Tops For A Reason
Louisville was recently tabbed the third best city to live in by Money Magazine. While we know that those rankings are hardly scientific, it says something grand about the state of the city, which is why little change is needed on council heading into the election. This is not to say we expect the incumbents to sit around and look pretty. Actually, the next four years are crucial to Louisville’s long-term health since major redevelopment plans in Old Town should be laid out and serious mitigation must be considered for the commuter train line that will be pulling into town as part of RTD’s voter-approved FasTracks program.

Mayor
Charles L. Sisk over Randy Luallin
First off, we were happy to see Randy Luallin enter the race at the last minute. It just doesn’t seem right to see the mayor’s seat go unopposed. Again. But Charles L. Sisk has served well as the city’s mayor for four years (and as a council member since the 1990s), and we see no reason he shouldn’t continue to lead the city over the next four years. Sisk takes an even-handed approach to issues such as downtown development, cares deeply about affordable housing, and has a firm grasp on the hurdles facing the city with the future FasTracks line. Sisk also wants to up the city’s green incentives to make Louisville more eco-friendly.

Ward I
Dave Clabots over Annie Hughs
We like the challenger Annie Hughs quite a bit, but the direction she wants to take Louisville isn’t all that different than the incumbent’s—meaning we’ll go with experience here and give Dave Clabots the nod. Clabots is a realist who refuses to make promises he cannot keep. He wants to put priority on finding money to supplement RTD’s FasTrack expansion into Old Town Louisville so tracks can run under South Boulder Road and a pedestrian underpass can be built. RTD won’t pay for these two projects RTD that could cost as much as $30 million—a steep price tag. He’ll find a way to get it done.

Ward II
Sheri Marsella over no one
Just for the record, Sheri Marsella wants to see the groundwork laid for Highway 42 and downtown redevelopment to coincide with the FasTracks transit system coming to town. She also plans to push for a citywide recycling program put in place and the tax sharing revenue program for communities in Boulder County and the North Metro area. So even though she’s running unopposed, we still felt like it was worth going out of our way to endorse her for a second term in office.

Ward III
Matthew Jones over Hank Dalton
With much being said about redevelopment in Old Town, Matthew Jones has some great ideas of how to improve the area without losing its historic charm. He wants to put priority on creating sound/safety corridors for the FasTracks line—at a somewhat considerable expense—so the trains can pass through town much quieter. That being said, he will watch city spending like a hawk to ensure current budgetary issues won’t become crises down the line, champion for more open space and work to make sure residents feel included in many of the big decisions the city faces.

No on ballot issue 2A
Louisville Revitalization Commission
The reasons supporters are backing this issue, which would severely hamper the Louisville Revitalization Commission’s power, seem to be little more than scare tactics. The LRC doesn’t have absolute power over city monies that come in through development taxes. The city council approves all LRC budgetary spending through an agreement the two entities have in place. While it’s important to make sure a board of non-elected officials doesn’t have too much power when it comes to spending tax money on redevelopment projects, voting in favor of 2A will add too much red tape to the process. The result would likely scare away potential developers who want to invest in Old Town and Highway 42 projects. Bottom line, city council has plenty of control over what goes on with the LRC. Without further ado, we’ll end with this grand cliché: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.�

November 2007

There’s More Than One Issue. Really.
Judging by the recent press clippings, you’d guess Longmont is a one-issue town. But there is much more to discuss in these races than the Lifebridge annexation, even if that is the issue that will have voters picking their candidates. Longmont faces major redevelopment projects from the so-called “Parking Structure” on Main Street to potentially razing Twin Peaks mall and starting over. There’s also the issue of playing nice with others—something the current council shied from when other Boulder County cities asked for some cash to study a regional tax-sharing program. Council simply said no, which could be something it regrets down the line.

