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As Election Day approaches, several state and local debates took place this week in Aspen and Glenwood Springs.
About three dozen local residents showed up for a candidate forum at the Glenwood Springs City Hall on Wednesday while others tuned in remotely.
Candidates for various state and local offices in Garfield County participated in the “Issues and Answers Night” organized by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent and KMTS Radio.
On Thursday evening, Pitkin County commissioner and sheriff candidates sat in the hot seat for Aspen’s traditional “Squirm Night” in the studios of Grassroots Community Network in Aspen.
Aspen Public Radio, Aspen Daily News, The Aspen Times and Grassroots are also partnering on another “Squirm Night” for the Snowmass Village mayoral and Town Council races that takes place this coming Wednesday.
Candidates at both recent debates answered questions about a range of topics including affordable housing, education, health care, climate change, election security, and even the separation of church and state.
Pitkin County sheriff race gets personal
In the Pitkin County sheriff race, three-time incumbent Joe DiSalvo is facing off against a candidate who says it’s time for a change in the role.
DiSalvo and challenger Michael Buglione are linked in more ways than one, and their personal and professional interactions turned into talking points during Squirm Night and throughout this fall’s election. (YouTube video here, starts at 1:05:06)
DiSalvo and Buglione are former brothers-in-law and former colleagues.
The family element has made this election feel different than the last three, DiSalvo said.
“My heart's in it, DiSalvo said. “As far as I'm concerned, we shared the same blood. When you have to take that, and put it into this context, it changes everything for you, and how you compete.”
Buglione, for his part, said he’s not going to let the personal ties get in the way of his campaign.
“I’m pushing a rock uphill, and every day, I get more support, and support is coming out of everywhere, and it just makes me feel good every day,” he said. “I’m not bringing the personal part into it.”
The candidates also debated management styles, the future of the Pitkin County jail and drug enforcement.
Law enforcement experience—in quality and in quantity—was another throughline in the discussion.
DiSalvo has worked in law enforcement for almost four decades, and he has been the sheriff for the past 12 years.
During Thursday’s debate, he said giving back to the community is the reason he’d like to stay in the position for another term.
“I think it was made clear tonight that my experience is what separates us,” DiSalvo said.
He touted the county’s emergency-response team and the transparency of the sheriff’s office and took pride in the strength of his current staff.
“I've been a 42-year valley resident and a 37-year police officer in Pitkin County and (have spent) 12 years as your sheriff,” he said. “There isn't a lot I haven't seen when it comes to this community. This community has given me so much, and I feel a responsibility to give it back.”
Buglione has 17 years of experience in the field, although he stepped away from law enforcement a few years ago.
Much like DiSalvo, he said he’s in this race for the community, but he believes it’s time for something new in the sheriff’s role.
“I want to elevate the position of the office,” Buglione said. “There’s an overwhelming need for action that I want to meet.”
Buglione also promised transparency and said he would be a “strong leader” with “street smarts” in the role.
“I will lead with integrity and always, always do what’s best for our community first,” he said. “It’s time for a positive change, and I am that change.”
Pitkin County commissioners discuss hot-button issues
The two Pitkin County commissioner candidates for district 2 also participated in this week’s “Squirm Night” in the Grassroots studio in Aspen. (YouTube video here, audio starts at :49)
Incumbent Kelly McNicholas Kury and her challenger, Erin Smiddy, agreed that affordable housing for county employees and for the larger community should be top of mind for Pitkin County.
Smiddy said she wants to see action, not just talk, on an issue critical to the future of the community.
“We're in trouble with housing, we're in big trouble,” she said. “I think it's our top emergency. It's a dire need for housing, and we should be pushing hard for housing right now, which is what I intend to do.”
McNicholas Kury also sees that need.
She touted her own record advocating for housing in the community with policy and participation on committees, even if that hasn’t turned into units built just yet.
“We are getting pushed out more and more and more, and I am here to defend it,” McNicholas Kury said. “And I've taken action and put policies into place to make sure that anyone who lives in Pitkin County can thrive.”
The candidates are also on the same page with the future of the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport: Both said they don’t want to see it get bigger.
And on the short-term rental front, McNicholas Kury and Smiddy both cited a need for more information and perspective on the landscape.
But they don’t agree on everything. Exhibit A: the controversial terrain expansion on Aspen Mountain in an area called “Pandora’s.”
McNicholas Kury was the only commissioner on the board who voted against the Aspen Skiing Co.’s expansion last November — and she stands by her decision.
“There (were) split perspectives in the community, and it's totally appropriate for there to be a split vote on the board,” McNicholas Kury said. “I will say I have supported other Skico proposals that have come before us. I take each proposal on its merit, and for me, Pandora’s just didn't pass muster.”
Smiddy said she would’ve voted “yes” for Pandora’s if she had been on the county commissioner board at the time.
“I would not have voted against it because we are a ski resort, first and foremost,” she said. “That's how it started, that's how it's gonna end here.”
For all the developments that come and go and the debates about housing solutions, “we're always going to be a ski resort,” Smiddy said.
“I just want to represent what locals represent,” she said.
Patti Clapper, who is in her fifth term as a Pitkin County Commissioner, is running unopposed for her sixth term.
Garfield County commissioner candidates differ on energy
Differences between the Garfield County District 1 commissioner candidates were made clear during Wednesday’s debate in Glenwood Springs.
