Three people are vying to fill one at-large seat on the Glenwood Springs City Council. The contenders vary on their reasons for running, but all say it’s a crucial election. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen caught up with candidate Tony Hershey.
Reporter: "Why did you decide to run for Glenwood Springs City Council?"
Hershey: "I think there’s a lot of change coming and it’s an important time. I think the city definitely needs to move in a different direction."
Attorney Tony Hershey grew up in Aspen and served on City Council there in the late 90s and early 2000’s. He moved to Glenwood in 2005. He says the current council isn’t responsive to citizens.
"I think it’s important that the average citizen has a voice on the Glenwood Springs City Council and I don’t think that’s particularly the case now."
Reporter: "How do you see that the current council isn’t meeting the needs of citizens?"
Hershey: "Some of them don’t even return emails or phone calls. That is crucial. I think citizens can’t access their government, and when they have an issue, it’s not always addressed. I understand we have to build a new bridge, but I think some people feel disenfranchised from that process."
The new council will take up big changes like how to redevelop Sixth Street after a new Grand Avenue Bridge goes in. And, what kinds of development should take place in the area where the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers meet. Hershey wants heavy citizen involvement.
He doesn’t agree with building a bypass following the Grand Avenue Bridge replacement. He thinks it’ll be bad for businesses downtown.
"Like Basalt, if you move the highway away, I think it hurts businesses. It makes them less visible and harder to access. I don’t support it. But, I would serve the people. If there was a majority of people who wanted it somewhere and it was a reasonable place and it was workable, I would do that.”
He says one of his opponents, Kathryn Trauger, is too entrenched in city bureaucracy. He promises to bring negotiation skills from his work as an attorney and political experience from his time on Aspen City Council. On Thursday, we’ll profile another candidate in the race, Kathryn Trauger.
Tony Hershey's entire interview: