Meet the Pitkin County commissioner candidates

Name: Jack Hatfield

Hometown: Lake Clarke Shores, Fla.

Age: 62

Family status: Married, with beautiful wife Ruth for 35-plus years.

Number of years in Pitkin County: 36 years

Occupation: Owner of a property management company.

Public service experience: Nearly 22 years as president or vice-president of Creekside Homeowners Association; two years Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission; six-plus years Snowmass Town Council; 10 years Snowmass Water Board; near eight years District 4 Pitkin County commissioner.

How you spend your extra time: Rock ‘n’ rolling/dancing; dinner with friends, reading, vacationing (especially Florida and Mexico), hiking and climbing (completed all of Colorado’s 14ers, including North Maroon three times, Castleton Tower, outside Moab, Utah, and Devils Tower, Wyo.), cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Volunteer for Race/Ride for the Cure, Raising-A-Reader (read to children) and help disabled veterans during arrivals and departures at the airport.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC? People of all backgrounds continually tell me they “like what I am doing and how I do it.” I am running for re-election in order to continue what I do best — public service. A job description would include the following qualities: manage growth; protect and enhance our quality of life; respect urban growth boundaries; conservative approach to government finances and taxes; sensitivity and understanding of the challenges of our business community; provisions of basic county services; extension of the life of the landfill; understanding of the airport’s potential, as well as limitations; enhancement of county recycling efforts; growing awareness of county carbon footprint; defense of county water resources; lobbying for co-operative approach to affordable-housing opportunities at appropriate locations; enhancement of county’s communication technology; environmental stewardship; and networking with local, state and federal elected officials and staffs.

This job description requires hard work, preparation, courtesy, good listening skills, history and understanding of issues, accessibility to public and media, and transparency in how the business of government is conducted. In conclusion, whether it is public relations, crisis management, appreciation and recognition of employees and community volunteers, fulfilling the responsibilities articulated above, Jack Hatfield is clearly the most qualified candidate for election as District 4 Pitkin County commissioner.

Name: George Newman

Hometown: Katonah, N.Y.

Age: 56

Family status: Married for 28 years; my wife Liz is a designated real estate appraiser and my daughter, Cassie, is living in New York City.

Number of years in Pitkin County: I have lived in Pitkin County for 35 years and in Emma for the past 30 years.

Occupation: I am a travel professional with Ski.com, selling ski packages throughout the world.

Public service experience: I have been a city appointee on the Commercial Core and Lodging Commission as a liaison between the business community and city of Aspen; I have acted as chair of the Emma Caucus for the past four years.

How you spend your extra time: I spend my free time in the winter hiking/skiing Highland Bowl or Nordic skiing on our great trail system, which I helped establish. Summers find me climbing a peak, running, biking or attending concerts at the Music Tent. Evenings find me reading a book or practicing Tai Chi at home.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC? Our quality of life has diminished over the years, and I want to turn that trend around. Development throughout the county over the past two decades has seriously depleted the rural and agricultural assets of the valley as a whole. The pressure to develop in rural, unincorporated areas has increased due to the high land costs upvalley and within the Urban Growth Boundary. This threat of urban sprawl prompted me to start the Emma Caucus in 2004. I am running for county commissioner because of my desire to preserve and protect the rural and historic character of Pitkin County. I want to conserve our natural resources, protect our public lands and expand our open space and trails program. Many of the issues we face now and for the future are linked and are also regional. I believe our success lies not in government but through collaborative governance: citizen involvement, consensus-based decision-making and collaborative problem-solving. As county commissioner, I will work hard to improve the quality of life for those of us that call the Roaring Fork Valley our home. I have the leadership skills, experience and judgment to be an effective commissioner for Pitkin County.

Name: Delia (Dee) Malone

Hometown: Redstone

Age: 54

Family status: My immediate family includes my honey (John) and two dogs (Keeter and Jack). My extended but close family includes John’s two daughters, my brothers and my nieces.

Number of years in Pitkin County: 19

Occupation: Biologist, environmental scientist and research associate at Colorado State University’s Natural Heritage Program.

Public service experience: After returning to Colorado 19 years ago I refocused both my work and volunteer activities on conservation activities, with the goal of helping to make the valley a more environmentally sustainable place for the whole community. Additionally, I have served on the boards of Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, the Independence Pass Foundation, Aspen’s Air Quality board and am currently on the Roaring Fork Audubon board.

How you spend your extra time: Exploring the natural world, birding, gardening, reading, taking long walks with my dogs, attending the opera, and running, hiking and skiing with my friends.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC? I’m running for county commissioner because I believe I can contribute to the BOCC the skills, environmental ethic and perspective of a trained scientist and educator. I believe these skills are invaluable to the decision-making and problem-solving process for maintaining a sustainable community, but which are missing from the current BOCC. Impacts from an increasing population threaten our quality of life. I know that many of these impacts can be mitigated with best available science and technology. I also believe that without community cooperation, most technological solutions are doomed to failure. Government must respect community values and develop solutions that integrate community values with technology. Air quality is being degraded by development; Western Slope water is coveted by Front Range interests; agriculture is undermined by inappropriate regulations; long commutes and traffic pollute the air and frustrate citizens; families find it increasingly difficult to live and work in the valley; and without alternative energy, oil and gas development threatens the natural landscape. Decisions about these and other issues will determine our quality of life for many generations. I’m running for county commissioner because I have the boldness and unique expertise to develop solutions to keep us a healthy mountain community.