Incumbent Tom Jankovsky, a Republican, said public safety and rising crime are among his biggest concerns for the county—and ones where he feels he can make a difference.
“The DA prosecutes, the sheriff—he picks people up, puts them in jail, but the county commissioners are the ones that fund them,” Jankovsky said.
If elected, Democratic challenger Ryan Gordon said his focus would be more on the housing crisis.
He said he has heard from local business owners that the lack of affordable housing impacts their ability to find employees.
“When they do, they can’t find housing for those workers,” he said. “They’re considering leaving the valley, taking that critical tax revenue with them. That’s going to be a tragedy if that happens.”
Other key issues that came up during the debate included increasing citizen participation in government, the state’s development of Sweetwater Lake, north of Dotsero, into a state park — and the future of energy production in Garfield County.
Jankovsky and Gordon said they support the oil and gas industry in the county.
But Gordon feels the county’s economy has been too reliant on oil and gas in the past, and could benefit from other industries, such as outdoor recreation.
“More boat ramps, more trailheads,” he said. Let’s support our farmers and ranchers so we can get locally raised food, but also preserve this open space. Let’s look to bring in innovative technologies, whether it’s renewable energy or otherwise.”
Jankovsky defended the county’s past use of lawyers and lobbyists on behalf of the county’s oil and gas industry.
“You know, we need to make sure that not just for Garfield County, but for the nation and maybe for the world, that that gas is accessible,” he said. “There’s a big push from environmentalists to make sure that it stays in the ground. When you go up against the federal government, you need the big guns.”
House District 57 candidates want to represent all local voters
Candidates for Colorado House District 57 participated in their second debate at Wednesday’s “Issues and Answers Night in Glenwood Springs.”
The recently redrawn district includes all of Pitkin and Garfield counties and a portion of Eagle County.
Incumbent Republican Perry Will of New Castle has represented the district for nearly four years.
If reelected, he said he’ll stay focused on issues that he thinks are important to all Western Coloradans — such as supporting rural hospitals, protecting water rights, and keeping public lands and forests healthy.
Will also said he’ll continue to reach across the political divide.
“I don’t just represent Republicans, Democrats or independents — I represent everyone over there,” he said. “You know, I have to tell you that my moral compass does point north. I’ll always conduct myself as a gentleman. I’ll never embarrass anyone from House District 57 on that House floor, I have too much respect for the institution over there.”
His Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Velasco of Glenwood Springs, says she would also do her best to serve a diversity of voices in the district.
She said she wants all people to have access to clean air and water, health care and reproductive rights, and a quality education, regardless of their party affiliation or ZIP code.
“Growing up, my parents were working three jobs to be able to afford to live here, to be able to afford to pay rent, and that’s something that our families are going through now,” Velasco said. “And as a working-class candidate and a champion for working-class families, I look forward to bringing innovative solutions to the legislature.”
More key races and debates at “Issues and Answers Night”
House District 57 wasn’t the only state race in the hot seat Wednesday night.
Colorado Senate District 8 Democratic candidate Dylan Roberts of Avon and Republican candidate Matt Solomon of Eagle also participated.
The district was recently redrawn to include most of northwestern Colorado, including a portion of northern Garfield County.
Carbondale Republican Bob Rankin used to represent the district, but was moved to Senate District 5 after the recent redistricting process.
He will officially take over in 2023 after Democrat Kerry Donovan’s term comes to an end later this year.
Senate District 5 now includes parts of southern Garfield County and all of Roaring Fork Valley.
Voters also heard from those running in two other Garfield County races: clerk and recorder, and county treasurer. Representatives were asked to make a case for and against “Ballot Issue 2C” at Wednesday’s debate.
The ballot measure asks Glenwood Springs voters to support a new lodging tax to fund workforce housing in the city.
Supporters say the city-managed workforce housing fund would help local businesses retain more employees and would be paid for by visitors, not locals.
Meanwhile, opponents say the additional tax will ultimately hurt local lodges and hotels by making them more expensive for visitors.
Opponents also question why the city is only considering a lodging tax to raise funds for affordable housing, and not a tax on recreation and other local attractions.
You can watch all the debates from Wednesday’s “Issues and Answers Night” on the Glenwood Springs Post Independent’s website.
The full recording from Thursday’s “Squirm Night” is available on Grassroots’ website.
Election Day Information
Election Day is Nov. 8.
Ballots will start getting mailed out to most Colorado voters Oct. 17.
In Pitkin County, ballots can be returned in the drop box outside the administration building, on Main Street in Aspen.
That drop box is already open for replacement ballots, which are now available from the county clerk’s office as a convenience for anyone leaving town during voting season.
Starting Oct. 17, ballots can also be dropped off at the Snowmass Village town hall and the Basalt town hall.
And ballots can be dropped off in the drop boxes in Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
If you are voting by mail, the Pitkin County Clerk strongly advises people to mail in ballots by Oct. 31 so that they arrive in time to be counted.
In-person voting begins Oct. 24 in the Pitkin County Administration Building’s Roaring Fork Room, which will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 4 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5.
On Election Day, there will be a trio of local polling centers open in Pitkin County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The polling centers will be located in the Aspen Jewish Community Center, in Snowmass Village Town Hall and in the Basalt Regional Library.
You can also find voting information on Garfield County's election website and Eagle County's election website.
