Q&A with Matt Carpenter and Karen Cullen

Back in August, the Manitou Springs City Council’s vote to fill the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Shannon Solomon’s resignation ended in a 3-3 tie between innkeeper Karen Cullen and runner Matt Carpenter. So the decision will go to the voters in the upcoming November election. Fresh•Ink asked the two candidates a few basic questions to see what they believe are the most important issues facing Manitou Springs and why they should have your vote.

Also, don’t forget the upcoming Manitou Springs Council and School Board Candidate Forum on Monday from 5:30-7 p.m. at Manitou City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave.

 

Matt Carpenter

What do you believe are the most important issues facing Manitou Springs right now?

Councils both past and present have worked very hard to help make Manitou the great place that it is. In fact, when considering the current economic environment we have been doing quite well. That said, I feel there has been too much emphasis on the expense side of the income/expense equation. You can only cut/reduce so much before it starts to bite you in the butt. And I dare say that started before the economy went south. When crucial positions are not filled this overloads those who are taking on those tasks, which means their primary job suffers and things fall through the cracks. This impacts the ability to tackle issues which, unlike the economy, are more in our control. Yes, we have a Parking Authority Board and an Economic Development Council but it is at the City Council level that we must provide the support and direction for them to do their jobs. Finally, I feel it is time we started working on things that have a more direct impact on the neighborhoods and residents of our town.

What are the most important issues for the Ward 3 race in particular?

Ward 3 is a long drawn out Ward so it depends on where you are located. Those on the Ruxton corridor face traffic and parking issues to a far higher degree than anywhere else. It is not uncommon for folks to come home and not even be able to park anywhere near their home. That is not right and there is no denying that has a lot to do with the Incline fiasco. Our Ward also has its fair share of substandard housing issues. One look at the police blotter shows certain addresses keep popping up over and over again. On the Northwest we have our own “No Man’s land” that needs to be addressed. This is, after all, an entrance into our town!

Why are you best suited for the position?

One of the reasons I joined this race is because I have been attending so many city council meetings. This has given me the perspective and understanding of how things work. The best ideas and plans are useless if no one else buys into them. Likewise, always being the protest vote does not get things done either. It is working with others that gets things done. I have a long history of working with individuals, organizations and even city council to get things done. I believe an important item missing from our city government now is citizen involvement. I am willing to listen to and work with the citizens of Manitou and especially Ward 3 so that their voices will be heard again. Indeed, while coming up with issues is easy, it is finding workable solutions that is hard. And time and time  again many of the best solutions have come from our citizens. To that, I encourage everyone to get involved and become a part of the solution!

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Karen Cullen

What do you believe are the most important issues facing Manitou Springs right now?

We have a budget deficit that needs to be evaluated. The amendment to the City Charter on this upcoming ballot will allow the city to be more flexible with its expenditures and provide the city the ability to prioritize funds to make sure we have adequate funding for the highest priorities: our safety and the welfare of our citizens.
   
Parking issues impact not only our tourists and shoppers, but our residents are also impacted greatly. It’s like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, if you impact one area, it just moves around. A comprehensive plan for parking and transportation is important.
   
Communication with our residents in order to be informed of the issues that our town faces is very important to me. Our citizens need to know what is happening so that they can be involved in an informed decision.

What are the most important issues for the Ward 3 race in particular?
   
The Economic Stimulus Package regarding water, sewer and the water tank caught residents by surprise, which gets back to the communication issues. There are many impacted residents regarding the new infrastructure improvements and it is key that we communicate the plan and schedule in order for our residents to plan their lives. That includes when streets are going to be worked on and personal notices in advance of the repairs, so that someone doesn’t get caught with a furniture delivery, or a special event when their street is being torn up.
   
Parking is definitely an issue for both businesses and residents of Ward 3. As a business owner on Ruxton,            Manitou has a difficult time supporting the amount of traffic and parking on Ruxton, as well as other streets and people are having to park anywhere they can find a space, including many residential neighborhoods to enjoy our town and community. I have seen residents have to park two blocks from their home, which is unpleasant after going to the grocery store. Events cause a greater strain on residents and therefore; we need to develop not only parking facilities and management, but people movers to assist in any expansion.

Why are you best suited for the position?
   
I have had experience on city boards such as the Chamber of Commerce and Historic Preservation Commission and provide alternative perspectives to issues.

I encourage neighbors and friends to be a part of our community discussions without deadlines and respect the public opinions. The 2007 water main break experienced by our business, 1892 Victoria ‘s Keep B&B was a real eye opener. This experience taught me a great deal about our town’s infrastructure. My daily conversations with our city administrator and public works department educated me on how our city operates and functions.        

The aging infrastructure throughout our city needs to be prioritized to ensure other residents and business owners do not need to endure water main breaks in the future. I provide support and volunteer in our community for multiple events and provide leadership to our Boards and for other associations like the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and the state organization the Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado. I value our community and feel that we can move forward and work toward solutions in positive ways, without losing our character.