Mayor
Karen Benker over Roger Lange and Doug Brown (withdrew)
Lifebridge. Lifebridge. Lifebridge. Lifebridge. Are there any other issues of importance in this race? Of course, but since two current city council members are vying to lead the city, their take on the controversial annexing of the church development has its place. Karen Benker is the one candidate who voted against bringing the development into Longmont limits—she thinks legit questions like how much of a tax shelter the church will try to claim were answered too vaguely since the city will end up supplying $800,000-plus a year in services. Moving on, Benker is a fresh voice who wants to redevelop Main Street and the Twin Peaks Mall simultaneously so they can coexist and not steal business away from each other. Proposing an urban renewal district encompassing both projects is an idea that could have some legs. This is not to say Roger Lange won’t be a good mayor. He shares some similar ideas and takes a moderate, practical approach to improving the city of Longmont. And we’ll certainly be happy in knowing we’ll still see him serve on council for another two years.

Ward I
Brian Hansen over James De Vore and Aaron Rawlings
We love smart people. Brian Hansen has a Ph.D in analytic chemistry from the University of Colorado and has spent the last 10 years building his R&D Pharmaceutical Company in Longmont. He’s incredibly intelligent and is using a green platform to solve many of the city’s issues. Although Longmont’s utilities aren’t large enough to qualify for mandatory renewable energy levels dictated by the state legislature, Hansen would like to see Longmont meet them anyway. He also thinks with some incentives and proactive marketing, the city can lure more small businesses such as his own. The city could take advantage of a renewable energy push by bringing in companies that feature eco-friendly research and development. Oh, he thinks the city jumped the gun in approving Lifebridge and would like to see Longmont at least sit at the regional tax-sharing discussion table. Despite disagreeing with many of The Yellow Scene’s stances—Lifebridge, revenue sharing—Aaron Rawlings almost grabbed the endorsement with an intelligent, youthful approach to running for office.

Ward III
Sean Patrick McCoy over Bonnie Finley
You couldn’t have two more opposite candidates running for office. In our notes for each respective candidate, we worried Bonnie Finley was too friendly to growth, and Sean Patrick McCoy wasn’t friendly enough. When it comes down to it, however, Sean Patrick McCoy will be the one that better leads Longmont into the future. He wants to tie the rate of residential growth in Longmont to school capacity. He’d like to see new development take place in the urban, downtown corridor, replacing areas of blight and serving as infill for Longmont. McCoy also wants to lure a cultural and performing arts complex (privately funded, to boot) that could generate millions for the local economy. His work with the city’s planning and zoning commission and Boulder County parks and open space combined with his enthusiasm has us believing he can pull it all off.

At-Large
Sarah Levison over Paul Tiger and Gabe Santos
This race has already received plenty of attention, and not necessarily for good reason. One candidate, Paul Tiger, plead guilty recently to charges he pulled a gun on a construction worker. Tiger joked about the incident, in which he was ordered to give up his guns for two years, saying it has given him a boost in notoriety in this race. Pulling a gun on anyone is far from a laughing matter, something we couldn’t overlook. Sarah Levison has a long history of fighting for what she believes is best for Longmont. She thinks the city erred in approving the Wal-Mart on Highway 119 and County Line Road. She also would have like the city to pitch in $7,000 to participate in a Boulder County tax revenue sharing study. Levison didn’t just let her protest go unnoticed—Google her name, and you’ll see it splashed all over newsprint as a voice at city meetings. And, she has a bold idea that could help keep Longmont’s shopping dollars inside city limits. It’s called retail rewards, which would essentially give residents a say in how a portion of their sales tax dollars are spent.

Yes on ballot issue 2A
Lodging tax
What’s one of the best ways to increase revenues for a city? Tax someone else. Which is essentially what a lodging tax does. Tax the folks who sleep in Longmont’s many hotels. Err, hotels? There really aren’t too many lodging options yet, but that will change, and the city should grab those lucrative dollars when they are available. It will be add 2 percent to hotel bills and will still keep Longmont’s tax lower than many of its neighbors. It’s expected to bring in $290,000 annually to the Longmont Area Visitors Association. That number could spike significantly once Main Street lures a chic boutique hotel.

