Goshorn, in her own words

Dear Editor:

In my 35 years of living here I have always believed that talking about a problem is never enough, you have to be willing to be part of the solution.

My name is Marcia Goshorn and it is time again to decide the direction you want for community when you go to cast your ballot. I have always believed that actions speak louder than words. I have been on the Housing Authority Board for nine years because I know the affordable housing program is one of the reasons this community has weathered the financial ups and downs. We have a stable workforce because of it and a strong volunteer fire department that can come quickly if your house burns down.

The Citizens Budget Task Force (CBTF), in 2008, made recommendations from a group of very diverse citizens that were implemented to help balance the city budget. I was the chair of that group. An offshoot of the CBTF was the Housing Frontiers Group that I am also a member of. I joined that group to help come up with solutions, not scapegoats and the seminars that have been held for the last several years for HOAs have been successful.

The misleading leaked information from incomplete capital reserve studies has not been productive or fair. Those studies are budgeting tools that cover the next 30 years. The complexes are not falling down as some wish you to believe. Are the people living in them going to need to replace roofs and pay for upkeep, of course, so does anyone living in a home whether it is affordable or free market. Solutions include ideas to work with banks, grants and plan for the future and continue the educational programs on how they can help themselves.

I also joined the Senior Council because the housing for seniors is always difficult, but the new plan for the Continuing Care Retirement Community has a chance for a successful outcome, if we work together on it. I have been involved with the Susan G Komen, Aspen Affiliate for over 20 years now. Some of you may recognize me as the breakfast lady. For 20 years I have gotten up at 4 a.m. in the morning to make sure that my dedicated volunteers and I cut up the fruit and have hot coffee waiting for the racers. Most people know that we have a race and a bike ride every year, but how many of you know that together we have raised over $4.5 million paid out in grants over the years to the organizations in the valley that support breast cancer screening and treatment like Aspen Valley Hospital, Cancer Survivors Center, Valley View Hospital and Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

I am asking for your vote to move the discussions forward and let us help find the solutions together. If you want to know where I stand on an issue you care about I encourage you to call me at 948-4379.

Marcia Goshorn

Aspen