One of the things that sets us apart as a nation is the opportunity to cast our vote and have our voice heard each election. In an effort to help educate local voters for the upcoming Town Election, we asked each candidate some questions to better understand their stance and grasp of local issues. We have listed each candidate in alphabetical order for the office they are seeking. Only excerpts from their answers have been printed; you can find their responses in their entirety on our website castlerockmagazine.com.
BY SEARCH CASTLE ROCK STAFF
TIM Dietz DISTRICT 6 From: Wisconsin Neighborhood: Crystal Valley Family: Wife and 2 Children Occupation: Insurance Broker
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I’m from Wisconsin originally, living here in Castle Rock for 15 years now. Wife JoAnna, Douglas county Teacher, Kids two, in high school. Crystal Valley District 6. I have an insurance brokerage, Home, Auto, Life etc.. Why are you running for office? My willingness to get things done, to keep my commitment with consistency, and complete each task put before the Town Council effectively after thorough research of the problem/project has been carried out. What is your greatest strength? I listen and Follow up! How do you plan to help small businesses? Open Up! By thinking outside of the box to promote opportunities for small local businesses to sell their product/services during the restrictions of COVID: Creation/Promotion of a town website/app promoting Castle Rock owned businesses. Flags downtown with the website/app information. (advertising outside services on sidewalks/patios, promoting curbside service, allowing business-Farmers Market style-in city Parking Lots areas). The ultimate goal is to allow businesses to fully open up with encouragement to those with compromised immune systems to utilize services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, curbside service, and/or order online. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Healthy, Yet keeping safety a top priority. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? Promotion of sustainable growth, with careful thought surrounding traffic flow infrastructure, the values of Small Town Culture, and the increase of taxes and water costs to current citizens concerns me. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? Promote, inform and listen. What sets you apart from the other candidates? I meet people where they are at, physically and understanding opinions.
Gregory K. Hernandez
DISTRICT 6
From: California
Neighborhood: Crystal Valley
Family: Wife and 3 Sons
Occupation: Executive Coaching
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally?
My wife Becky and I were both born and raised in southern CA. We followed our youngest son and his family to CO in 2006. We first moved to Larkspur and then into Crystal Valley. I retired from 25+ years of executive leadership within Fortune 50/500 companies. In 2013, I launched my own executive coaching practice here in Castle Rock.
Why are you running for office?
I love this town, and I want us to continue to build upon our strong sense of community. A common business adage is, you are either growing or dying. Castle Rock is growing. I want us to be growing and thriving.
What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
Gratitude and purpose. The ability to build successful teams from diverse backgrounds, attitudes and experiences. Patience has not always been a strength. A 180-mile Los Angeles commute did not help. Castle Rock fosters a much healthier lifestyle that we must build upon and maintain.
How do you plan to help small businesses?
As a graduate of Your Town Academy and past presenter for Leadership Douglas County, my goal is to work directly with our small business via our Chamber of Commerce. We must continue to stabilize our businesses from the pandemic and then creatively position them for even greater success.
Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that?
We have a phenomenal historic downtown that is vital to the vibrancy of our community. This is a place where we can share in the company of our fellow citizens. There are pockets of needed improvement. I will be an advocate with our local small business groups to help bring their vision to fruition.
What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc?
It is not uncommon for growth to exceed infrastructure. The Town is working diligently to address these issues. I will pursue smart growth, zoning and development to ensure infrastructure is in place before project completion.
How do you plan to involve residents in decisions?
Two-way communication. I will continue to manage my candidacy website and social media with updates and solicit feedback. I will be available in my office to meet with residents and/or host monthly coffees.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Proven executive leadership and community service experience. Time and accessibility. I patrol our streets as a Community Safety Volunteer with the Castle Rock Police Department. As a musician, I have always been actively involved within my local church. My downtown office is open. Let’s work together and continue to be Castle Rock!
Matt Katona
DISTRICT 6
From: Ohio
Neighborhood: Crystal Valley
Family: Wife and 4 Kids
Occupation: Principal Design Engineer
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I have been married to Shawn for 15 years with children ranging from 6 - 22 years old, we live in Crystal Valley, and I am a Principal Design engineer at a fortune 100 company Why are you running for office? I have been told I have a strong voice from serving on the Crystal Valley HOA and Crystal Valley Metro District residents and would like to continue my serving in a larger role. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? I have a very analytical methodology of addressing issues and look outside the box to bring the best solutions to the table. My greatest weakness is food. :) How do you plan to help small businesses? I plan on fighting to reduce the Town sales tax of 4% when the business is locally owned. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Downtown is in a transitional state currently and it is too early to tell if the changes are positive or not. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? I plan on deep diving the budget to ensure all impact fees are applied to infrastructure and only infrastructure projects. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? I have always been a grass roots individual providing residents with my email and cell phone. On top of this I will use social media as well as my website for 24/7 input. What sets you apart from the other candidates? I am not a small business owner, I am Corporate America and can bring new points of view to the table instead of more of the same style of thinking.
