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Council and Mayoral Candidates' Comments

We asked the Candidates the following questions about business:

As a new town council member, what will you do to support businesses in town and promote a healthy economy? What are your feelings about the empty storefronts on Elk Avenue and how do you think this can be fixed?

Leah Williams-

As a council we need to be open to explore possibilities and implement ideas those that will benefit our businesses, non-profits and community as a whole. Crested Butte is a small historic district dependent on tourism. We are susceptible to economic downturns since we are dependent on sales tax for much of what we do. We owe it to our 1700 residents including our families who want to stay and raise their kids in "paradise" to be open to building a sustainable economic future.

We as a council we should be apart of discussions among our business owners, non-profits, Elk Avenue property owners, the Chamber, SBDC at Western State, CBMR, Gunnison and Mt. Crested Butte. We have abundant local resources to draw on. Government can't do everything, but we can facilitate interaction with these groups to come up with solutions that work for us all. With vacancies on Elk Avenue the council can play a role in working on partnerships with non-profits and for profit businesses. There are synergies we all benefit from: the programming from the Center for the Arts, Mountain Theater, the Museum, Trailhead Museum enhance the restaurants and shopping experience and create a downtown we all benefit from: locals, tourists and 2nd homeowners.

Don Haver-

Most businesses in town do the majority of their business in the summer season, a lesser amount in the winter season and very little (by comparison) in the two shoulder seasons.

I feel the council needs to do the following:
-Work closer with our Crested Butte business owners, Mt. Crested Butte, CBMR and the Tourism Association to increase visitors during the December-March ski season. We, as a community, will all "sink or swim" together based on how well we all work together to bring more visitors to our valley for the ski season.

-Work closer with local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Association to develop more successful tourist related activities (festivals, events, etc.) during the shoulder seasons.

-When the town is in the financial position, it should add a part-time economic development position to investigate which clean industries (software design, internet related, medical well being, high altitude activities, etc.) would be a fit for our valley. There may also be an opportunity to work with RMBL, Western State College, Gunnison valley hospital and others to determine mutual opportunities where we can bring jobs and/or visitors to the valley. This will never replace the ski industry, but would hopefully bring more full time residents to spend money year round in our town.

Regarding the empty storefronts on Elk Avenue, I feel increased tourism is the only answer. Having been involved in two businesses in town, I know it is difficult to make a profit or break even with only the equivalent of eight months (or less) of good to excellent business each year.

Roland Mason-

As a Council member and a local business owner, supporting local businesses is a priority for me. A large number of us derive income from our businesses, and without each of these entities our economy is not sustainable. The empty store fronts on Elk Ave are a direct result of our country's economic crisis. Three years ago Real Estate companies occupied many of the storefronts. Currently the economy dictates who can afford to rent those now vacant spaces. A proactive Town Council can work with building owners to come up with a short-term plan that would help our local business owners through this economic crisis. Boutique stores and restaurants have always struggled in this town, but they are an integral part of the charm our downtown has to offer tourists. As a Town Council member, I am open to and will work toward new ideas and creative, innovative solutions to ensure that Crested Butte businesses can survive now and in the future.

Jim Schmidt-

The simple answer to supporting business is to get more people to come to town. In the winter we have relied on CBMR for most of our guests and I do support the expansion to Snodgrass in general. I believe that certain mitigations need to take place. I also believe that a covered hockey rink would be a great asset in bringing people in for tournaments, etc. The Nordic Center and races also need to be supported by the town.

I have never been a fan of big, onetime events but I support a series of smaller events, races, concerts, and promotions that avoid the pitfalls of large peaks and valleys in tourism. We must support the TA and CBMR is the promotion of conventions and seminars.
This is a difficult time for tourism throughout the nation and the world for that matter. I think it is incumbent on each and everyone one of us in town to do what we can to insure that our visitors have a positive and memorable experience. Give people a reason to come back. And more than that, this year go the extra mile. Invite twice as many of your friends to come visit. Of course, they might wear out your couch or spare room but they will spend some money and maybe you'll get a free meal or two out of it at one of our great restaurants. Do you have a reunion coming up? A meeting of some group you belong to? Invite them up here. We live in one of the most gorgeous spots in America. For instance, I'm going to work on getting a bridge tournament or two up here. Maybe it draws 50 to 100 people to CB in early June or in September. Every little bit helps.

What are my feelings on empty storefronts? Well, I hate them. I've seen them before as we've gone through cycles of economic prosperity and downturns. They will be occupied as the economy improves.

My philosophy during my nineteen years on the council has always been to make this the best town to live in and that will make it the best place to visit. Economic wellbeing is part of that equation.

Jay Harris-

As a town we are dependent on CBMR every winter to bring in skiers that stay on the mountain and in the evening come to town. I believe it is in the best interest of our town to start truly promoting itself. The chamber is doing what it can, but perhaps we need to look further into the vacation booking realm. If we can book visitors to stay at our fabulous inns, hotels and b&b's in town then we will capture more tax dollars, and in my opinion provide a better experience than that provided by CBMR.

Empty storefronts on Elk Ave. are definitely a product of this economy that can be corrected with more visitors. It is time to re-examine the long standing issue of payment in lieu of parking and the horizontal zoning laws. During good economic times laws are put into place to keep growth in check. It is the duty of the council to do the reverse when the economy turns south.

The remaining candidates did not comment.