Six people to choose from for three trustee positions, an amazing fact when one considers just a short time ago trustee candidates were as rare as a tourist in winter in Estes Park, and trustee positions were filled by appointment, not elected.
The Estesparkian respectfully appreciates those that volunteer to lead; the job is a political, complex, time consuming, and thankless task where mistakes cannot be tolerated, mistakes are needlessly costly to the community. With hundreds of decisions to be considered and voted on each year, an individual trustee cannot focus on one department or “goal team” and have the time to oversee the big picture on behalf of the voter. If a trustee candidate intends to oversee a specific town department such as public works or the electric utility, we want to know now so we can examine your resume for your qualifications and background in public works or utility operations. We elect you, who decides which department you oversee?
The Estesparkian started last November bringing the importance of this election to your attention. The Estesparkian also has set the template that we use to review the acceptability of trustee actions and now the candidates.
Will you conduct an open transparent government -
Are you a Home Rule proponent -
Do you represent the people of Estes Park - not Rocky Mountain National Park - not visitors -
Will you entertain open public debate on public issues -
Do you have a base understanding of the trustee elected office -
Will we hear from you on issues or town staff -
Will you tell us your agenda -
The qualifications are basic you must be eighteen and you must live in Estes Park.
The job is equally as basic; there are no job descriptions requiring a background in public safety, public works, town finance, utility operations, urban planning or public administration. Each individual trustee is elected at large from the population, each individual trustee is responsible to each and every citizen in Estes Park for the oversight of the town’s infrastructure, each trustee is individually accountable to each and every citizen. Six sets of independent eyes, six independent minds, six individual sets of principles to assure your oversight.
Accountability, which trustee candidate is most likely to be accountable to you the citizen who elect them?
Politics my friends, the criticisms that are pointed at our trustees are not unwarranted and not unearned. Trustees are elected in a public open transparent democratic manner, but employ methodologies that have politically eliminated you the citizen from the fundamental rights of every citizen, oversight of your town.
Change that.
