Opinion | Tamara Pogue: Why I am the right choice for Summit County
Candidate for Summit Board of County Commissioners District 2
The November election holds a critical importance for the future of our country and our county. While much of the focus will be on national politics, what happens here at home is equally important.
For the past four years, I’ve been working for you as your Summit County commissioner for District 2. I care deeply about this community and am proud of many of the things we’ve fought for in my first term to improve the lives of local working families — and the affordability and sustainability of Summit County.
In my tenure, I did the following:
Priority No. 1: Property Taxes
- Supported lowering the property tax mill levy to bring relief to so many of us who are struggling with the unprecedented increase in our property valuations.
- Worked with Colorado Sen. Roberts and Speaker McCluskie to create an opportunity for the Summit County to offer property tax rebates, including to those who long-term rent their properties, thereby making it more financially viable for property owners to rent their properties to long-term locals.
- Was appointed by Speaker McCluskie to the state’s property tax commission and worked to create bipartisan legislation that lowered the residential and commercial assessment rates, bringing much needed property tax relief to Summit County residents.
Occupation: Current commissioner and former executive director of the Family and Intercultural Resource Center and the Peak Health Alliance
Years in district: Twenty
Family: Proud single mother of three amazing children all in Summit School District
Civic involvement: Frequent volunteer at the Summit Valley Horse Center
Priority No. 2: Housing
- Constructed two new workforce housing developments, the Larkspur apartments and Nellie’s Neighborhood.
- Moved forward long-overdue housing projects, including obtaining water infrastructure for Lake Hill and finalized a first-in-the-nation lease from the United State Forest Service for the redevelopment of land for affordable housing. This project should break ground in the spring of 2025.
- Helped revise Summit County’s building code to make it easier for private developers to build workforce housing.
- Launched an innovative lending library of ADU plans and a grant program to support private homeowners’ role in resolving our housing crisis.
- Transformed three unused hotels into critical housing for our workforce.
- Worked to change state law to allow housing funding to be used for middle-income developments, which reflect the relatively higher salaries of those who live in mountain communities.
Priorty No. 3: Roads and infrastructure
- Reallocated significant funding to improve the quality of our local roads. Also, the 2024 draft budget represents the highest investment in Summit County roads in history.
- Returned the Summit Stage to 30-minute service, supporting our locals who depend on public transportation.
- Collaborated with the Colorado Department of Department to reprioritize important infrastructure projects like improving I-70 exits and other strategies to improve the safety and flow of I-70.
While I am proud of the successes of my first term, there is still much more to be done. With your support I hope to continue to bring prudent fiscal management to the county budget — with strategic use of our tax dollars — ensuring that any additional resources are returned to you. I believe Summit County government must refocus on the “basics,” which will require us to make significant improvements to our infrastructure, including our roads, as well as our housing crisis. That’s why I also intend to continue to build on the progress of my first term as it relates to affordable housing, moving forward both the U.S. Forest Service project and Lake HIll and their infrastructure. And lastly, I will continue to advocate at the state level to try and mitigate the homeowners insurance struggles so many are now facing.
In all issues that we’ve tackled during my first term, I believe most would agree that I am proven, trusted and results-oriented.
We live in deeply divided times, and I am proud of the work I’ve done to “cross the aisle” to advocate for the affordability and viability of Summit County — and to get results that make a difference. I would be honored to be elected to serve my second term as County Commissioner, and I humbly ask for your support.
Working together we can make Summit County a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive and flourish. Thank you for your continued support.
Tamara Pogue is a candidate for Summit Board of County Commissioners District 2. She can be reached at tamaraforsummit@gmail.com.
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