Name: Bruce Anderson

Hometown: Wenham, Mass.

Age: 61

Family status: Married to Laura for 30 years; two children, Rebecca, 26, and Jeffrey, 24.

Number of years in Pitkin County: 37

Occupation: Computer consultant

Public service experience: Extensive Aspen schools volunteer; Ski Club volunteer; board positions on homeowners’ associations (20-plus years)

How you spend your extra time: skiing, cycling, hiking, gardening, cooking.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC? Having moved here in 1971, met my wife and brought two kids through the Aspen school system, and appreciated the strengths, variety and commitment of the people here, I am deeply indebted. Pitkin County faces some critical challenges, and I will contribute directly to identifying and implementing solutions. My fresh perspective can pay dividends. Additional focus is needed in resource management, long-range planning, housing and renewable/alternative energy. As a rural resident, I see issues that deserve attention, including modernizing communication and recycling wastewater treatment system products into useable fuels. It can be hard to survive and succeed in the valley. Having raised a family here, I would be uniquely positioned in District 4 to understand and help you who are now doing the same. As well, inability to see new solutions results when longevity has set in. I am the candidate who is best positioned to see new, creative and alternative approaches in addressing your concerns. I have considered running for some time and now have the time and energy to devote full time to being a commissioner, which I promise to do. Please Allow me to serve you by casting your vote for Anderson in District 4.

Name: Michael M. Owsley

Hometown: Woody Creek since 1973

Age: 59

Family status: Married to lifelong Aspen resident, Ann Sandersen Owsley. We have two daughters, born and raised in Aspen, and two grandsons.

Number of years in Pitkin County: 38

Occupation: County commissioner

Public service experience: I have been a Pitkin County commissioner for the past four years, and as commissioner, I have served on the boards of ACRA, RFTA and the Ruedi Water and Power Association. I am a past president and member of the board of directors of KDNK public radio; a member of the Woody Creek Caucus, and past chairman of its planning commission, and a volunteer for local organizations and events.

How you spend your extra time: Fly-fishing, telemark skiing, bird watching, walking the dogs.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC?

In the early ’70s, the divisive issue in Pitkin County was whether or not to downzone properties in order to preserve the rural character of our area. The choice seems so obvious now, with our wonderful rural and open environment, but it was only through hard-fought political action and leadership that we have this legacy. Through my early and continued participation with the grassroots caucus process, I have understood how important it is to be involved in public and political affairs. The Woody Creek Caucus and, later, other caucuses, were able to define what characteristics we sought for our own areas. It’s a challenge to try to blend the manmade environment with the natural environment, in a way that minimizes disruption of the landscape. We have been able to make choices which limit commercial and residential density, protect water, and mandate sensitivity for our wildlife. My four years as county commissioner have been very positive ones, and have only reinforced to me how important it is to be involved in the political leadership of our county. I am running for re-election so that I may fulfill my commitment to the process, and continue to build citizen participation and responsive government.

Name: Shellie Roy

Hometown: General Electric brat: Richland/Hanford, Wash.; Schenectady, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla., San Jose, Calif.



Age: 56

Family: Two children; Sabrina Harper Lundberg, 24, school teacher; and Bryan Harper, 19, student.

Years in Pitkin County: 33

Occupation: Real estate brokerage

Public service experience: GrassRoots TV (treasurer), Komen (chairman/volunteers), Aspen Historical Society (trustee), Rotary, Clean Air Advisory Board (chair), Pitkin County P&Z (co-chair), Mount Sopris Transportation District (stakeholder), Aspen Chamber Board, RFTA Board, CCI Taxation, CCI Transportation (co-chair), Aspen School District Accountability.

How you spend your extra time: Gardening, learning golf, cross-country skiing and family.

Why are you running for a seat on the BOCC? We live in a beautiful place. But we are on a fast track to being unsustainable. Our next generation is saying it is just too frustrating to live and work here. The commissioner representing my District No. 3 talks green but he didn’t raise any concerns with the impeding loss of the lumberyard and almost a dozen locally serving businesses at the Airport Business Center — disregarding that people upvalley will have to drive 40 to 90 miles round trip to repair cars or buy building materials. He objected to a sustainable farming operation in Woody Creek and to the school district building housing on land it owns there. He approves tax increases that are killing small businesses. He says the traffic backed up on Highway 82 or detouring through the West End and down Cemetery Lane isn’t a county problem. I became increasingly frustrated because I know the county can change all of this. I am running because Michael Owsley has not used his power as a county commissioner to make a difference. I know how to finish projects and how to get state support. By running I am using this election to talk about the nuts-and-bolts issues threatening the sustainability of our community.