Ryan Hollingshead
DISTRICT 1
From: Douglas County
Neighborhood: Meadows
Family: Wife and 2 Children
Occupation: Assistant Principal at CV
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I grew up in Douglas County and have spent most of my life here. My wife and I have raised our two children in the Meadows and I have been a member of the community as a teacher, coach and now assistant principal at Castle View High School since 2006. Why are you running for office? I love our town and the people in it. As a former government teacher, I have always believed that regular people without agendas need to run office. I truly want to serve my community and represent my neighborhood. Castle Rock has been a great place to live and work. I want to ensure it only continues to get better in the future. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? My greatest strength is my ability to listen and to help people get things done. I deal with lots of tough situations that are very personal to families in my current job and my goal is to always do what I can to help them in their situation. My greatest weakness in this role will be the steep learning curve ahead. The town council should set big goals and vision for our town, but first we need to dig into how it all really works. I'm excited to start that process. How do you plan to help small businesses? The current pandemic has put lots of restrictions on small business and threatened their livelihood. I believe we have a responsibility as a community to support those businesses to stay afloat. At the town government level this means acting quickly and being flexible as they propose new ways to do business and to provide financial support when possible. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Downtown is in the middle of an amazing transition. Very few towns get a chance to reimagine their downtown like we have in Castle Rock. We are attracting new business due to the new density and foot traffic, but we also need to manage traffic and parking. We don't want to lose the small-town charm, but we also want to thrive downtown. I will take this balance into consideration before we approve new development in the future. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? The town has made great strides in the last few years to catch up on major traffic issues and our water department has put in place multiple measures to secure water for our future growth. Traffic issues on the south end of town need to be a priority so we don't get behind like we did on the north side 10 years ago. We need to continue to use our impact fees on new growth to secure a solid infrastructure all over town without raising taxes to do so. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? I will make myself available to the residence of District 1 in the Meadows in as many ways as possible. I will use social media to help educate people on current town issues and be responsive to emails and phone calls. I also hope to leverage the many grassroots local organizations that have the goal of helping the community to work together on common goals. The more residents learn about what local government does, the better conversations we can have. I hope to bring new voices to the table. What sets you apart from the other candidates? I know where our town has come from, what we value, and have a vision of where we can go. My history in this community as a parent and educator who has worked with our young people to develop leaders and good citizens has connected me with so many good people in the community. These relationships have allowed me to connect with local business, local government leaders, and community organizations. I feel like I understand where our town is strong and where we can grow. I have experienced all our town has to offer by raising two kids here and now starting to see what it means to be an empty nester in Castle Rock.
Robert Wade
DISTRICT 1
From: Texas & Louisiana
Neighborhood: Meadows
Family: Wife and 3 Children
Occupation
Owner - Wade Services
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I’m Robert Wade. I was born and raised in the South, spending most of my life between Texas and Louisiana. My wife Erin, our 3 children, and I moved to Castle Rock two years ago and live in the Meadows - District 1. I own Wade Services LLC, a handyman and organization company started in 2009. Why are you running for office? Well, obviously I’m a glutton for punishment! Who knew there was so much involved with this chair? Seriously, I’ve really enjoyed everything about Castle Rock. The people are what makes this town great. I want the opportunity to serve the residents, and be a part this town’s direction moving forward. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? Logistics. I’m a critical thinker. I tackle every proposition in its entirety, investigating each feature in order to produce the best possible outcome. Arrogance. Sometimes, confidence in my experience causes a detail or point of view to be overlooked because I am sure in my position. I try to remedy this by listening more and through intentional reflection. How do you plan to help small businesses? I will help local business owners by not only listening to their needs, but also ensuring they are connected to all resources (national, state, and local) that are available.
Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? I haven’t lived here long enough to know what downtown used to be like. Currently, I really enjoy it, and I feel it’s just going to improve. More activities, venues, and office space will attract both residents and non-residents to frequent the area, spending time and tax dollars. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? I feel the town has shown a lot of foresight in planning for growth. There are only a few areas in town with traffic issues at peak hours, and those may be eased with the completion of widening Plum Creek. Parking is only a challenge downtown, but it should be a great deal better with the additional 303 public parking spaces in the Riverwalk Project. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? My core values include helping people and being fair. It’s one of the reasons I am running for town council. I would be happy to speak with anyone regarding town matters, of course, but I’ve also been thinking of creating a council forum. This would be an open meeting between town meetings, held at a park or a town facility and hosted by council member(s). This would also be a great way hear different points of view from the community. What sets you apart from the other candidates? Work ethic. Once I believe in what I’m doing, my work ethic may be unmatched! I’m not afraid of hard work. Making the effort to understand issues from all angles is key.
