A TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE WHO RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY QUESTIONS
Summit Daily News Q&A
Q: What is a council decision that you've disagreed with, and why?
I disagree with the 2026 decision to require fire sprinklers in single-family homes exceeding 4,500 square feet, and I believe the net effect is less safety, not more.
I understand the intent. Wildfire risk is real in Summit County and public safety is a core responsibility of local government. But this threshold creates a powerful chilling effect on exactly the kind of property investment Frisco needs. Under building codes, a major renovation or addition that pushes a property past the square footage trigger can require retrofitting sprinklers throughout the entire existing structure, not just the new portion. That dramatically changes the economics of updating older properties. Owners who might otherwise redevelop or add density simply won't, because the cost becomes unworkable.
That directly reduces the opportunity for density and workforce housing. Fewer renovations mean fewer updated units, fewer ADUs, fewer conversions. The policy intended to improve safety ends up freezing older housing stock in place and reducing the very housing supply our workforce depends on. The result is greater community expense and fewer housing options across the board. If we are serious about fire safety, the investment belongs in defensible space programs, forest management, and coordinated emergency response. Those address the actual wildland interface threat. A sprinkler threshold that discourages renovation and density is a poor trade.
Q: What is a council decision you agree with, and why?
I support the council's decision to implement a tiered water rate structure and move forward with PFAS treatment at Well 7.
These were hard choices, and the council made them correctly. Our water supply is the most fundamental infrastructure we have. The discovery of PFAS contamination at Well 7 required action, and the $8.1 million treatment system is a necessary investment in public health. There is no version of responsible governance that delays that.
The tiered rate structure is sound policy. It funds critical capital repairs while creating a conservation incentive. Residents who use water responsibly pay less. High-volume users pay more. That is fair, and it is forward-looking given the drought conditions we are now experiencing. Governing means making unpopular decisions when the facts require it. This was one of those moments, and the council got it right.
Q: Do you agree with the town's approach to deed restrictions for workforce housing projects? Why or why not?
I support the direction of the 2025 Standard Housing Restrictive Covenant update, and I want to go further on one point.
The extended depreciation schedule for capital improvements is smart policy. It encourages owners to maintain and upgrade their properties, which protects the long-term quality of the housing stock. The appreciation rate increase from 3% to 3.5% helps current owners build equity and I support that direction, though the council should monitor it to ensure prices don't outpace local wages over time. Where I would go further is on ownership restrictions. The 2025 update allows deed-restricted homeowners to own one property outside Colorado. I don't think we should be limiting that at all. The purpose of this program is to give the next generation a foothold, a chance to get into the community and start building a life. If someone qualifies, works hard, and succeeds well enough to acquire additional property, that is exactly what we hoped for when we created the program. Why would we penalize that? Capping ownership sends the wrong message. It says we want you here, but only up to a point.
The requirement should be simple: live here, work here, be part of this community. Beyond that, let people build success. That is what Frisco is for.
Q: Many readers have listed cost of living as a key concern this year. How would you use your position to help folks who are struggling to pay bills and meet their necessities?
Cost of living pressure in Frisco is real, and it operates on two fronts: what things cost and what people earn.
On the cost side, I support the programs already in place. Childcare scholarships, food pantries, and community resources through organizations like FIRC provide a genuine safety net. Those partnerships deserve continued funding and visibility so people know they exist. On the income side, the most durable solution is a strong local economy with good jobs. That means keeping Frisco accessible to the businesses that employ people and the visitors who generate the revenue that supports town services. A council that treats the business community as the problem will make cost of living worse, not better.
The two deed-restricted rental projects coming online, Galena Workforce Housing and 101 West Main, will directly reduce housing cost pressure for working residents. That is the most meaningful near-term intervention available to us.
My role is to make sure those pieces work together, not against each other.
Q: Coming off of a low-snow season, with much of Summit County listed in extreme or extraordinary drought, how will you use your position to protect public safety and residents quality of life?
A low-snow year touches everything: wildfire risk, water supply, and the economic health of a community that depends on winter tourism.
On public safety, the priority is wildfire preparedness. That means continued investment in defensible space programs, active forest management, and clear, well-communicated evacuation planning. We need strong coordination between the town, local fire districts, and county agencies. This is not a year to defer that work.
On water, the tiered rate structure and the PFAS treatment investment the council just approved are exactly the right foundation. Drought conditions make those decisions look even smarter in retrospect.
On economic resilience, a difficult tourism year is a reminder that Frisco's long-term health depends on being a year-round destination, not just a winter one. That means investing in what draws people here in every season and making sure our business community has a partner in town government, not an adversary.
Frisco has weathered hard years before. Preparation and partnership are how we do it again.
