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Basalt re-elects Whitsitt; Carbondale turns down more taxes

Elise Thatcher

  Basalt voters have given Mayor Jacque Whitsitt another term, and three new council members will be sworn in. In Carbondale, residents turned down two tax measures and also chose new local representatives.

The race between Whitsitt and contender Rick Stevens became especially contentious in the last few weeks. There were heated public arguments between supporters on issues like where yard signs should be posted. On Tuesday night, Whitsitt won by a slim margin receiving 560 votes compared to 533 for Stevens.

“I think we have a majority that believes in slow growth,” said Whitsitt at a campaign party on Tuesday night. “And that such a relief to me, that’s why I ran,” she sighed, immediately after hearing election results.

Whitsitt has been pushing for more park than development on the controversial Pan and Fork parcel. Stevens said Tuesday night that the close race showed there isn’t a clear mandate for that approach.

“What comes next for me is to continue to stay involved,” he said. “To really provide some checks and balances to this council.”

One way is continuing to attend regular city meetings as a resident, instead of as an elected official.

Candidates Auden Schendler and Jennifer Riffle won Town Council seats, with veteran council member Katie Schwoerer returning to the board.

“I’m really excited about the future and a giant sense of accomplishment in my freshman run in a record election,” said Riffle.

Basalt saw a whopping more 50 percent turnout, with 1100 ballots cast — the most ever in a municipal election in that town.

“I’m slightly in a state of shock,” said Schwoerer, who previously served in 2008 through 2012. “But I’m very happy with the results and looking forward to four years of working with a great council and getting a lot of positive things done for the town of Basalt.”

Schendler won the most votes of any candidate in the Basalt races, pulling in 612. Incumbent Herschel Ross was voted out, with the least number of votes in a field of six.

Carbondale voters chose Dan Richardson, Marty Silverstein and Ben Bohmfalk for three open seats on the Board of Trustees. Bohmfalk got the most votes, coming in at just under 900.

“I think it’s really interesting because Dan Richardson and I both pretty vocally supported the taxes,” Bohmfalk said. “And both taxes failed.”

Carbondale voters turned down taxes on electricity and natural gas usage, and increasing property taxes to pay for local infrastructure.

Michael Hassig led the charge to get the energy tax measure passed. At a gathering Tuesday night, he was light-hearted about the loss.

“A great many of the people who said ‘I’m sorry, I can’t support this,’ went on to say, ‘but I understand this is an issue, I understand the challenges we’re facing with climate change.’”

Voters also decided against keeping incumbent Allyn Harvey.

“I don’t know ... I’ve been trying to figure that out,” chuckled Harvey after results had come in. “I stuck my neck out on the tax questions often — maybe too often, so that was part of it.”

Harvey said he appreciates the four years he did serve as trustee and believes the three new Trustees will do a good job. After losing his local seat, Harvey said he definitely won’t run for Congress in the fall. Schendler, Katie Schwoerer and Jennifer Riffle won the three open City Council seats.

Aspen Public Radio will have more later this evening and in the Wednesday morning newscast.