Vail Town Council candidate Barry Davis in his own words

If this job required a resume, what would yours say?

I moved to Vail for “just one season, Mom. I promise,” but discovered the place I would make my lifelong home. Drawn by my love of playing in the mountains, I found a vibrant community, entrepreneurial opportunities, and the joy of starting a family here. I’m a curious, collaborative, and creative problem solver who believes in staying connected by showing up. Whether it’s community events, local businesses, a day on the mountain, or a town meeting, Vail is where I’m happiest to spend my time. I’m passionate about being a part of the conversation as Vail evolves to embrace the next generation of leaders, locals, and guests while honoring the history that makes this place so special. References: Vail Mayor Travis Coggin and Craig Cohn with Vail Health.

Why are you running?

I’m running for reelection on the Vail Town Council because I enjoy it. The last four years have been an amazing education and an opportunity to problem-solve, which I find really fun. Vail has been good to me. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the life I’ve created here. I want to see that opportunity come to life for others. 

Where do you see the best possibility for the Vail Town Council to improve the lives of working people across all of Eagle County?

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Vail is a major economic driver in our larger community. The experience we deliver as a town affects all of our valley neighbors to the West. I think the best thing we can do, and the reason we’re elected, is to keep our attention on Vail. Delivering on our mission, vision, and values as a town should be our focus as council members, making Vail a great place to live, work, and play.

Which upcoming agenda items will attract the most people to the Vail Town Council meetings? Which upcoming agenda items will not draw people, but should?

I expect the West Lionshead redevelopment discussions will bring people to meetings as that project begins to take shape. The future of the “artist formerly known as EverVail” area has been of interest to our community for many years. I expect our citizens, especially those who have followed that history, will be paying attention and showing up to be heard. 

I think any meeting where a budget reading is taking place is a great opportunity for interested citizens to pay attention. Our budget meetings offer a unique view into how our organization operates. I believe the budget gives perspective and insight into how the entire system and different departments come together. 

Residents voiced strong opposition to a recent proposal to municipalize trash collection in Vail, and did not appear to believe the suggestion that it could save them as much as 77% on their trash collection bills. Was the pushback merely a reflection of disagreement with that specific proposal, or does it portend a broader erosion of trust between the town government and Vail residents?

We’re living in interesting times, and I’m hearing many voices questioning their trust in their government. On all levels. I believe that your question highlights an example of how our current council listened to their community. The opportunity to go to a single hauler solution for some neighborhoods came before us, and we studied it thoroughly. I commend the town staff for seeking solutions to better serve our community and bringing those ideas to the council. Historically, one of Vail’s “secret sauces” has been that we have a forward-thinking team of staff that presents council with big picture ideas. Not all of those ideas make it into practice. For many reasons, the single hauler idea was not popular within the community. The council listened, and we chose not to move forward.