12/05/2024
Around Thanksgiving in 2019, a winter storm brought almost 2 feet of snow to the Town. In the days following, the snow would melt, freeze, melt, freeze - to the point where it was like a luge trying to drive to my house. A member of the Board of Trustees at that time lived within my neighborhood, so I reached out to him - asking why our roads weren't plowed. Reviewing the Town's financials, I saw that we had the funds on hand to be able to do so, so was curious as to why I was having to drive on an ice rink to get home. The Trustee responded to my request, and after a handful of correspondences and conversations over the coming weeks, he asked me "have you ever considered running for the Board of Trustees?"
In April 2020, I ran for Board of Trustees, and then was appointed to the Town's Planning Commission shortly after. As a Planning Commissioner, I learned a lot about how the Town worked and identified specific issues which I wanted to affect change in. Specifically, the first item I tackled was to lobby the Board of Trustee Members and the other Planning Commissioners to allow the Planning Commission to start the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan which had last been fully updated in 2005-06. Shortly thereafter, the process began, and I was dually appointed to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Steering Committee. As of a couple of months ago, this process culminated in the approval and passage of the Town's first real Comprehensive Plan in nearly 20 years.
In April 2022, I ran again for the Board of Trustees, and was fortunate enough to be elected to a 4 year term. While the time that I have served has not been without its challenges, it has truly been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as Trustee (now Town Council Member). Over the past 2-1/2 years, I took the responsibility bestowed upon me by the residents to heart: asking a litany of questions on almost every single topic - trying to ensure that each item that came before us was in the best interest of our residents, that each project was well thought out and every angle covered, as well to ensure that every dollar we spent was done so responsibly.
With the passage of the Town's Home Rule Charter in November of 2023, my term was cut short in order to move to Council Districts - which meant I would have to campaign again for a 3rd time in 4 years if I wanted to retain my seat. This past June, I decided that I would run again. For the next 4 months, I put countless hours and work into campaigning - not just for me, but for some of the other candidates as well.
I am absolutely thrilled for Andrew Moore for Mayor of Erie, Colorado, Brandon Bell - Erie Council Member, Brian O'Connor: Council Candidate, District 3, Town of Erie, CO, and John Mortellaro. While it is a bittersweet victory, there is so much that still needs to be done at Town Hall.
Although my campaign was not successful, without all of the support I received over the past 5 years, none of the items accomplished would have been possible. I would like to thank the thousands of individuals who supported me over the years - whether it be by voting, canvassing, poll watching, contributing, displaying a yard sign, attending an event for me, or through the words of appreciation and encouragement provided, or countless interactions that I have had with residents. I would also like to thank my Wife and Son, who allowed me to spend almost every weekend these past few months campaigning, and allowed me to spend my week nights sitting in or preparing for countless Town meetings.
While it appears as though my time working on behalf of the Town's residents may be coming to an end, I will continue to honor the commitment I made to the Town until the new Council is seated in January - by attending all of the Town or regional board and commission meetings I am appointed to, showing up to our last Council meeting next week and treating each agenda item before us just like I have for the past 5 years. And because I know that life happens, if a vacancy happens to occur with either of the current District 1 Council Members-elect and I am asked to fill their seat as the next runner-up (as outlined in our Home Rule Charter), I will happily honor the commitment I made to Erie and its residents by stepping up once again.
Thank you Erie, for everything that you have done for me!
-Andrew
