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Vail sets council candidates, broadband ballot question for November vote

VAIL — The Nov. 7 town of Vail regular municipal election will be conducted as a polling place election at the Vail Municipal Building, 75 South Frontage Road, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will decide two items: Vail Town Council members and a ballot proposal addressing the town’s ability to provide cable television services, telecommunications services and high-speed internet services.

Candidates

Vail voters will select four town council members, who will join the remaining three members whose terms will expire in 2019. The four seats are held by Jenn Bruno, Dave Chapin, Dick Cleveland and Greg Moffet. Town of Vail elections are nonpartisan. In accordance with the town’s charter, voters may select as many as four candidates. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will serve four-year terms, while the fourth highest vote-getter will serve a two-year term. The mayor and mayor pro tem are elected from among the council members, and each serves a two-year term.



The candidates are:

• Jenn Bruno

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• Dave Chapin

• Travis Coggin

• Mark Gordon

• Rodney Johnson

• Bart Longworth

• Greg Moffet

• Edward Padilla

• Brian Rodine

• Taylor Strickland

Lynda Van Norman withdrew from the candidate pool Sept. 5.

Ballot Question No. 1

In addition, voters will consider a ballot question that asks for approval to restore local authority to provide cable television services, telecommunications services and high-speed internet services.

The Vail Town Council approved the ballot proposal and joins Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn and Eagle County in asking voters for permission to opt out of a state law which prohibits the use of public money to provide or improve access to high-speed internet and other telecommunications services — either on their own or in partnership with an existing company. The town of Vail does not intend to provide such services, but the council deemed it was time to put forth the question to the voters along with other neighboring communities.

The ballot question text is:

Ballot Title: Authorizing Municipal High-Speed Internet Services (Advanced Services), Telecommunication Services and Cable Television Services

Ballot Text: Without increasing taxes, shall the Town of Vail have the legal right to provide high-speed internet services (advanced services), telecommunications services and cable television services to residents, businesses, schools, libraries, nonprofit entities and other users of such services, either directly or indirectly with public or private sector partners, as expressly permitted by Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 29-27-101 through 304, entitled “Competition in Utility and Entertainment Services”?

Candidate Briefing and Forum

The Vail Town Clerk’s Office will host a Sept. 13 public briefing for Vail Town Council candidates from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the town council chambers. The briefing will include a budget overview and updates on topics ranging from redevelopment projects in Vail to economic development to updates on environmental initiatives. Candidates will also be encouraged to ask questions of the town staff for additional information-gathering.

A public candidate forum sponsored by the Vail Chamber and Business Association will be held Oct. 19 at Donovan Pavilion, 1600 South Frontage Road. For more information, contact the chamber at info@vailchamber.org. For questions about the Vail election, contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 970-479-2136 or accesses the town’s website, http://www.vailgov.com/election.


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