My Opinion on the Old Stage Road Parking Lot Proposal
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been advised – more than once – by a town official not to speak publicly about the Old Stage Road parking lot proposal. The reasoning, I’m told, is that a candidate for public office expressing an opinion could somehow jeopardize the town’s legal position.
I strongly disagree.
In my conversations with Brighton residents, it’s clear this proposal is the single most consequential issue facing our community. How it’s resolved will impact traffic and livability in the canyon for decades. I’m not going to stay silent about something this important.
Voters deserve to know where candidates stand. I’m not going to play political “hide the ball,” where I privately hold a strong opinion while pretending I have none in public. If I’m asking citizens for their vote, the least I can offer is straightforward honesty – whether people agree with me or not.
To be clear, I have no animosity toward Solitude. I love the mountain and respect the people who work hard to make it a world-class ski resort. I hope litigation can be avoided and that we can collaborate on sustainable transportation solutions. But that doesn’t deter me from letting them know I’m opposed to their parking lot plan. It doesn’t matter if it comes from Solitude, Alterra, Vail, or Walmart – it’s a bad idea for Brighton.
In my professional life, I’ve always valued open, transparent communication. That’s the same approach I’ll bring to the mayor’s office. My opinions can evolve with new facts – but I won’t insult the intelligence of Brighton voters by pretending to have none.
The attempt to silence a campaign on the grounds of a nebulous claim of “future legal liability” is a misapplication of legal principles that govern official conduct of sitting officials, not candidates exercising free speech. That’s not in the public interest and is contrary to the spirit of democracy itself.
This is the United States of America. Political speech receives the highest level of protection under the First Amendment. If candidates are forbidden from speaking freely about public issues, then we don’t have free speech anymore – and that is unacceptable.
Our community’s best interests are served by transparency from public officials, not secrecy. I oppose the Old Stage Road parking lots, and as mayor, I will do everything in my power to prevent their construction. If you share that view, I hope you’ll vote for me on November 4.
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