Two candidates for Pitkin County commissioner faced off last night at a live debate hosted by Aspen Public Radio. Greg Poschman and Scott Writer are running for a vacant seat on the board and discussed affordable housing, development, and the open space and trails program.
Both candidates are running on slow-growth platforms, but Poschman and Writer clashed over housing.
Writer said Pitkin County should take a more active role in affordable housing, including converting free market units to deed restricted, even if means spending more money. Poschman advocated for more development downvalley and more fees for building expensive properties.
The candidates both endorsed reauthorization of the Open Space and Trails program. Earlier this summer, Poschman said he would not vote to extend the tax, but last night he explained that a new biodiversity policy changed his mind.
Updated campaign finance reports were due Tuesday. Poschman has raised nearly $14,000 to date, while Writer has brought in just over $10,000.