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In an unprecedented year of divisiveness and rancor across the nation and in our community, Aspen Public Radio was proud to host a series of debates on local issues with the candidates and representatives from important local races. APR is the place on your dial and on your device to find intelligent and reasoned discussion.

Carbondale candidates debate the issues

Gavin Dahl
/
KDNK

The three candidates running for Carbondale mayor joined Aspen Public Radio’s Alycin Bektesh to discuss their platforms. While they all said they speak for locals - their management approach sets them apart.

Katrina Byers, Ed Cortez and Dan Richardson all have experience serving as trustees for the town of Carbondale.

 
Byers credits herself with having the “institutional knowledge” required for the job — she has been a trustee since 2014. Cortez served on the board from 2002-2010 and has most recently led contract negotiation efforts as president of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s drivers union.

 
Richardson is acting mayor currently; he was appointed to that position by the board shortly after gaining his trustee seat last spring. Byers was the only trustee who did not vote for Richardson, saying she was against the private conversations that led to his nomination. She said if elected mayor she’d prefer to have all trustee business discussed during official meetings, even if that means they run long.

 
Cortez said he would conduct meetings with his trademark ability to “ask the hard questions” and is “not afraid to piss people off.”

 
Richardson said being a mayor is different from that of a trustee because the role requires much more listening, compromise and inter-personal relationships.

 

20161025_carbondale_mayors_final_web.mp3
Carbondale mayoral debate between Katrina Byers, Ed Cortez and Dan Richardson, moderated by Aspen Public Radio's Alycin Bektesh.

The candidates also spoke about how they would use the mayor’s seat to influence local growth, running for reelection, and asked questions of their opponents.