13 community members file for Steamboat Springs City Council race
Scott Franz
Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs voters will have plenty of options this November when they choose the elected officials they want to oversee such important tasks as hiring a new city manager and possibly building a new public safety facility.
Thirteen community members filed to run for the Steamboat Springs City Council ahead of Monday’s filing deadline.
All four seats are now contested, and six candidates are vying for the District 1 spot.
The candidates are young and old, politically experienced and political newcomers.
And with Council President Bart Kounovsky and Councilwoman Sonja Macys sitting out the race, there are guaranteed to be four new council members come November.
City Clerk Julie Franklin said she hasn’t seen this many candidates file for a city council race during her 15 years in the clerk’s office.
Planning commissioners.
Educators.
Young professionals.
The race is poised to feature these candidates and more.
The new city council members will inherit several tasks currently are in flux, including selecting a new permanent manager for the city, possibly pursuing a shared public safety facility with Routt County, considering affordable housing policies and prioritizing millions of dollars worth of potential infrastructure improvements downtown.
Steamboat Today will soon profile and feature each of the candidates to learn more about why they are running.
Here’s an early look at who has filed for a shot at the job:
District 1
Rich Levy, Steamboat Springs planning commissioner, massage therapist
Patrick Slowey, history teacher at Steamboat Springs High School
Tim Kirkpatrick, businessman, former owner of Steamboat Flyfisher
Robin Crossan, Steamboat Springs School Board member
Angela Finnegan, residential assessor for Routt County
Michael Shaler, Steamboat Leadership Institute
District 2
Michael Buccino, interior designer, owner of Steamboat Interiors
Jason Lacy, Steamboat Springs Planning Commission chairman, partner at Steamboat Lawyers Group,
District 3
Heather McLaughlin-Sloop, community affairs and regulatory manager at Southwestern Energy
Erin Walker, Young Professionals Network, Development Director at Strings Music Festival
Christopher Harnden, Colorado Mountain College Counselor
At large
Chuck McConnell, retired chemical engineer, author
Kathi Meyer, Yampa Valley Housing Authority board president, Steamboat Springs Planning commissioner, retired commercial real estate lender
City Clerk Julie Franklin has started the process of certifying the candidates’ petitions.
If it is determined any candidate has not collected enough valid signatures, he or she will be given an additional three days to collect the required number.
To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210, email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottFranz10
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