Desiree Lafleur
DISTRICT 4
From: Douglas County
Neighborhood: Craig & Gould
Family: Husband and 1 Son
Occupation: Mother
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally?
I’m a Douglas County Native. I currently live in the historic Craig & Gould neighborhood with my husband Billy and our three year old son Wyatt. Billy is the assistant superintendent at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course and I, the lady of the home. Why are you running for office?
I am running for Town Council because not only have I been a lifelong resident, I live and breath Castle Rock. During the six year course of operating a small business, I curated my space with twenty- five local artist. I aided in the development of Rink at the Rock. I created a “locally owned, locally loved” map for downtown businesses. I participated in high school internship programs. I sat on the SAC committee at Soaring Hawk Elementary where I teamed up with a students parents to establish a no bullying campaign. My business neighbors dubbed me as the downtown ambassador. Currently I am the Vice Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board and just recently resigned as Vice Chairman of the Design Review Board to pursue my community journey to serve on Town Council. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? My greatest strength is that I go all the way. My nickname is Tenacious D. My weakness is also that I go all the way. It’s rare for me to ever waiver from my opinion. I’ve learned in life that being relentless can come across as stubborn. It’s an Italian thing. How do you plan to help small businesses? There’s no doubt that small business is a critical and vital part of our local and national economy. These businesses will continue to need the support of all of us during our current situation and otherwise. As a previous small business owner... love local, shop local! Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Everyone that has taken part thus far in making Castle Rock what it is, has done so with small business in mind. Main Street is alive. It has a pulse while maintaining our small town character. I couldn’t be prouder. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? Early on I set out for an education into our town, and the inner workings of it. I was impressed at how well town staff prepared, vetted & posted every detail. Traffic and parking studies are done often. Projects are thoughtfully planned and executed accordingly. We truly live on a well built platform. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? I’m always encouraging everyone I meet to get involved. Tune into council meetings, volunteer and definitely follow the town of Castle Rock on social media. We’re here to listen! What sets you apart from the other candidates? I have a lifelong education in Castle Rock and a heart that won’t quit to be involved. “Patriotism is the Religion of the Soil” - author unknown
Preston Shepherd
DISTRICT 4
From: Texas
Neighborhood: The Haven
Family: Wife and 2 Daughters
Occupation: Real Estate Broker
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally?
I was raised in Texas and met my wife (Sandie) while in college at Texas Tech University. We’ve been married for 41-years! Preston and Sandie have lived in “The Haven” for 14 years. We have 2 married daughters and 5 grandchildren. We have always worked side-by-side our entire marriage, 24 years in the ministry and the last 17 years as Real Estate Brokers.
Why are you running for office?
“I’m running for town council because I love our town – it’s the best place that I’ve ever lived! When you love something you have to do something to show it. You fight for it, and do whatever it takes to make it better. I want to help create a happy place, a safe place and a meaningful place for my family and yours.”
What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
My greatest strength would be leadership. I have worked in leadership in the corporate world, as a VP with a large multinational non-profit company, leading churches in different countries, and as an Owner/Broker of my own Real Estate company. I love to work with people and especially train and mentor people that are beginning a career and helping them to prosper!
My greatest weakness is keeping up with ever-changing technology. It makes me dizzy thinking of all the technological changes in just the past 5-10 years. However, I really desire to continue to improve my skills and keep up with my 7-year old granddaughter! LOL!
How do you plan to help small businesses?
As a small business owner, my heart really goes out to everyone that has been effected by our recent pandemic. It is really tough to maintain a successful business strategy over the years because things change so much – especially today! I’d like to see our town and chamber advertise our downtown and shopping districts to those outside of town to draw in more interest and foot traffic.
Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that?
I personally LOVE our downtown section and it is one of the main reasons that we moved to Castle Rock 14 years ago! There has been a lot of investments in our downtown in recent years – from remodeling the old to the addition of many new buildings and parks. Personally, I’m hoping that we can maintain the architecture of the past as we renovate and build for the future keeping the character of our town intact.
What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc?