Yes on ballot issue 2B
Storm water projects
It’s always better to be proactive with infrastructure projects, which is why it’s a good idea to give the city the OK to issue 20-year bonds for four storm water projects that will help protect businesses and homes in the event of a 100-year flood. Basically, get these projects done before a major flood happens. It’ll be much cheaper that way.

Yes on ballot issue 2C
Open space tax extension
There’s one constant throughout Boulder County: Residents love open space, which is why extending the sales tax of only 2/10ths of a penny is a no-brainer. The money raised will help acquire, improve and maintain open space in Longmont through 2034 instead of 2020. �

November 2007

A City On The Brink
A lot has been said recently about Lafayette’s “friendliness” to some of the big box retailers. (See Lowe’s, Super Wal-Mart.) The city desperately needs to pump up its retail sales tax base, but it can’t do so at the expense of its charm, one of the primary reasons for living there. That being said, the city has jumped on board a regional sales tax sharing revenue study, but the new council will need to go a step further. Old Town Lafayette is in need of a facelift. Major blight potential at South Boulder Road and South Public Road needs to be addressed sooner than later. And officials must take a hard look at a budget that could turn into a gorilla of a problem if not addressed now.

City Council Seats (pick four)
Kerry Bensman, Frank Phillips, Alex Schatz and Jay Ruggeri over Brian Herzfeld, Stacia Lupberger, Robert Brown, Melinda Medrick-Nye* and Laura Oster

Usually you keep an incumbent in office because the city is running smoothly and everybody seems happy about direction. We’re telling you to re-elect Kerry Bensman because he knows how to ruffle feathers and can get a city staff member to roll his or her eyes in seconds. And it’s not because Bensman goes over the top with outlandish ideas; it’s because he has well-thought arguments that sometimes don’t mesh with popular opinion, and he is never afraid to speak up. With a background that includes an MIT and Harvard education, Bensman will be a leader in helping the city fix serious budget problems it’s expected to face in coming years and will continue to be the watchdog that keeps the rest of council honest. He also gets bonus points for sticking up for the small business owners devastated by Wal-Mart’s move from South Public Road to Highway 287.

With everyone touting redevelopment with a side of transportation, Frank Phillips is making sure open space policy doesn’t get lost in the mix. As a sitting council member he continues his work in saving the “chicken barns” on Highway 7 and sees open space as one of the great ways to keep Lafayette a small town that thrives off its mountainous setting. This is not to say Phillips is a one-issue candidate. Far from it. The incumbent expects the city to become a leader in energy conservation, clean energy and building affordable housing for seniors. He’s concerned with business in Old Town, and would like to encourage small business to move in via incentives and increase foot traffic on South Public Road with more community events. As far as redeveloping the Old Town entrance vacated by the Wal-Mart move, he prioritizes the South Boulder Road extension so it becomes thruway instead of an afterthought on travel to 287. He says that road project will be a shot in the arm to Old Town—and he’s correct.

Two years ago, Jay Ruggeri garnered the fourth most votes in the council election, meaning he was granted a two-year, mini-term in office. He’s taken his trial period and run with it, working extensively in breaking down barriers many city residents face. He helped change building codes so all new home construction is built with proper sizing so disabled owners can easily retrofit the houses without adding ugly ramps or tearing down walls. He was instrumental in helping the Latino Advisory Board become a reality, giving area Hispanics a voice. The same goes for a youth advisory board that has given the area’s youngest residents an avenue to talk to city representatives. He championed for the city’s new comprehensive recycling service, and now wants to tackle building codes to truly make green building a viable option. One interesting idea of his is to close West Chester Street in Old Town and turn it into a park to help lure residents to stay downtown. He expects it’ll cost a worthwhile $100,000, which could be recouped in the sales tax generated by the additional traffic flow.

