene a collaborative process to make recommondations for simplifying the planning code.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

Failure: the City's handling of the Lakewood pipeline.

Successes: 1) Over the past 6 years, building the city's budget reserve from
2% to nearly 14%. 2) The city's continued commitment to preserving open
space.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

In order to attract quality workers, the City must be competitive among the region. At the same time, we do not need to be excessive, and the wages that were released recently certainly appear at face value to be potentially excessive.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

I commute to Downtown Denver on the bus almost every day, so I get to see firsthand the congestion on this road. My first priority would be to see through the implementation of the U.S. 36 corridor plans, placing a high priority on the commuter rail, HOV and the bike path. As the funding for this plan has not yet been secured, I would also work diligently to seek full funding, ensuring that plans for the rail, bus rapid transit/HOV lanes, and bike path are preserved. Typically in times of tight budgets, alternative modes of transportation are the first items to get cut from transportation plans. As a Council member, and as someone who has worked both federal and state appropriations processes, I will use my skills to fight to preserve the alternative transportation modes in the U.S. 36 plan.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

Yes, I have a Masters Degree in Public Administration from one of the top -ranked programs in the country for City Management, and I have worked in a City Manager's Office.

Additionally, the City must work cooperatively with other governments, including neighboring local governments, the state, and the federal government. I have 17 years in public policy at the state, regional and national levels of government.

The City may want to pursue development and implementation of economic vitality programs (see EVAG), and I have worked for the State of Kansas' economic development think tank, Kansas Inc., as well as opened the Kansas European OIfice in Germany, implementing new programs to help Kansas manufacturers export their goods and services.

Many talk about the need to "build bridges" among the disparate groups in Boulder. I have over 10 years experience with the Western Governors' Association and a member of Congress, in which my job on a daily basis has been to manage consensus-building and collaborative processes.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

The City does not operate in a vacuum. We have to abide by state and
federal laws, and we are dependent on state and federal dollars. We also
must coordinate regionally with other local governments, for example on
transportation issues and water supply planning within our watershed. It is
paramount that the City take a strong role in coordinating and working with
these other governments.

Clearly, when there is a national or international issue that has an impact
on the City, or the City can have an impact on, then I do not have a problem
with the City taking it up. For example, the City Council agreed to the
Kyoto Protocol, and has taken actions to reduce the green house gas
emmissions from the City. On national and international issues where there
is no direct city interest at stake, I would not bring the issues up at
Council myself. At the same time, I understand that many of those issues
that have been considered in the past were brought to the Council by Boulder
citizens and took up a minimal amount of overall time of the Council.
Boulder is a very politcally astute and active community. If the citizens
want a forum on these issues, should we deny them that opportunity?

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

Obviously, not ideally effective. We still have over 50,000 people who work in Boulder, but do not live here. Additionally, attempts to limit growth probably helped create the retail shopping in Superior, Broomfield, and other neighboring communities.

Employment growth in Boulder from now until 2025 is expected to be between 1-2% per year. This is far in excess of the residential growth rate, as there is little land zoned for additional housing. Further, the amount of zoning “capacity” for nonresidential development is nearly 70% greater than what is projected by 2025. Full build-out would make the City unlivable under current zoning. A conversion of commercial and industrial property to mixed-use makes a lot of sense. As a starting point, I support the resolution adopted by Council on February 18, 2003, providing direction regarding the Jobs/Housing Project. As this resolution is implemented, I believe it should be monitored and its success at achieving its goals evaluated. The City should make adjustments accordingly.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

I support the Open Space Tax on the ballot, and believe we should continue acquiring key parcels of land while they are still available, but also focus much more on managment and maintenance of current lands.

