ISSUE # 13 ... COUNCIL'S FAVORITE ApplicANTS

This morning City Council narrowed the field to 5 candidates for the open Council seat. Marcia Goshorn, Jackie Kasabach, Howie Mallory, Jim Pomeroy, and Jasmine Tygre, got the nod. A few highlights from their applications: Marcia Goshorn: -"We need to continue the progress we are making." -She "thinks seriously about the direction for Aspen's future." -Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority Board Member Jackie Kasabach: -"Affordable housing is the keystone to maintaining community." - The sustainability of locally-serving businesses is also a critical component of community." -I "would represent J.E.'s constituency." Howie Mallory: -Recent "participation in the City's economic sustainability committee and Citizen's Budget Task Force." -"Difficult decision will have to be made in the face of fiscal and physical limits." -Will "guide the responsible growth of the community." With "demanding economic and financial pressures", will provide "rigorous fiscal management." Jim Pomeroy: -Will "examine each issue on its merits." -Feels strongly about "growing local business." -"Employee housing is vital to the continuing strength and vitality of our city." Jasmine Tygre: -Has "local historical perspective." -Has "good recall of community issues" including the "I was there factor." (See their complete applications http://www.aspenmatters.com/governance/documents/CCApplicANTS.pdf ) Nineteen applicants* submitted applications with one question to answer -- a direct challenge to their sanity-- -"why they desired the City Council appointment." The applicants were subsequently ranked according to a Mayor Ireland-created weighted scoring system, with the five top-scoring candidates becoming finalists. Jack Johnson stated that his rankings were based on the applicants' "reputation, politics and my impression of them as people." Off to Do the Homework Assignment The five finalists are now to be given a take-home exam consisting of Council-generated questions. In a preview of Jack Johnson's eight questions, we saw a few telling queries, such as: - "How would you behave in City Council if you had evidence someone appearing before the Council was lying to it?" (The Red Ant can't wait to see those answers!) -"If the citizens support it through the update to the Aspen Area Community Plan, will you be able politically and philosophically to regulate scrape and replace of single family homes?" We just received the complete take-home exam. It is sure to contain more entertaining interrogatories! See below . Some are pretty bizarre. The applicants' homework is due on October 9, and we will be sure to make copies available to you. On October 15, there will be interviews, which we hope will be filmed by Grassroots. The public deserves a view into the Council's decision making process. The Red Ant will be doing a Grassroots show on the selection process next week. We will make you aware of the air times. The Ant acknowledges and appreciates all who stepped up to volunteer for this enormous public service. *The finalists came from a pool of talented, experienced, and community service oriented individuals: Bonnie Behrend, L.J.Erspamer, Catherine Gildor, Jay Maytin, Torre, Cliff Weiss, Michael Wampler, Andrew Kole, Brian Speck, Bert Myrin, Howie Mallory, May Janss, Paul Herr, Jim Pomeroy, Ron Erickson, and John Kelly.

Have comments on the applicANTS or process? (We hear there are some doozies coming to us!) No need to log in. Just comment below. We would love to read your opinions!

Council Questions of Applicants:

Council Candidate Questions

Responses must be submitted to the City Manager’s office by

5pm, Thursday, October 9, 2008

1. How would you have reacted to, and then managed, the recent Burlingame affordable housing situation?

2. Do you support the increased density at Burlingame (up to 300 units) or the current 236 unit allocation?

3. JE DeVilbiss was an early and ardent supporter of Burlingame. Regardless of where you were during the initial Burlingame debates, will you be able to continue JE’s support of completing Burlingame?

4. Do you support the increased density at Burlingame (up to 300 units) or the current 236 unit allocation?

5. Is affordable housing the most pressing problem facing Aspen? If so, what creative ideas or solutions do you have that haven’t been championed or considered?

6. Recently, City Council negotiated for locally serving commercial space in the redevelopment of Cooper Street Pier project. How do you feel about the trade-offs required to achieve this?

7. Should the city intervene in the market to preserve local serving businesses and low end establishments like Little Annie’s or The Red Onion? Explain how this would be done and what is a local serving business anyhow.

8. To what degree is subjectivity embodied in the Aspen Land Use Code? Should there be any subjectivity?

9. In the past five years, are there any land use applications that the city approved that you would have voted against? Please list and explain.

10. If the citizens support it through the update to the AACP, will you be able politically and philosophically regulate scrape and replace of single family homes?

11. How will you apply your judgment and critical reasoning skills in the performance of your role on City Council?

12. Please describe your interpretations of the role of the city manager and staff in relation to responsibilities of City Council.

13. What conditions would have to be present for you to exercise the condemnation powers of the city council? The moratorium powers? The emergency powers?

14. Staff argues in favor of Option A. Public is intensely opposed. How do you choose?

15. Other than affordable house, what is the most pressing problem facing Aspen? What can or should the city council do to address it?

16. How would you behave on city council if you had evidence someone appearing before council was lying to it?

17. If chosen, will you promise to run (or not run) in May for a full term?

18. What are your views on historic preservation in Aspen?

19. Do you favor the extension of the Real Estate Transfer Tax for affordable housing? Yes or no plus explanation as you see fit. This is a ballot question.

20. Do you support the sales tax increase for RFTA?

21. Entrance to Aspen alternatives include:

a. A four lane, unrestricted access over the Marolt property. New 4-lane Bridge over Castle Creek required.

b. The “preferred” modified direct over the Marolt Property with two bus lanes and two general traffic lanes. New 4-lane bridge Castle Creek required.

c. The split shot with two lanes over the Marolt property inbound starting at the Cemetery Lane traffic light and two outbound lanes using the S curves. New 2-lane Bridge over Castle Creek required.

d. A three lane bridge with reversible lanes so that the two lanes are outbound at evening rush your and two lanes are inbound during morning rush hour. New Castle Creek Bridge required.

e. Do nothing: leave the S curve entrance intact as the Entrance to Aspen.

Please rank the alternatives in your order of preference. Please explain how your alternative would be funded in the likely event that no state or federal funding was available.

22. Which part of intense media scrutiny, 400 page memos, and 7 hour meetings interests you?

23. If elected, do you see this office as qualifying you to be Vice President? Please note that Aspen is larger than Wasilla, Alaska and had fewer earmark funding allocations. You do not have to answer this question.

Comments

[anonymous local]

Watch out for your freedoms!!