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Three seats open for Avon Town Council

Veronica Whitney
Daily file photoThree seats are up for election on the town council in Avon, shown above in file photo. Councilman Pete Buckley is running for re-election, while Councilman Mike Brown is not. Mayor Buz Reynolds is leaving to run for county commissioner.
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Anybody who wants to make a difference in Avon should run this year for one of three open seats town council, said Councilman Pete Buckley, who has filed a nomination petition for his reelection.

This November, Avon residents will be electing three people to four-year terms on the seven-member Town Council. Aside from Buckley’s seat, Councilman Mike Brown has decided not to run for re-election and Mayor Buz Reynolds is term limited and is running for Eagle County Commissioner. Reynolds is running as an independent against incumbent Arn Menconi and former sheriff A.J. Johnson. Brown, who was elected in 2000, said he isn’t seeking reelection because of his work and family.”It’s been fascinating, but you have to attend to other priorities,” said Brown, who works for Alpine Bank. “I recently got married and I’d like to have more time to start a family.” To be eligible for election, candidates need to fill a nomination petition and get at least 10 signatures from Avon residents who are registered voters.In 2002, 12 candidates ran for four seats on the Town Council. So far, only Buckley and Ron Moreno have filed nomination petitions with the Avon Town Clerk, said Avon Town Clerk Patty McKenny.The deadline for filing the petitions is Aug. 23.”Once the signatures on the petition are verified, they become candidates,” McKenny said. “I actually recommend that they get more than 10 signatures just in case.”Buckley, 48, said his petition has 24 signatures.

“I got a loaded gun here,” he joked. Among the reasons to vote for him, Buckley said he was the only council member to vote for and maintain a balance budget in Avon.”I voted against everyone, including my wife,” said Buckley, whose wife, Debbie, also is a council member. “It takes a lot of time and energy, you always need four votes,” Buckley said. The mayor, elected within the council members at the first meeting after the election, only votes to break a tie.” Council members adopt laws, ordinances, resolutions and rules. They are paid $6,000 per year and meet twice a month. Staff writer Veronica Whitney can be reached at (970) 949-0555, ext. 454 or vwhitney@vaildaily.com. Vail, Colorado


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