Candidates explain what makes them qualified for city council

Over the last three days in these newspaper pages, the six candidates who are vying for two open Aspen City Council seats have told us about themselves, why they are running and their positions on issues of local importance ranging from the entrance to Aspen to how the Armory Hall redevelopment project should be handled.

In today’s fourth and final installment of the question-and-answer series with the candidates, the Aspen Daily News asks about their backgrounds in government and/or community involvement. Election Day is 18 days away (March 4) but ballots already have been mailed to the city’s voters. 

Here’s what the candidates had to say with regard to the final question: Briefly describe what makes you qualified to serve on the Aspen City Council. List any boards or commissions you have served on in local government and/or describe how you have served the community in the past. 

John Doyle

I believe my last four years on council have shown the community my commitment not just to Aspen, but our regional community. All my decisions are based in trying to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, provide as much affordable housing as possible, and attempt to slow down the pace and scale of development.

I sometimes feel my role on council is similar to attending grad school: many diverse subjects, lots of reading, occasional late nights, deadlines, etc.

I am a student and there is always more to learn.

During my last four years on City Council, we have:

• Completed Burlingame III, adding 79 units of employee housing to our community.

• Approved the Lumberyard housing development, which will add around 275 more units of affordable housing for our community.

• Implemented Building IQ, a system that measures the energy use of homes and businesses in Aspen, as well as the greenhouse gas emitted by our buildings.

• Implemented new Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority programs, including grants for home repairs.

• Oversaw the completion of a new public park, Dolinsek Gardens, as well as the Maroon Creek Trail.

• Restarted the conversation on the entrance to Aspen.

In addition, for the last four years, I’ve served on these boards and commissions:

• CAST (Colorado Association of Ski Towns): We meet to discuss issues common to ski towns, such as housing, short-term rentals, public transit and more.

• CML (Colorado Municipal League): This group is comprised of every municipality in Colorado. We discuss issues common to towns and cities across Colorado.

• CORE (Community Office of Resource Efficiency): This group’s focus is on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Aspen-Snowmass Nordic Council: This group is focused on Aspen’s very extensive Nordic skiing system.

Also, I volunteered for the boards of three more entities after our last council election two years ago. These include the Pitkin County Board of Health, which is focused on local and regional public health; RWAPA (Ruedi Water and Power Authority), whose concerns include water flows in our western Colorado rivers and streams, water temperature fluctuations, the threat of invasive mussels on our water infrastructure, hydropower and endangered fish; and the big one, Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority, which has seen many new developments with the introduction of a rightsizing program, grants secured for home repairs and much more.

I am eager to continue with the great work that has been started under my first term. I believe continuity is very important, especially with this election where three council seats are up for grabs. I believe I am in a position to provide that continuity for the next four years. The time and effort I put into this role are very rewarding to me. It feels good to give back to this community that has given me everything and made me who I am today. 

Tyler Wilkinson-Ray

First, I am a local small business owner. I run a small photo and video studio, so I know the challenges of running a small business in Aspen such as finding office space, finding housing for myself and retaining employees. I make the creative assets for a wide range of businesses in town which gives me the opportunity to hear the numerous struggles local businesses are currently facing.

Second, I have a background in government affairs and public policy. Before moving to Aspen, I worked for the top-ranked government affairs firm in Vermont, The Necrason Group, where I got to learn under a group of very smart attorneys how to craft good public policy and find creative solutions to policy issues. Vermont is very different than Aspen, but I was able to represent many clients whose issues overlap with issues facing Aspen such the Vermont Affordable Housing and Conservation Coalition (APCHA), Efficiency Vermont (CORE), Solid Waste Districts (recycling and the dump), Let Kids Grow (child care), Vermont Land Trust and Preservation Trust of Vermont (open space and historic preservation), as well as business clients like BlackStone where I worked on public-private partnerships to build large-scale infrastructure projects (Lumberyard).

The reason I highlight this background is that the challenges facing Aspen are no longer on the scale of small-town politics. Looking to the future, we need leadership that has a strong background in crafting good policy and confidence to make the tough decisions that the city will face in order ensure this community can continue to thrive for decades to come.

Emily Kolbe

There are many issues facing our Aspen community that require critical analysis, objective perspectives and creative solutions. My educational background in Human Ecology enables me to invest myself deeply in the understanding of the relationships between humans and their natural, social and built environments. 

In my nearly 20 years running a local business, I’ve employed hundreds of employees — training, working with and managing staff — from local youth to international students. I understand how to analyze financial data, balance budgets, and maintain and manage inventory, as well as the ebb and flow of the seasonal nature of business operations in this resort community.

