Next week ballots go in the mail for Aspen’s municipal election. Voters will choose from a large pool of candidates to fill two open seats on city council. Keith Goode is one of seven people running. He spoke with Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen.
"Reporter: Why are you running for city council?"
Goode: "I’ve been on the Planning and Zoning Board for the last four years and I really have enjoyed my time there. But, the main reason is when I hear people say ‘Aspen’s losing its character,’ I don’t buy that."
Goode followed a girl to Aspen fourteen years ago and stayed. He says the people make the community not the bricks and mortar. He’d like to find a way for young people to be successful in Aspen.
"I think people in that 30 to 40 range gets lost in the shuffle here. You come here with a full passion and a gypsy spirit. Some people stick around and ask themselves, ‘What are we going to do?’"
Reporter: "What are the barriers that need to be tackled in order for folks to be able to stay here?"
Goode: "Housing is always a key issue. We have some serious issues at Centennial in trying to deal with the mold and other problems. Also, another issue is about enforcing rules about existing employee housing - maybe 10 percent is being abused."
Goode ran a coffee shop in Aspen a few years ago. Now he works as a bartender.
"Being in the service industry, there’s been no one who has represented bartenders, wait staff or retail workers in some time," he says.
Reporter: "How can a perspective like yours be an asset on city council?"
Goode: "The way they try and run city hall are with several different departments that operate like a small business. And I think I have a voice of the people. I deal with a range of people from age 18 to 75. People tell me what they think all the time. I’m a bartender. I listen."
He supports the ballot question that would allow voters to weigh in on development projects with requests that go outside City Code. Our council candidate profiles continue tomorrow.