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Goudy, Warnick square off for CMC board seat

Will Grandbois
wgrandbois@postindependent.com
Kathy Goudy

CMC CANDIDATE Campaign FINANCES

Candidates for the contested seat on the Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees disclosed their campaign finances in filings with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office as of Oct. 19. Here’s what they reported:

Kathy Goudy, incumbent

Contributions: $1,587

Spent: $1,110

Balance: $477

Jon Warnick, challenger

Contributions: $11,400

Spent: $6,823

Balance: $4,577

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — With four Colorado Mountain College board positions up for election, the sole contested race is in District 2, which covers most of Glenwood Springs and Basalt as well as part of Carbondale.

Incumbent Kathy Goudy came to the area in 1999 as the executive director of Aspen Legal Services. She later took up private practice as a defense attorney. She and her husband, George Hendricks, have two sons, ages 27 and 24.

Challenger Jon Warnick retired to Aspen Glen in 1998 after an international career in the computer industry. He has served on numerous CMC boards, including four years as the foundation chair, and has enrolled in 34 courses so far.



At the Post Independent’s request, they answered a series of questions on their policies and background.

Why do you want to be on the board?

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Goudy: I want to be re-elected to continue the work begun in the past four years. Vocational education that meets the needs of local employers still needs to be expanded, and I hope to continue the push to reduce locals’ tuition, as they already have endowed CMC through their taxes.

Warnick: CMC has a very enlightened leader with Dr. Carrie Hauser and a strong executive team. They are aggressively making the college even better and moving CMC to the next level of educational achievement. With my business background and a commitment to education, my objective is to help Dr. Hauser and her team implement their strategic vision to become the most innovative, inclusive, student-centered college in the nation.

What is your experience with CMC and education in general?

Warnick: I have been involved with CMC over the past 15 years. My CMC experience as a student can be defined by the 34 CMC courses I’ve taken. I have also been on the CMC Foundation Board for eight years, chaired the Foundation Board for four years, was treasurer and chaired the Finance Committee through the difficult 2008 economic downturn. After eight years and term limit constraints on the Foundation Board, I was invited to become a member on the Board of Overseers, an advisory board to Dr. Hauser.

I have MBA and JD degrees from the University of Denver. I also hold bachelor’s degrees in engineering and business from the University of Colorado. Before retiring, I led a customer focus education program for 60,000 corporate employees worldwide.

I lived in Tokyo and in London and believe the international experience has given me an opportunity to see education around the world.

Goudy: I enjoy taking classes at my community college. I am hard-wired for teaching and learning, coming from generations of teachers. CMC is remarkable in having the capacity to offer diverse courses — lifelong enrichment and academics, while focusing on future students through classes and mentoring for high school students.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing CMC?

Goudy: The difficulty in balancing financially the demands of courses in academics, vocational tech and life-long quality of life courses. CMC needs to evaluate if it should grow, or should CMC strengthen from within to enhance what already exists? Do we need more academic core schools and dorms? Should we begin new construction projects? How best to serve the locals and encourage them to utilize CMC?

Warnick: Higher education costs impact all of our students. Today, a large number high school graduates are unprepared for the rigors of college. CMC is partnering with high schools in our district with the goal of providing college preparatory classes. This is an incredible opportunity for the students in our high schools to have an introduction to CMC. It will save time and money for both CMC and the students.

CMC has embraced the concurrent enrollment program, which allows high school students to get required college courses while they are still in high school. This will help CMC students graduate on time and will reduce the costs involved in getting either an associate or bachelor degree.

What is its biggest strength?

Warnick: The college has an outstanding faculty who are part of the communities they serve. The 12:1 faculty to student ratio and the lowest tuition rate in Colorado make CMC highly desirable. In addition, the CMC President’s Scholarship Award, available to every graduating local high school senior is a unique strength. These distinctive advantages provide students an affordable education while graduating on time.

The addition of five new bachelor’s degrees represents an opportunity for CMC to move to an even higher level of educational achievement and satisfy the diverse needs of the communities served.

Goudy: CMC is financially secure. The inclusiveness for all residents of the six counties continues to expand. CMC does not rely on a tuition-based economic model. The trustee position has no financial remuneration, and never will, as the board should not have fiduciary interests in the college which could influence policy and budget decisions.

What is your biggest strength?

Warnick: I have been directly involved with CMC over the past 15 years as a student, board member and adviser. My education includes an MBA degree and 30 years of business experience with IBM focusing on strategic planning and long-term budgeting. I understand technology and the challenges and opportunities it brings to CMC.

I believe higher education is at a crucial time in this country and CMC is poised to move ahead to even greater levels of achievement. My experience and background make me uniquely qualified to help Dr. Hauser and the CMC executive team implement their strategic vision to become the most innovative, inclusive, student-centered college in the nation.

Goudy: Each campus of CMC has unique populations and needs, and I have learned these in serving you for the past four years as trustee. I have strong skills in pulling together divergent questions, and working towards solutions. The board represents the constituents and the financial security of CMC. The CMC administration represents the college, and at times there are differences between what is best for the school versus what is best for the population. I mediate these diverging interests, while holding true to the interests of the residents, who are my primary concern.

How would you represent the District 2?

Goudy: I have the energy to do what needs to be done. I am accessible, involved in local events, and I know the pulse of the working people of the valley. I know the district, its people, desires and challenges and as I work for the betterment of CMC, I integrate this knowledge. It’s important that CMC and its curriculum serve the constantly evolving civic, social and vocational needs of our valley and its daughters and sons.

Warnick: Over the past 15 years, I have taken classes and been involved with activities all three local campuses; Spring Valley, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. During this time, I have known and become good friends with many of the local faculty and staff. My community involvement with both CMC and Valley View Hospital help me understand the local issues. I stand ready to fairly represent District 2 residents and taxpayers in a fair and balanced manner.


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