Q: What are the core roles that local government should focus on?
Local government works best when it knows what it is and stays focused on it.
First, essential services. Public safety, clean water, reliable infrastructure, and well-maintained public spaces are not optional. They are the baseline. A council that chases ambitious initiatives while neglecting the basics is failing its residents.
Second, a healthy local economy. In Frisco, that means recognizing that small businesses, visitors, and property owners are not competing interests to be managed. They are the engine. Policy that undermines any one of them ultimately weakens all of them.
Third, practical solutions to real community needs. Workforce housing is the clearest example. It requires sustained investment, honest measurement of outcomes, and the discipline to let programs work before layering on new ones.
Fourth, and most important to me: serving as a convener. Local government should bring people together, not sort them into sides. The best decisions come from the widest table. That is not a platitude. It is the only way a small community solves complex problems without tearing itself apart.
Q: What are your top 3 priorities from Frisco’s 2025 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan?
Priority 1 — Clean Energy Generation
I believe the generation of clean energy is the highest priority. Much of the 2025 Climate Action Plan focuses on regulating efficiency and electrification but does not adequately address costs and long-term infrastructure stress. The plan leans heavily on Xcel’s 2050 goal of 100% renewable energy. I believe the community’s long-term goals must actively push toward clean energy production rather than wait for Xcel’s timeline. I would advocate for an expedited geothermal initiative.
Priority 2 — Local Renewable Energy Incentives
In line with a desire to increase the generation of clean energy and mitigate the cost of electrification, I would increase local incentives for solar and other residential installations of renewable energy.
Priority 3 — Community-Grounded Energy Code Policy
Key Takeaway #2 on page 24 acknowledges that updating Local Energy Codes did not have strong community buy-in, but concludes that council can implement it regardless. I strongly disagree with that posture. Council should not use its authority to override the expressed preferences of residents. I would ensure that any changes to local energy codes are built on genuine community understanding and support, not implemented around it.
Q: How will you work to advance these priorities?
The key to advancing any agenda is building group buy-in and working as a team. As a council member, my first objective is to be a positive force in creating an open and inclusive political discourse, so that when votes come forward, a strong and unified voice can be heard. On geothermal specifically, Frisco has been selected as a state pilot, I would work to keep that initiative front and center and ensure it receives the community education and funding it deserves.
Q: While an individual community can’t single-handedly solve the climate crisis, if elected, how will you help your community build resilience against these impacts?
The question contains its own answer. Community is first. A strong, welcoming, and open community will share ideas and work together to meet whatever challenges arise. Building a well-managed town with a broad economic footprint and ensuring all voices are considered in the decision process is foundational. Resilience is the outcome of a strong, connected community that cultivates a deep and layered environment for business and civic security. This is what I am running to build.
Q&A: SAVRM and The Lodging Community
Q: What is your position on short term rentals and the current regulations in Frisco?
I own Summit Mountain Rentals. We have been voted the best vacation rental company in Summit County 15 years running. I am proud of the jobs, the workforce housing, and the economic engine our industry represents for this community.
Vacation rentals are the financial and business engine making Frisco possible. The regulations put in place over the last several years have added real pressure on an industry that funds the services this town depends on. A more balanced, partnership-based approach between government and the business community will serve Frisco better.
Q: With the decrease in tourism dollars, how will you mitigate the impact on our community?
Being a community means working together. Frisco thrives when visitors come, businesses succeed, workers have reason to stay and government supports all. The response to a down economy is community partnership, investment in what works, and a council that treats the business community as an ally, not just a revenue source.
Q: With a down economy, does it make sense to continue investing in affordable housing?
The current workforce housing programs are working. We have projects underway across the county, hundreds of units in development, and rents have recently stabilized. The right move now is to let those strategies continue doing their job while we turn our attention to keeping the economy healthy enough to need them.
Frisco and Summit County direct $4 million a year toward workforce housing. That investment deserves to continue. But here is the reality: you do not need workforce housing if you do not need a workforce. Keeping our economy strong is how we protect everything else we have built.
Q: How can we prevent negative national politics from affecting our local community?
Frisco is a community, not a battleground. The anger and division driving national politics do not belong here, Frisco deserves better.
We have the resources, the businesses, natural beauty, and most importantly, the people. All we need is to be neighbors. That is how I will serve on council, keeping Frisco united and focused on what matters locally.
Q: Why do you think 12 community members decided to run for council in Frisco this year?
Twelve people running for four seats tells you something. There is real energy in this community right now, and real discontent with the direction of the current council. People want Frisco to feel like Frisco again, a place where neighbors solve problems together, where the community comes first, and where local decisions are made for local reasons.
I am one of those twelve because this town has everything it needs, and I have the experience to put it to work.