The Boulder Open spaces are a treasure that should be maintained and protected. The recreational opportunities they provide give the city our exceptional quality of life and are a draw for visitors to our community.We should manage Boulder open spaces to protect their natural values. If there is a nesting Perregrine falcon in an area, we have a responsibility not to disturb that falcon during its nesting. If there is an ephemeral stream or wetland, in times when it is wet, we must limit or exclude uses that could damage those areas. If there is an endangered plant species that is sensitive to contact, then we need to minimize or preclude contact all the time. If, on the other hand, the conflict is between dogs and hikers, horses and bikes, bikes and hikers, etc., these are not conflicts about the open spaces’ natural values. These are management issues. Likewise, I believe that conflicts arising because of unscooped dog poop, or trail damage arising from bikes (both of which can degrade natural values), are also management problems. In these cases, every effort should first be made to find resolutions agreeable to all sides. For example, when conflicts arise between users, e.g. hikers and bikers, we should explore designating some trails for bikes and some trails for hikers. With regard to dogs, the current rules should be better enforced: owners who do not pick up after their dogs, or who do not have control of their dogs, should be fined. Enforcement is difficult, and costs money, but if we could aggressively enforce for a year, say, then maybe we will establish within the community a commitment to enforcement that will begin to encourage the bad actors to either change their ways, or stay at home. Trail maintenance should be coordinated with local groups such as the Boulder Offroad Alliance and the International Mountain Bike Association to repair and build trails to guard against erosion. Efforts to educate users about rules of the trails should be supported and encouraged, and coordinated with local groups like BOA and FIDOS. I absolutely believe that we should make every effort to keep the open spaces available to those uses consistent with the Open Space Charter.The open space program, including the sales tax initiatives to fund open space acquisition, has consistently enjoyed strong public support. That is because the various user groups have created a broad, albeit uncoordinated, alliance. To disenfranchise certain groups of users by limiting their access (because of a minority of bad actors) will erode that broad support. Your question focuses on the “conflicts” from current uses. The real conflict that we should stay focused on is the one between those who would like to develop and exploit the open spaces, and those who want to protect it. We must foster the responsible use of the open spaces by all the allowed user groups in order to keep access open and to engender the continued broad public support of OSMP.

I have been endorsed by all the environmental groups (PLAN Boulder, Sierra Club, Clean Water Action) and I believe all the recreation groups that are endorsing (FIDOS, Boulder Offroad Alliance, Boulder Bicycle Commuters). I would like to work to bring all these groups together to address the frustrations over access and preserving the lands.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

I believe the City has made a significant commitment to alternative modes of transportation, with a fantastic bus system and one of the best bike trail systems in the country. I would like to build upon this commitment to alternatives, including developing the rail options.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

Non-profits in Boulder play key roles both in helping provide basic services, but also helping our community meet its aspirations. The city has a responsibility to serve as a catalyst in support of a robust, growing network of non-profit organizations that help meet the needs of Boulder residents, and help build, support and enhance our community's quality of life.

This catalytic role includes:

• the city acting as a convener -- bringing together city agencies, commissions and boards and the business sector with non-profits;
• Pursuing opportunities for leverage -- in concert with non-profits, the city should look for opportunities where city funds can leverage private funds - through matching funds, for example.
• The city providing direct financial support when non-profits are best positioned, and most able to fill critical needs and gap

Colorado recently eliminated its arts commission, and it is no surprise that we are now 50th in the country in arts spending. Colorado -- and Boulder -- have many artists, who contribute both economically and culturally, and we should support them!
I support the General Fund tax on the ballot, which will be important for continuing funding to many of these types of programs.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

Right now, many neighboring communties compete with each other for retail tax base, and as a consequence we are seeing many "competing" malls going up in near proximity to each other, along U.S. 36 for example. We should definintely explore, through regional planning, opportunities to better coordinate and shape future growth and development, and regional tax sharing may be a tool to accomplish that.

In what way are your values representative of the average Boulder citizen?

I think they are fairly typical. We work hard, very oriented towards the outdoors and make many decisions based on there environmental impact. We drive a hybrid vehicle and have an apt. in our house because 1880 sq. ft. was far more than we needed. The apt. makes us money and reduces our over all BTU usage and CO2 impact on the environment, while the car saves us gas and also has less impact on the air. Both are free market approaches to helping our environment. Free market economic approaches to problem solving are generally the best kind and will have the most impact. Forced coercion rarely succeeds.

I would like to shop in Boulder but like most citizens I shop over the hill because we no longer have cost effective shopping opportunities in Boulder. Our current and past City Councils and Planning Boards have said no so often and made it so difficult for businesses to do business that stores just don't want to locate here.

City revenues are in decline. How severe is the problem relative to other city issues, and what role does the council have in solving the problem?

I think this is the most severe problem because almost all other city issues can be directly correlated to lack of funds. The City Council can foster a pro business attitude and appoint Planning Board members that are conducive toward business needs while also protecting the environment. Its not a one-way street.

Provide your view of successes and/or failures in the current council’s performance.

