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Meet the candidates for Summit County’s municipal elections

Silverthorne town council candidate JoAnne Nadalin
Courtesy of the town of Silverthorne |

With the April 5 municipal elections on the horizon, a full list of municipal candidates was released in early February. This spring, the towns of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Frisco and Dillon will each have four seats to fill — for Breckenridge and Frisco, this will include the position of Mayor.

This year, Breckenridge will have just one incumbent, while the towns of Frisco and Silverthorne have a few familiar faces running. The town of Dillon will not hold a municipal election, as the number of candidates was less than the number of seats, but will appoint four councilmen later this spring.

One forum is already set for the end of the month: A Silverthorne Town Council Candidate Forum will be hosted on Monday, Feb. 29 at Silverthorne Town Hall. Roman Moore, morning show host for the LIFT FM, will facilitate the forum, with questions posed both by the moderator and the public. The forum will also be broadcast on a later date on SCTV Channel 10 for those who missed it.



MEET THE CANDIDATES

BRECKENRIDGE



Total seats: Three town council, one mayor

This year, Breckenridge will see no less than three mayoral candidates — a mixture of longtime locals and fresh faces to town. In addition, five candidates are running for three town council positions. While this year there is only one incumbent, many of the candidates hold a prior history with Breckenridge Town Council or one of the town’s advisory committees.

The candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected to four-year terms. The 2016 election is a mail-ballot election, and ballots will be sent between March 14 and March 18. Ballots must be received at the Breckenridge Town Hall, by mail or hand delivery, by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Mayoral candidates:

Brian “Brain” Chiarizio: Chiarizio might be one of the youngest mayoral candidates this year. A former Coast Guard officer, Chiarizio currently works as a kitchen manager at Rita’s Specialty Margaritas and Taco Bar.

Eric Mamula: Having previously served on town council through 2012, Mamula, owner of Downstairs at Eric’s, is taking a shot at running for mayor. A longtime local, Mamula’s father, Sam, served as mayor in the past.

Jennifer McAtamney: Having served two terms on town council through 2014, McAtamney is currently serving with the town’s Child Care Advisory Committee. McAtamney works with homeowners associations through her business, Community First Association Management.

Town council candidates:

Jeffrey Bergeron: Local media personality and author of “Biff America,” Bergeron is looking to return to council for another term after serving two terms through 2012. Bergeron and his wife, Ellen, are also known for spearheading the Open Space Ballot Initiative.

Leigh Girvin: A longtime Breckenridge local, Girvin has served on several planning commissions, at both the town and county level. With a background in environmental advocacy, Girvin turned to planning, serving as co-chair to form the Joint Upper Blue master plan.

Michael Dudick: Owner and developer of Grand Timber Lodge, Dudick previously served one term with town council. A longtime resident of Summit County, Dudick also served as chair of the Breckenridge Marketing Advisory Committee and a member of the Open Space Advisory Committee.

Randy Veeneman: A Breckenridge native, Veeneman has worked as an angler in Summit for more than 20 years. A guide with Mountain Angler, in the winter, Veeneman works as a grooming squad supervisor for Breckenridge Ski Resort.

Wendy Wolfe: The sole incumbent in this year’s election, Wolfe was elected to town council in 2012. With her background in marketing, Wolfe is currently serving with the Breckenridge Tourism Office Board. She has served with numerous other boards, including the Summit Foundation Board and Breckenridge Heritage Alliance.

SILVERTHORNE

Total seats: Four town council

This year, Silverthorne has four town council seats, one of which is for a two-year term. The town has five candidates, including two incumbents. Ballots will be mailed out between March 14 and 21; votes must be submitted by April 5.

Town council candidates:

JoAnne Nadalin: Appointed to town council in July 2015, Nadalin served on the town’s planning commission through last year. A volunteer with High Country Conservation Center and Silvana’s Community Garden, Nadalin served as an accounting executive before moving to Summit County.

Robert Kieber: A long-time Silverthorne resident, Kieber has served with the town’s planning commission for more than 10 years. With a background in finance, Kieber has served on the board of directors for two local homeowner’s associations and was a board member with the Summit County Youth Baseball Organization.

