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What they said: Forum on new commissioner

Kim Marquissummit daily news

FRISCO Seven candidates participated in a forum Monday night in a bid for the District 1 seat on the Summit Board of County Commissioners open by Gary Lindstroms departure to the state House of Representatives. The candidates were given five minutes for opening remarks, then answered a series of questions posed by the audience. Summit County Democrats central committee will choose one of the candidates Wednesday night during a secret ballot vote. The meeting is not open to the public.

Bateman, 61, lives in Summit Estates and is a 12-year full-time resident. A part-time financial planner, she is semi-retired. For the past three years, Bateman served as president of the Breckenridge Music Festival. She listed health services, economic sustainability through diversification and the countys communications infrastructure as important issues. On the role of growth, Bateman said, There will obviously be more development. We will have to listen to the developers, understand what they want and do whats best for the long-term situation of the county.She supports employee housing and deed restrictions to limit price appreciation, but said those programs can work without the county paying for them.On development, Bateman said, We will have to listen to the developers, understand what they want and do whats best for the long term situation of the county. She supports employee housing and deed restrictions, but said those programs can work without the county paying for them.

Bennett, 55, lives in Blue River and owns property there and in Breckenridge. He is a 21-year resident. A Boy Scout leader for 15 years, Bennett said he wanted to move his public service to a higher level. He said since retirees are the fastest growing demographic, meeting the older generations health care and other needs is important.Because the county is reaching build-out, Development is not going to grow radically, he said. Id like to see controlled growth as we near the end of that picture. Bennett listed the B&B Mines purchase the first issue he would tackle as commissioner.



Bertaux, 55, has lived in Summit County since 1972. He is a lift operator at Breckenridge Ski Resort and a caretaker at The Highlands. He was a town council member for 24 years.In looking toward the November election for the District 1 seat, Bertaux said, I know how to run, know how to campaign and have a record of winning.He listed water as the most important issue facing the county, and suggested enlarging Old Dillon Reservoir and pursuing more water storage north of Breckenridge as possible goals to secure more for the county.On growth, he supports transferring backcountry development rights into core areas.

Craig, 49, is a 20-year firefighter who talked about maintaining a good working relationship on the Board of County Commissioners.They can disagree without being disagreeable and thats so important to maintain, he said. We need that cooperation with the business community, resort community and with each other so that we can maintain a well run county.Craig several times discussed the concept of a unified city and county of Summit, an idea championed by Lindstrom while he held office.He supports another ballot initiative for permanent funding for the Summit Housing Authority.



French, 73, lives in Breckenridge. A longtime lawyer, he has lived in Summit County since 1971. He served as the partys chair in the 1980s and ran several successful campaigns, such as Pete Michaelsons bid for District Attorney in the 1990s. French said he would withdraw from his Breckenridge law firm if appointed to the board.He listed land use the most important issue, and said he would work to improve the countywide comprehensive master plan if appointed. French said intergovernmental agreements are important to work with municipalities that annex property into town for more development. The towns feel they can reach out, pick up a piece of land and rezone it, he said. Its really the county commissioners part to try and anticipate their needs on redevelopment.

Girvin, 43, is a 32-year resident who lives in Breckenridge and is executive director of the Continental Divide Land Trust. She emphasized her experience working as a collaborator in her current position as well as with Summit Huts Association to support her possible role as a commissioner.She served on the Upper Blue Planning Commission for 10 years, where the idea of no new density in the basin was introduced through the use of transferable development rights. On solutions for I-70 congestion, Girvin said, The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is really frustrating to deal with; its important to bring together neighboring counties to come up with our own ideas and present them to CDOT so we have as much strength as they do. They pay a lot of lip service to public input but they do whatever they want.She said she is not in favor of six-laning the Interstate and wants to look at other options.

Hertzberg, 72, a Copper Mountain resident, said she wants to be appointed because she wants to serve the people. She has a long history in education and considers herself semi-retired.More and more people will come here and see how beautiful it is so a county commissioners greatest job is zoning and planning; we have to plan for greater populations, she said. A member of the Ten Mile Planning Commission, Hertzberg listed the proposed Copper build-out plan as one of the most important issues facing the county. She supported its approval at the planning commission level.


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