Alex Schatz is strong-willed, much like incumbent Kerry Bensman. He was upset with how city officials handled the moving of Wal-Mart, when the city gave the retail giant incentives to set up shop down the road, leaving a gaping, blighted shopping center at the foot of Old Town. He realizes transforming this site quickly is a key to pumping up South Public Road and stabilizing the city’s lagging tax base. Punching South Boulder Road through to the Northwest Parkway is key in making the commercial strip a viable development option, he says. Schatz, whose resume includes being an analyst on the joint budget committee of the Colorado General Assembly, will be a great voice in trying to fix some major budgeting problems the city will face in the coming years. Schatz has also been active in Lafayette government, serving on the planning commission and open space advisory committee, to name a few. With a law degree from CU and a landscape architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin, he brings a unique skill set to help Lafayette grow into one of the top North Metro communities.

Yes on ballot issues 2A & 2B
Road and rec center improvements
By going forward with both these issues, Lafayette could pay for street, traffic and parking improvements (2A), as well as upgrades to the recreation center (2B). This gives the city the authority to sell bonds to pay for such improvements ($6.25 million for 2A and $660,000 for 2B) without raising taxes.

Yes on question 2A
Residential growth management
Lafayette’s plan to limit residential growth to 200 homes per year was a great start to ensuring smart development in the city. Now voters are asked to renew the limits, and considering the city hasn’t reached that number of homes being built in recent years, it makes sense to continue the restriction. If the economy turns up, Lafayette will be protected from mass developments that may not be in the best interest of the community.

Yes on questions 2B and 2C
Council actions and procedures
The first stipulates that council only act by ordinance, resolution or motion, and defines when these actions should be used, the later clarifies language relating to how council members assume office following elections. Basically, it’ll streamline processes.

Yes on ballot question 2D
Penalties
The books are a bit messy when it comes to fines and sentences for crimes that reach the municipal court. This will clarify the role of council and give it control over sentence structure within state statutes.

Yes on ballot question 2E
Ethics
This measure will reduce redundancy in city charter in regards to its ethics policy. Basic house cleaning, really.�

November 2007

Big Issues In The Small Town
Dacono may be an afterthought in North Metro campaigns, but with the tiny burg fighting a school district for a school to be built and plenty more homebuilding eventually on its way, there are myriad important decisions to be made in the coming years.

City Council Seats (pick two)
Sandra Tucker and Kevin Plain over Bryan Herrera, Stephen Ditlow* and Patrick Flannery (withdrew)

Long the proponent of the poorer sections of Dacono, incumbent Sandra Tucker deservers another run to continue the progress she’s made in improving the city’s mobile home parks. She’s spent her first term making mobile home owners responsible for keeping their properties in good shape for those who rent them. She’s also extremely unhappy with St. Vrain schools and supported the city’s decision to walk away (at least temporarily) from the district to get a Dacono school built. As far as future growth, Tucker plans to help bring a sit-down restaurant to The Glens so residents have a non-fast food option and would like to see the city take more advantage of I-25 development bolstering city coffers with sales tax revenue.

Kevin Plain is a relatively recent transplant to Dacono, but the father of two has picked up pretty quickly on the city’s most pressing need—a school to call its own. While not sure that the decision to turn their back on St. Vrain School District is the right one, Plain realizes something drastic could be needed to get a school built by 2009, a time frame he says is of utmost importance. He also wants to work to draw more essential services into Dacono, such as a gas station and grocery store. What he falls short on in specifics, he makes up for in passion.�

November 2007

Yellow Scene Magazine's Endorsements For All the North Metro Political Races

It’s always tricky endorsing candidates, especially when we’re talking about wannabe elected officials on the local level. We don’t like hurting feelings, and the 80-plus people running for various offices in the North Metro area have gone out of their way to spend countless hours campaigning to get picked to carry out an often thankless job. We commend everyone for running, even those we didn’t select. (more…)

November 2007