FAQ’s:

What do you see as the biggest issues facing Palmer Lake?

I believe the lack of civil discourse over the last few years has been the greatest issue facing Palmer Lake. It has resulted in our inability to get work done and to retain Town staff and volunteers. Board of Trustee meetings can be hostile and verbally aggressive. Neighbors aren’t speaking to each other, gossip abounds and social media posts vilify others. We have made national news over and over for our “strife and turmoil.” But this isn’t who we are.

Whether I’m elected or not, I’m committed to restoring civil discourse in our community. I’ve been proposing restorative dialogue for over a year and a half, along with my colleagues from the Tri-Lakes Counseling Collaborative. If we can view each other with charitability and see the humanity in each other and our collective desire for mutual flourishing, we will be so much more effective. We will reclaim our community culture and identity. When systems become more functional, a positive feedback loop occurs. When we listen to and respect each other, we can have tough conversations and make hard decisions. We then create a more cohesive work environment in which town staff and volunteers feel supported, use their expertise and want to stay. Then people are able to do their jobs and get work done which improves our quality of life and starts to rebuild just, which makes it easier to assume charitable intent. And we enter again into having tough conversations, making hard decisions because we listen to and respect each other. This restoration of civil discourse is imperative.

The new Code of Ethics just adopted by the BoT is a step in the right direction. Adherence to these expectations will greatly improve our meetings, our efficiency and our own accountability. We can also encourage transparency, ethics and accountability without getting in the way of our Town staff and volunteers.

How would address our budget deficit?

The predictions by our new Town Administrator, Patrick Davidson, are pretty dire.  We have fairly few areas in which we can cut back and still maintain our public safety and quality of life.  The fire department merger could help.  We need additional revenue streams which require creativity and ingenuity.  And once again, restoring civil discourse is absolutely imperative to this process.  Our current reputation for “strife and turmoil” has damaged our ability to attract and keep small businesses.  If we don’t want big box and franchise, we must support our businesses, as sales tax is a big part of our revenue stream. This includes the light manufacturing businesses along 105 and County Line Road.  Our small businesses are also a part of our community character.  We have numerous lots along our main corridor that are perfect for unique small businesses - infill, not expansion.  We need our Economic Development Group to be up and running again, as they put forth energy and ideas regularly.

I know of several small development projects that fit into the Community Master Plan but have been on hold for at least a year due to our inability to retain town staff.  These are projects that would enhance the town and provide property tax revenue.  One project would be aided if we opt into Proposition 123, a State initiative which helps new home owners attain affordable housing.  This would benefit the town through property tax revenue and providing home ownership for some of our work force.

We can continue to use grant funding sources.  For example, we have the money for the sidewalk project that has been on the docket for years now.  It’s close to starting.  Let’s get that done!

We need numerous creative solutions. I gave an example of this kind of creativity in how the Parks Commission’s installation of the parking kiosks has brought in around $50k annually. (These funds are designated for Parks and Trails and are not part of our general budget.)

What is your opinion of the proposed Fire Department merger?

Merging Palmer Lake’s Fire Department with Monument’s has been discussed for decades.  It seems that this moment may be the time it makes the most sense.  We all know our wildfire risk keeps increasing and our fire station is long outgrown.  The mill levy increase proposed is 8.4, which according to my Google search, averages $250-$272 additional property tax.  Our mutual aid agreements have been working, but we need to plan ahead for the possibility of multiple emergencies happening simultaneously.  The proposed agreement also significantly reduces our current budget strain.

We can merge and maintain our Palmer Lake Fire Department identity - the holiday traditions, the maintenance of the Star, preserve and utilize our historic fire station.  This proposal is likely to be put to the voters in spring of 2027.  It is imperative that the public be fully informed of all the costs and benefits associated with the merger in order to determine if this is best for our town.

How do you propose addressing our water emergency?

This is literally the million dollar question and multi-faceted.  The cause of our current water crisis isn’t easily answered, and the solutions aren’t easy either.  In order to address our water issues we must:

• Look to the experts, do our research and learn as much as possible.

• Closely examine our infrastructure - what is working? What isn’t? What are the projections for our equipment’s success or failure? What do we need to invest in now?

• Plan strategically for the future - we must be thinking far ahead.

• Steward surface water - not just in times of drought and well failure, but all the time. During years of water plenty, we must have adequate storage while also making sure this does not impact water tables being replenished.

• Work with communities up and down the front range regarding our Denver aquifer. We all have straws in the same water, and ours are “teeny, tiny cocktail straws” compared to other communities and businesses. We must steward the aquifer together

• Look to the Community Master Plan regarding new water taps

Community Master Plan

The Community Master Plan is a beautiful document.  The authors sought significant input from residents, business owners and experts to put together a well thought out, well written vision for Palmer Lake. The CMP is an advisory document, so if we want to assure adherence to it, we will need to codify. For example, if we really want to keep big box stores and franchises out, it needs to be in the code.

Where do you stand on Buc-ee’s?

I really don’t want Buc-Ee’s on Monument Hill.  I think it’s a terrible idea for all the reasons I’ve heard everyone else give.  For me the consequences to our way of life aren’t worth the sales tax revenue.  As a citizen, I have written letters to the El Paso County Commissioners expressing my opposition.  I’ve signed petitions. I’ve gone to Tri-Lakes Preservation meetings.  I’m hoping for a miracle that suddenly the corporation has a change of heart and decides to go build where they are wanted.  Or some other legality stops them.  But for now, the decisions are in the hands of El Paso County.  And if it gets built, we have to do our best to enforce all agreements regarding dark skies, traffic flow, protecting our water and wildlife corridors.

The process regarding the proposed Buc-ee’s annexation has been disheartening and painful to witness.  We became polarized as “pro-Buc-ee’s” or “anti-Buc-ee’s”.  One of our leaders actually phrased it as you’re “for Palmer Lake or against Palmer Lake”  I don’t buy into these false binaries.  Those of us who oppose Buc-ee’s are not against Palmer Lake and neither are those who support it.  Why would I vilify someone who looked at the sales tax revenue stream and saw how much that would help our budget?   Based on the annexation vote, it appears that a large majority of Palmer Lake residents want to have a say in what kind of businesses are annexed into our town.  So let’s also not vilify those who would rather forgo the easy sales tax revenue and instead choose to maintain our community character and natural resources.

We are vulnerable to outside influence because of our precarious financial position, but also due to our in fighting.  The Board of Trustees can do a much better job in keeping the public informed of governance processes such as statute and procedure.  Town forums that explained the annexation qualification vote would have gone a long way in preventing some of the subsequent vitriol.  The vote wasn’t about if a Trustee wanted Buc-ee’s or not, it was about code, statute and procedure.

Do you endorse anyone?

Yes!! Eric Burton for Trustee and Kent Hutson for Mayor. When I decided to run, I asked my long time colleague and friend, Eric Burton, to run also. In addition to being an excellent mental health professional, he has a PhD in Educational Leadership, Research and Policy. He did his dissertation on an empathy curriculum authored by two Palmer Lake residents and Middle School Counselors. Eric is exceedingly bright, observant and caring. Prior to becoming a counselor, Eric was a mechanical engineer, so he also brings needed critical thinking skills.

I have gotten to know Kent Hutson during this campaign and I admire his intelligence, leadership qualities and effective communication skills. He has worked diligently for the Town on the Community Master Plan and the Planning Commission. He will make an excellent Mao