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ENLARGE
BRECKENRIDGE — Ben Brewer aims to bring more jobs to Breckenridge in his run as the only town native for election to Breckenridge Town Council.
“As I look around, I see my friends and a lot of people moving away from Summit County because they simply can't find the types of jobs they're qualified to do,” he said. “Jobs are my first priority.”
Brewer, 42, was born and raised in Breckenridge. He now lives with his wife, Robyn and 7-year-old son, Jacob, in the Wellington Neighborhood.
“I've watched the town grow from a dusty small town where everybody knew each other into the town it is now — which is a thriving, vibrant ski resort with 100 restaurants,” he said. “My insight due to my history here is needed, and the future is bright, but there are a lot of challenges we'll be confronting.”
As the town faces such challenges, Brewer says a lift ticket tax is necessary.
“Any business in town pays a (business and occupational licensing) tax and they pay sales tax on the things that they sell,” he said. “And I'm not really understanding the rationale for why the ski area isn't treated equally.”
Brewer said Breckenridge Ski Resort will be raising ticket prices anyway, regardless of whether the town begins taxing tickets.
“I don't have an ax to grind,” he said. “I think our partnership is one of the most important relationships that we have and ... it's a revenue stream I think we should explore.”
He also said the town can work with the resort to “reach an amicable agreement for how a tax could be implemented.”
Brewer said the revenue could potentially be used to bolster marketing, for which existing revenue sources are unsustainable.
The town last year acquired the former Colorado Mountain College building on 103 South Harris Street. There have been many suggestions on what to do with it, such as using it as a new town hall.
Brewer said one use he'd like to see — at least on the second floor — is a business incubator, “almost like affordable housing for small businesses.”
He said it could be used so that “small start-up companies could share things like copiers and fax machines and parking, and those sorts of resources that cost a lot of money.”
This could help diversify business further beyond a tourism economy.
“With the technology now, people (and) companies can locate themselves anywhere they want to,” he said. “I just have this sense Breckenridge is one of the places well-positioned to attract other industries ... basically to even out those huge swings that are seasonal.”
Brewer works as a Realtor with Slifer, Smith and Frampton.
He said he's a “big picture thinker” and aims to make decisions in keeping “with the character of our town.”
“I'm an easy person to work with, but I have a backbone when it's something I care deeply about,” he said.
He said he wants the town to be “as smart as we can” when it comes to developing the Gondola Lot and redeveloping City Market.
Brewer also said it's important to attract the right type of visitors who spend the most money and spread it among the spectrum of local businesses.
He said he supports the town's decision to sever ties with developer Mercy Housing on the 42-unit Valley Brook neighborhood, and that he's “100 percent in favor of using local contractors and local artisans to create that.”
“In a way, the economics shifted underneath the project,” Brewer said. “I support the town taking its time and building it in phases.”
Brewer said the town has made good decisions in terms of resources for the community.
He enjoys using the recreation center and playing hockey at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena. He has also climbed all of Colorado's Fourteeners, he said.
“I live the lifestyle and I love it and I know a lot of people who live here love it, too,” Brewer said.
Folks may recognize Brewer from his local bluegrass band, the Pine Beatles, which plays pro bono at several nonprofit fundraisers including many for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center.
“It's really fun,” he said.
Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.
“As I look around, I see my friends and a lot of people moving away from Summit County because they simply can't find the types of jobs they're qualified to do,” he said. “Jobs are my first priority.”
Brewer, 42, was born and raised in Breckenridge. He now lives with his wife, Robyn and 7-year-old son, Jacob, in the Wellington Neighborhood.
“I've watched the town grow from a dusty small town where everybody knew each other into the town it is now — which is a thriving, vibrant ski resort with 100 restaurants,” he said. “My insight due to my history here is needed, and the future is bright, but there are a lot of challenges we'll be confronting.”
As the town faces such challenges, Brewer says a lift ticket tax is necessary.
“Any business in town pays a (business and occupational licensing) tax and they pay sales tax on the things that they sell,” he said. “And I'm not really understanding the rationale for why the ski area isn't treated equally.”
Brewer said Breckenridge Ski Resort will be raising ticket prices anyway, regardless of whether the town begins taxing tickets.
“I don't have an ax to grind,” he said. “I think our partnership is one of the most important relationships that we have and ... it's a revenue stream I think we should explore.”
He also said the town can work with the resort to “reach an amicable agreement for how a tax could be implemented.”
Brewer said the revenue could potentially be used to bolster marketing, for which existing revenue sources are unsustainable.
The town last year acquired the former Colorado Mountain College building on 103 South Harris Street. There have been many suggestions on what to do with it, such as using it as a new town hall.
Brewer said one use he'd like to see — at least on the second floor — is a business incubator, “almost like affordable housing for small businesses.”
He said it could be used so that “small start-up companies could share things like copiers and fax machines and parking, and those sorts of resources that cost a lot of money.”
This could help diversify business further beyond a tourism economy.
“With the technology now, people (and) companies can locate themselves anywhere they want to,” he said. “I just have this sense Breckenridge is one of the places well-positioned to attract other industries ... basically to even out those huge swings that are seasonal.”
Brewer works as a Realtor with Slifer, Smith and Frampton.
He said he's a “big picture thinker” and aims to make decisions in keeping “with the character of our town.”
“I'm an easy person to work with, but I have a backbone when it's something I care deeply about,” he said.
He said he wants the town to be “as smart as we can” when it comes to developing the Gondola Lot and redeveloping City Market.
Brewer also said it's important to attract the right type of visitors who spend the most money and spread it among the spectrum of local businesses.
He said he supports the town's decision to sever ties with developer Mercy Housing on the 42-unit Valley Brook neighborhood, and that he's “100 percent in favor of using local contractors and local artisans to create that.”
“In a way, the economics shifted underneath the project,” Brewer said. “I support the town taking its time and building it in phases.”
Brewer said the town has made good decisions in terms of resources for the community.
He enjoys using the recreation center and playing hockey at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena. He has also climbed all of Colorado's Fourteeners, he said.
“I live the lifestyle and I love it and I know a lot of people who live here love it, too,” Brewer said.
Folks may recognize Brewer from his local bluegrass band, the Pine Beatles, which plays pro bono at several nonprofit fundraisers including many for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center.
“It's really fun,” he said.
Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.