I can't really find any true major successes in the last two years.There were some minor clean up actions involving the statutes but little of large importance, with the possible exception of the couch ban on the Hill. The major successes that have happened are because of hard work by others in spite of the roadblocks put up by City Council and its Planning Board e.g., 9th and Canyon, One Boulder Plaza, and the new Westcore (sp?) developments at Crossroads. Perhaps the hiring of the new City Manager and City Attorney were successes.

The jobs/population project was a complete failure, very divisive and sent a terrible message to the business community. The emergency usurption of homeowners rights with the attempt to make the Hill neighborhood an historic district was a blatant and abusive misuse of government powers which totally backfired on Council and rightfully so.

The best thing this Council did was step aside and allow for new blood to be elected to City Council.

Describe your position on the recent proposals to create a living wage for city employees and/or city contract employees.

I do not favor this concept. It will only drive business out of the City. The success of this concept has been dubious at best. The market economy always wins in the end. People speak, shop and talk with their dollars and businesses are now talking about Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont, etc., and people are shopping there too.

Explain your experiences with and view of transportation along the U.S. 36 corridor.

It needs to be improved but in my opinion it is no where near as bad as Los Angeles or Denver. Furthermore, while we suffer losses with traffic problems, the use of the automobile allows for great freedom of movement which has many positives both economic and political. I would like to see a mass transit lane added, to be paid for by tolls.

Because of our low density I question the value and validity of light rail. It might work but at this moment I am not convinced the numbers are there to make it work without great cost to the taxpayer.

Do you have any areas of specialization that would be valuable to a council member (for example, urban planning, economics, transportation, social services, etc)?

Five years as a small business owner. Government experience. I am a professional remodeler and understand the complexities involved with building projects such as Crossroads. I work everyday directly with customers and understand the need to listen and compromise. I am held accountable for budgets of $200,000 or more.

To what degree should the council potentially involve itself in issues above the city’s jurisdiction, including county, regional, state, national, and international issues?

I think the Council should rarely get involved with national or international issues. Much less than they do now. Regarding regional issues I think the Coucil should have a major role in this area. State issues only when it has a direct impact on Boulder.

How successfully have past council actions affected growth, particularly with regard to jobs and housing? 

I not sure I understand the question, but will try to answer. They have been very successful at curtailing growth. So successful in fact that we now have a struggling business economy, far worse than our neighbors. This is because the approach has been radically unbalanced. This of course will lead to higher taxes or major service cutbacks. I believe, as a direct result of these actions and our location, the value of homes increased far beyond inflation. However because of Council's past and current anti-business attitude I believe we will be in for a market correction in the value of our homes and those that have bought recently will suffer the most. This is already happening and will result in a further loss of tax revenue as property taxes will be reduced to compensate for the loss of home values. This may well have been the intention of our current Council. Too much meddling in the private sector inevitably leads to this sort of result.

In your view, should the Open Space acquisition program be expanded, kept at current levels, or curtailed?  Would you personally support a sales tax increase to support this program?

It should be kept at current taxing levels with more money going toward maintenance of what we have. I do not support the new tax increase. Currently 22.5% of sales tax collected is dedicated to Open Space. If the new tax is passed 27% of all sales will be mandated to Open Space. This puts a severe strain on fiscal policy and general fund dollars. As the ecomomy improves (I should say "if" because during the past 15-20 years the City Council has been so out of balance with the real world they are largely responsible for our current local economic dilemma) our current Open Space sales tax collection will improve and we will have plenty of $$ for land purchases.

Would you advocate changes in transportation priorities?  In what ways?

Yes under our current financial constraints we need to re-evaluate the amount of money for bike paths. Some of these dollars could be better spent on other mass transit and roadway needs affecting a far greater number of people. As are economy improves we can put more back into bike paths.

Local arts organizations and other non-profits have been hit particularly hard recently by the economy. How can the city of Boulder help create a more stable environment for these groups?

These groups are subject to the same market forces that any business has to deal with. Some of the current Council candidates consistantly talk of how they have to run a business when they talk of there non-profit affiliations. If this is true then they must also be subject to the market forces just as any business. Those that are run the best and appeal to the widest variety of clientele and volunteers will survive and those that don't, will not. I do not think we owe them any special privileges other than the current tax benefits they now receive.

What is your position on the concept of regional tax sharing?

I think it is a valid concept. In fact I have been advocating the shared buying of supplies, vehicles, fire trucks, etc., for years. Regional sharing of taxes, as long as it saves the taxpayer money, is no different in philosophy. It is the regional sharing of attitudes that will be the pr