My time as an educator in the Aspen School District provided me with forward-planning skills, a focus on long-term results, as well as a commitment to working for the greater good of a community. It also offered an intimate understanding of our education system from a teacher’s perspective. 

Beyond these commitments, I’ve served on boards ranging from the Kids First Advisory Board to the College Outreach Advisory Board. I’ve volunteered in several capacities (soccer coach, the Western Slope College Fair, Ski Swap, etc.). In my spare time, I find solace in skiing (alpine and nordic), biking, hiking, swimming and frequenting our beautiful open spaces and trails with my two golden retrievers. 

Aspen’s issues are interconnected, and each challenges the community to assess our values. My values have been honed by three generations of my family living, working, attending school, recreating and retiring in this beautiful place we choose to make home. I want to offer my perspective, approach and skillset to our local government and would be honored to serve on Aspen City Council.  

Christine Benedetti

I moved to Aspen in 2006 to report for this newspaper, the Aspen Daily News. In my first year, I covered city council and planning and zoning meetings, so my introduction into local politics was fast and furious. As a journalist (I’m still the editor-in-chief for Local magazine and I also research and write for a digital media company), the ability to quickly and objectively analyze complex information is a skillset that would benefit city council.

I have experience on several civic and nonprofit boards. Currently, I serve as vice chair of the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission; as board president for the Early Learning Center, the upper valley’s largest child care provider; and as a board member for the Aspen Historical Society. I volunteer at the Thrift Shop on select Tuesday nights. Previously, I co-founded and then served on the Next Generation Advisory Commission, a former city advisory board advocating for the interests of the under-40 demographic, and I was on the Wheeler Opera House board for 10 years. Prior experience also includes involvement with Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Wilderness Workshop, English in Action and youth sports coaching.

This is all to say that I have experience in many worlds: nonprofit, for-profit and government. That cross-section of Aspen — along with my varying roles as a professional, a parent, an outdoor enthusiast and a neighbor — informs my decision-making on what’s best for Aspen. 

Scot Woolley

I was born and raised in Aspen and graduated from the Aspen School District. My deep connections to this town have shaped both my personal and professional life. My mother was a teacher here for almost 30 years, and my father started the Aspen Carriage Company. They taught me the importance of education and entrepreneurship. My adopted grandparents were Fritz and Fabi Benedict, who taught me the importance of community engagement, philanthropy and long-term vision. My experience spans education, international business, environmental policy and entrepreneurship. 

I have degrees in Environmental Public Policy and Mandarin Chinese Language from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While there, I built programs that connected stakeholders to address energy inefficiencies in the student housing stock and established student groups that connected industry leaders to students interested in renewable energy. I took on this experience to work for the Colorado Carbon Fund, leveraging public and private investments to support projects in Colorado that offset carbon emissions and promote sustainability projects locally.

Later, I pursued opportunities in China to establish a private school and open a Thai restaurant and underground social club. I lived there for more than a decade and helped to build community through my businesses and through community outreach to protect the river systems and promote outdoor recreation and cultural vibrancy.

As an educator, entrepreneur, and small business owner, I understand the challenges of operating in tourist destinations, from high costs and seasonal cycles to the need for balance between people and prices. I currently work as a business consultant and financial advisor and serve on the APCHA board, where I am actively involved in housing policy discussions, sustainable development initiatives and community-building efforts. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to fostering a community-first approach to governance, ensuring that the voices of residents — both longtime locals and newcomers — are heard and respected.

I believe in collaborative, solutions-driven leadership, where all stakeholders — residents, businesses and policymakers — work together to build a more resilient city. Aspen must remain a place that values its people as much as its reputation. My experience as a local resident, business owner, educator and entrepreneur makes me uniquely positioned to bridge divides and craft policies that serve Aspen’s long-term future. I am running for city council because I believe Aspen deserves leadership that is bold, pragmatic and committed to keeping Aspen a truly innovative community.  

Torre

What makes me qualified to serve on city council is my commitment to the Aspen community and my ability to listen, collaborate and move Aspen forward responsibly. I have lived and worked in Aspen for over 30 years, and have the experience and history to understand and address the issues, challenges and opportunities. 

I have served eight years on city council and six years as Aspen mayor. I am proud of my service and my record on the issues. I am always available for any questions, requests or input. I take the responsibilities of this job very seriously. I work for each one of you and represent the will of the community.

I have served on and currently sit on many boards and have good working relationships throughout the valley and beyond. I see the good work we have in front of us, and I have the energy, commitment, patience and experience to keep Aspen moving forward while respecting and honoring our history and legacy. I ask for your vote to keep working for you on the issues that impact our quality of life, economy and community.

Note: Candidate Christine Benedetti is married to Aspen Daily News Publisher David Cook.