Less Than Three Weeks until Election Day

We’re in the heart of election season. And what an election season it is, with five county commissioner candidates for two seats on the county board, with newly re-drawn state districts and newly re-drawn congressional districts splitting Eagle County in half. Oh, and a presidential election on top of that.

As yard signs pop up and electioneering takes place throughout our towns, our county and our country in this presidential election year, let’s take a moment to step back and remember that we’re neighbors first and partisans second.

Some ground rules to help us survive the next three weeks:

1. Agree that it is acceptable to disagree. Uncomfortable debates could happen. Always separate business from neighbor.

2. Recognize good ideas. Acknowledge, recognize and respect each other’s ideas even if they differ from your own. Always assume positive intent.

3. Ask tough questions. Don’t hesitate to ask candidates the tough questions, and hold them accountable to providing answers.

4. Smile. Regardless of the outcome on November 6, life will go on.

5. Study up on the state candidates. Our state house candidates both reside in Routt County, making it that much harder for Eagle County residents to know their stances on issues important to us.

6. Study up on the local candidates. Two seats on the board of county commissioners are open with five candidates seeking to serve our community. Determine where they stand on the issues most important to you and vote accordingly.

7. Study up on the state ballot initiatives. Amendment 64 (legalizing the recreational use of marijuana), amendment 65 (set policy on prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in elections) and amendment S (change aspects to the state personnel system) could all impact Colorado residents.

8. Most importantly, vote! Early voting takes place October 22 through November November 2, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on October 27, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Vail Valley Partnership will not endorse any candidate, as that’s not our role in the community. However, it is our role in the community to help make Eagle County a better place to do business, to support the local business community and to contribute to the economic wellbeing of the community via our destination sales and our economic development efforts.

Despite continued regional collaboration and support for countywide economic development efforts, the reality is that “economic development” alone does not typically create jobs, but rather facilitate the process for existing businesses and entrepreneurs to do so through tools and information (research) and through individual town or county government policies.

With that caveat, some of the questions that I will be asking to help make my voting decision for our state representatives and our local county commissioner elections:

1. How will you help support an environment that can sustain small business growth and attract new business to our community?

2. How will you help support regional collaboration, including regional economic development efforts?

3. What role should the county (or the state for the house seat) play in helping rural airports, such as the Eagle County Regional Airport, succeed and grow?

4. What is your vision for Eagle County?

I’m happy and have a sense of community pride to see that our candidates for election on both sides of the aisle have kept things professional and have not resorted to name-calling. I only wish that the same could be said about the presidential election (on both sides). After all, we are all neighbors and will continue to be neighbors after November 6.

I plan to use the next three weeks to really take the opportunity listen to what the candidates say and the positions they take in the days leading up to the to the election, especially in regards to economic development efforts, support for our airport and to help create a business friendly environment to allow entrepreneurs to succeed and thrive.

It’s our job as voters to determine who gets the job. And these jobs at the state house and the county building are important to our community and state, so be certain to ask the questions that are most important to you. And most importantly, be sure to vote.