VAIL, Colorado — Kerry Donovan is no stranger to Vail politics — getting involved in town government was a family value Donovan learned while growing up in Vail.

Donovan's parents, John and Diana, both served on Town Council and various town boards. Kerry Donovan listened to the inner-workings of the town at the family dinner table, and said she's now ready to do her part.

“I was raised with a deep love for Vail,” Kerry Donovan said. “If you care deeply about a place, then it's your responsibility to be involved.”

Kerry Donovan now serves on Vail's Commission for Special Events and runs a nonprofit organization in Minturn. She went to the University of Notre Dame, but always knew she'd move right back to Vail when school was over, she said.

Donovan said there isn't one major polarizing issue in this election, but there's “so much in the pipeline.”

She's interested in seeing the results of Vail's so-called Billion Dollar Renewal, and wants to see the town come up with some ideas for how to spend the $9 million conference center fund. She said the economy is also an obvious concern for the next council.

She said the town could be more transparent in the sense that it makes meetings and town information easier to understand and access. She said the language is technical and full of jargon — fixing that could help the residents better understand the town, she said.

She also thinks the town and Vail Resorts could stand to better understand one another. The employee housing units associated with the Arrabelle project did a lot of harm to that relationship, she said.

“I don't see any reason why (the relationship) can't be made better,” Kerry Donovan said.

Kerry Donovan wants to bring what she calls “institutional wisdom” to the Vail Town Council. She said it takes a long time to understand why things are the way they are in town, but she said she has that advantage. From things like the town's history with Vail Resorts to the town's founders' vision for its future.

“Unless you're a part of it, sometimes it's lost,” she said.

Kerry Donovan wants to see the town maintain its image, which she calls “happy and world-class.” Keeping services up to maintain or improve the guest experience “certainly doesn't hurt the local, either,” she said.

Maybe the town could plant pansies instead of poppies, but it can't cut things like bus service or snow plowing, she said.

“We need to get creative,” Kerry Donovan said. “We still need Christmas lights and flowers — we've got to maintain the postcards.”

While Kerry Donovan agrees that the town's reserves, at about $22 million, are healthy, she said the town shouldn't consider using the money without giving it serious thought. The town hasn't reached dire economic straits to have to worry about it, but Kerry Donovan said the town needs to prioritize the capital projects so it can remain ready to deal with any economic curveballs that come its way.

What has to remain a priority, though, is the town's image and the experience visitors have when they come here, she said.

“If the town isn't world class, then businesses can't be world class and the resort can't be world class,” Kerry Donovan said.

Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com

Question-and-answer

Vail Daily: What makes you the best candidate for the next Vail Town Council?

Kerry Donovan: I grew-up in Vail and its government, so while I am new to council, I am not new to Vail politics.

I am a new set of eyes with an uncommon background of knowledge. I have been commenting on the need for a cooperative and open discourse that focuses on common goals, shared values and sustainable choices. Not only does this take confidence but a willingness to put aside personal aspirations and interests.

I believe the shared values on which I base my decisions — community, natural surroundings, historic perspective, and being informed and attentive — are best suited for the next unpredictable and challenging four years. From serving on the Eagle River Water Shed, the Commission on Special Events and the Eagle River Scholarship Fund, to volunteering for numerous organizations, I am a community-centric individual. You can confidently believe that when I am in the council seat it will never be about me, and it will always be about Vail.

In my years with the Vail Valley Foundation and currently with the Minturn Community Fund, and as academic tutor with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, I held influential roles and interacted with a variety of personalities, socio-economic groups and cultures. I have yet to encounter a person with whom I couldn't build a relationship. Relationships are essential to be a productive member of council.

VD: With an unpredictable economy, how should the town spend its money? Are there areas of the budget where you think money could be cut or added?

KD: In Vail, the seasonality of the snow and the reliance on Mother Nature for blue skies saddles almost every year with an unpredictable economy. Thus, every line item should be examined and shown to be productive and essential. The current council has done just that and I have faith that going forward we will continue to be prudent, but not paralyzed, by the fear of the unknown economy.

We must keep the flowers in beds, the twinkle-lights on the trees and the buses running. The town must support a postcard setting and level of service that is world class. Only by maintaining the town and its services to the highest standards for its residents and guests can we expect business to flourish and Vail to return to our rightful spot as number one.

VD: The Vail Citizens for Action group is proposing an increase in the lodging tax to pay for more marketing, which would also free up some general

fund money. What do you think of this idea?

KD: First, praise to the Vail Citizens for Action for starting a public dialogue about important issues — thank you! The proposed increase in the lodging tax does not seem appropriate at this time. While the Vail Citizens for Action suggest that guests are largely indifferent to a tax increase, the public dialogue since indicates that guests are aware of final costs. This perceived need for a tax increase necessitates a larger discussion of future funding sources and marketing venues.

VD: How transparent is Vail government?

KD: Some government actions are very transparent in that you can see right through them — this is not the transparency we need.

Instead, we need clear direction created in an ethical environment of trust that allows the public to understand why things are happening. As a council person, I will encourage an open and early two-way discussion between the parties involved and members of the public — let's be open about the direction we are going.

We can also get rid of the alphabet soup of acronyms and jargon that become the habit of staff and council. We need to increase public education on procedural matters like why executive sessions are necessary. Even simple steps like putting meeting agendas on the town's homepage would begin to make it a more welcoming process. Personally, I will host events to actively engage the public in a setting outside the town hall.

VD: Affordable housing is a topic that never goes away in Vail, how do you think the town is doing on affordable housing?

KD: The council continues to make positive strides in the employee housing venue. Going forward, the town needs to have stronger guarantees that housing requirements are fulfilled. The Timber Ridge redevelopment cannot be compromised by the desire to get out of debt and needs to be an outstanding example of what this town can produce for its working people. We must ensure that all new deed restricted housing reflect the current needs of the community.

VD: What do you think of the job the current town council has done?

KD: At times, personal agendas have interfered with teamwork and have prevented the current council from achieving its full potential and productivity. That being said, I commend the council for choices in the past year regarding increased marketing and maintaining the special events budget. While other resorts tightened the belt in panic, the council pushed the Vail brand. We can thank them for us being better off than our surrounding resorts.

VD: How should Vail solve its parking problems?

KD: Vail needs to be innovative with all our problems, but especially parking. Let's look at establishing a centralized clearinghouse of all available private parking that is updated to the minute, perhaps even an application for cell phones could be created. Let's make sure the boulevard plan for the South Frontage Road, from the round-about to the parking structure, is finished in order to ensure safer crossing for when we have to utilize on-road parking.

In some regards, parking is a self perpetuating problem, hence the reason we have been talking about it for decades. As long as there is the perception that parking is available for every vehicle, then people will continue to drive and seek out that perceived parking. We need to push mass transit, car pooling and educate the day skier about the limited parking.

VD: What's the most urgent issue Vail needs to address?

KD: We need to wrap up the Billion Dollar Renewal, and adjust our spotlight back to the guest experience while we re-build the community that was forgotten during the renaissance. The past years of development have created a market replete with new product and a handsome cobblestone town. Let's redirect our focus to making sure we are providing world-class service to accompany the new product of cobblestone streets full of happy guests and proud locals. Let's bring back some levity to the community and some events that are just for us.

And as we all know, everything that benefits the community makes the guest experience more enjoyable. We need to have Disneyland-style service powered by the beating heart of a strong community.