Russ Camp: One of two incumbents in this year’s election, Camp served on Silverthorne Town Council for the past two years, after serving with the town’s planning commission for seven years. Prior to his work with the town, Camp worked with the Snake River Planning Commission and the Summit County Open Space Advisory Council.

Tanya Shattuck: With a background as a small business owner, and previous work in community planning, banking and property management, Shattuck looks to join town council for her first term. Shattuck has served with the town’s planning commission since 2006.

Tom Marmins: A professional, pro-nono mediator with the Summit County small claims court, Marmins has served with several organizations related to public safety. Marmins was recently elected to the board of directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and was previously a member of the Red, White and Blue Fire advisory board.

FRISCO

Total seats: Three town council, one mayor

Frisco has several candidates this year, with several incumbents and just as many fresh faces. The town will see three candidates up for mayor, all who served with town council last year, and a total of nine town council candidates. Ballots will be mailed out between March 14 and 21.

Mayoral candidates:

Daniel Kibbie, Jr.: After serving with Frisco’s town council last term, Kibbie is entering his bid for mayor. Having lived in Frisco for more than 20 years, Kibbie has worked with Copper Mountain Resort through the duration of his career.

Gary Wilkinson: After serving as mayor through 2015, Wilkinson is running for a second term. A longtime Frisco resident, Wilkinson has also served as a councilmen, and worked as chairman of the Tenmile Planning Commission in the past.

Kathleen Kennedy Bartz: Having served nearly two terms as a councilwoman, Bartz is running for mayor this year. A small business owner, Bartz has served with the Summit and Frisco chamber boards, and was previously elected executive director of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.

Town council candidates:

Chris Sorenson: A senior manager at Breckenridge Ski Resort, Sorenson is looking to join Frisco’s town council for his first term. Sorenson previously managed Adventure Point in Keystone, and is involved in Obstacle Course Racing around the U.S.

Deborah Shaner: A fire protection engineer, Shaner owns her own business, Shaner Life Safety. In previous years, Shaner has served with the Frisco Business Advisory Committee, and currently works with the Frisco Planning Commission.

Donna Skupien: Owner of Bridgewater Design, Donna Skupien currently chairs the Frisco Planning Commission. Skupien has also served with the Frisco marketing committee and Tenmile Planning Commission in the past.

Jessica Burley: Burley currently works as community programs manager with High Country Conservation Center and adjunct of sustainability studies for Colorado Mountain College. A resident of the recently completed Peak One neighborhood, Burley previously served on the homeowners association for Peak One.

Larry Sawyer: One of this year’s incumbents, Sawyer has served with Frisco Town Council since 2008. Sawyer is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem, and was previously a Frisco Planning and Zoning Commissioner.

Martin Allen: A veteran and owner of his own wine-importing business, Table 31 imports, Allen is putting in a bid for town council this year. Allen previously served with the U.S. Army in Kenya and Guatemala, and has also served with the Summit County Rescue Group.

Matthew Wade: Owner of Ten Mile Creek Kayaks, Wade has competed internationally with the U.S. Ski Team prior to opening his own business. Wade has also served as a coach, and licensed freestyle ski judge.

Richard Nell: Currently working as a communications technician, Nell has a diverse background. He previously worked as a department manager for Breckenridge Hospitality, and has also trained in the Law Enforcement Academy.

Rick Ihnken: Ihnken currently serves as a lieutenant for the safety and medical division. With a background as a paramedic, Ihnken previously served as a Flight For Life paramedic, and currently works part-time as a ski patroller at Arapahoe Basin.

DILLON

This year, Dillon’s elections were cancelled, with one applicant but four vacant seats. Councilmen Brad Bailey, who was appointed earlier this year, filled out a petition to run for council and will be sworn in on April 19 for a four-year term.

“We cancelled our election because we didn’t have enough candidates for as many seats are available,” Dillon Town Clerk JoAnne Tyson said. “We will hopefully recruit some candidates, and council will interview some candidates and be up for appointment.”

Town council will appoint the three remaining vacancies after interviews and letters are submitted. Those who wish to serve on town council may submit a letter of interest; a closing date for submissions has not yet been set.


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