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In search of a reasonable dialogue

Veronica Whitney
NWS Bob Trueblood SM 8-31 Shane Macomber/smacomber@vaildaily.com The District's Strategic Capital Planning Manager Bob Trueblood is running for Avon Town Council.
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A week after he arrived in Vail in March 2001 to start his job with the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Bob Trueblood received a citation from the Avon Police department -a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail.”It was for an odor complaint,” he said. “The odors were an ongoing concern with the town of Avon.”Trueblood was able to work with the Town Council on an intergovernmental agreement that held both agencies to certain expectations without wasting taxpayers money going to court, he said. “That was my first introduction to Avon and the Avon Town Council – kind of a rough start,” Trueblood said. “But things have gone well in the past years. Their efforts were justified.”These days, Trueblood, who now lives in Avon and is a member of the town’s advisory Planning and Zoning Commission, is vying for one of three seats at the Avon Town Council.”I’d like to bring a moderate voice to council,” said Trueblood, who has lived in Avon for three years. “A lot of what I’ve done in the past years is participate in local government activities whenever I can and in whatever role.”Other people’s moneyAmong the assets he will bring to council if he’s elected, Trueblood said, is his long-lasting relationship with government agencies.

“For the past 26 years, I’ve been involved with government agencies,” he said. “I’ve been through the budgeting process. I’ve been through good and bad budget cycles. I understand the day-to-day operation of the community and I have a strong appreciation that we are spending other people’s money.”Some of the biggest issues facing Avon include employee housing and defining what affordable housing is, Trueblood said.”This is a great place to live, but at the same time it’s a difficult place to work and live because of the cost of living,” he said. “People here need to compete for the housing and jobs. I’d like to see more employer’s providing employee housing.”As with other candidates, the future of the Village at Avon in the east end of town is a concern, Trueblood said. “The Village at Avon has a lot it can offer to the community if it’s done right,” he said. “The developer has some things he would like to do different and the neighborhood would like to see some things done differently. There’s the voice of reason and the opportunity to negotiate changes. “Ready for the changeTrueblood has worked across the country and even in Malaysia, he said. “Working in Malaysia was very educational,” he said. “I learned about different cultures and different ways of doing things.”Although he has been on the Planning and Zoning Commission for more than a year, Trueblood said he’s ready to get on council.”The Planing and Zoning Commission approves projects based on the approved guidelines. The council writes or approves the ordinances. Council has the regulatory control of what is acceptable and not,” he said.

Avon Town Councilwoman Debbie Buckley said Trueblood has a proven track record with the water district.”He’s also proven to be a responsible and independent thinker at the Planning and Zoning Commission,” Buckley said. “And we’re both from Indiana.”Chris Evans ,a business owner and resident of Avon, said he supports Trueblood’s candidacy.”He’s definitely shown some good insight when it comes to community issues,” Evans said. “I have a good feeling about Bob. He is really doing it for the right reasons. He’s interested in the town.”Although he works full time in Vail, Trueblood said he’s ready to use some of his vacation time to fulfill his work on council.”A reasonable dialogue can lead to some proper decisions,” he said. “I don’t have a burning issue to work on, I just want to participate in government. I believe we all have an obligation to give back to the community.”Staff writer Veronica Whitney can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 454 or vwhitney@vaildaily.com. ==========================================Bob TruebloodAge: 47



Family: Wife, Jan; three adult children, Aaron, Amy and Kyda.Place of birth: IndianapolisProfession: Manager of strategic and capital planning for the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District.Recent favorite book: “Leadership” by Rudy Giuliani.Favorite food: Cookies.Favorite beverage: Diet coke (so I can have more cookies).Hobbies: Computers, skiing and work.Where did you meet your wife? At a Village Pantry convenience store where they worked part-time jobs.What two people, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? Abraham Lincoln and Ben Franklin.==============================================Vail, Colorado


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