Our transportation infrastructure is a huge concern of many people that I’ve talked with. With the addition of our newer apartment buildings, we have brought in hundreds and hundreds of additional automobiles which creates staggering traffic concerns. Growth must be coupled with smart planning of roads and especially parking.
How do you plan to involve residents in decisions?
I’ve personally spoken before the Town Council on several different occasions about issues that concern me. I want to encourage our residents and business owners to call upon me with any of their concerns.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
We have a lot of great candidates in our election. I’ve met most of them and I’m impressed with the hearts to serve our community. I believe I’m a bit unique since I own my own business, I can be much more flexible than the average person. I can be available when needed and be able to give the time that the office deserves.
Laura Cavey
DISTRICT 2
From: Colorado
Neighborhood: Terrain
Family: 2 Children
Occupation: Computer Science Tech
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally?
I was born in Nebraska, my parents moved to CO when I was 2 and I have lived here ever since. I have lived in Terrain for the last 14 years. My kids have attended school from Kindergarten to High School here. They are both currently students at Castle View. I have a degree in computer science and I have worked in the technology field for 25 years. Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I do not like the current trajectory that we are on with growth. I believe we need more thoughtful growth and we should be looking at water, roads, traffic, infrastructure and schools. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
I am very tenacious which could be a strength and a weakness depending on how you look at it. How do you plan to help small businesses?
The biggest issue at the moment is Covid 19. There are grants out there from the Town of Castle Rock as well as Douglas County. I would steer them towards those grants to start with. We should also survey our small businesses to understand what other assistance the town can provide to keep them financially solvent in these unprecedented times. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful?
If not, how will you change that? I love our downtown. Its unique and quaint. However I am not a fan of the high rise apartments going up across from Union or the one that is being planned on Jerry street. I would not have voted yes for either of those developments for many reasons. The two biggest being the large uptick in traffic as well as 6 story buildings are not a good fit for our downtown area. Plus I am strongly opposed to the town giving $3 million to developers. These are funds that should be used to assist small businesses and/or attract businesses offering better paying jobs and improve our tax base. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc?
As I mentioned above, the seemingly uncontrolled growth is having a negative impact on traffic, parking, water and schools. No large developments should be approved until all those issues are addressed. Traffic, parking, water and schools should all be integral parts of the planning process. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions?
If elected I will be setting up my own website that will keep residents current on all outstanding issues the council is facing. As well as a monthly District 2 Townhall call/meeting to discuss with residents what is currently on the table and what is coming in order to garner their thoughts and feedback. What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I am the only candidate that has lived in CO for the most of my life. I am the only candidate that has lived in Castle Rock for 14 years with children that have gone through the entire school system. I have watched the town change quite a bit over the years . I moved here because I wanted the small town community. I wanted to feel safe with my children walking to school or playing in the parks. I want to remain in Castle Rock even after my kids graduate so I have a vested interest in seeing Castle Rock flourish. I want to be forward looking and plan effectively for the next 10-20 years.
Keegan Doheney
DISTRICT 2
From: California
Neighborhood: The Venue at the Promenade
Family: Golden Retriever, Rylee
Occupation: Attorney
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I grew up in a small town called Oak Park in Southern California. I got my degree in Political Science from California State University Channel Islands which is in Camarillo, California. I then moved to Sacramento where I got my Law Degree. Currently, I live in the northern portion of castle rock in The Venue at the Promenade with my two-year-old golden retriever, Rylee. For work, I am an attorney here in Castle Rock. Why are you running for office? Most of my childhood was spent battling cancer and inside of a hospital. I do not remember much from those days but one of the things I do remember is how amazing my community was to my family. I can remember watching the families around us take turns delivering fresh meals to us because my parents had their hands full. My goal has always been to give back to my community tenfold the way my community gave to me. In my studies, I quickly learned that I am blessed with the ability to speak, to give people a voice when they can't or are afraid to speak up. Those two traits combined have allowed me to help those wherever I can. I have traveled the world studying different political climates and governments and I hope that I can use my voice and my education to help my community continue to thrive. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? As I mentioned above, I have a passion for public speaking and like to believe that one of my greatest strengths is listening to those who need to be heard and then speaking out and representing them in a meaningful and impactful way. When it comes to these elections, I believe that some will see my age as a weakness. At the age of 28, I know I am on the younger side of the candidates. But I hope to make up for that with my ability to truly listen and effectively represent my constituency. As someone who is recently spent the past nine years in education, my ability to study and research and thoroughly analyze the issues is still very strong. How do you plan to help small businesses? The small business community of Castle Rock is our lifeblood. It is what gives Castle Rock the true "small town" feeling. We need to make sure that during these hard economic times that we are protecting them the best we can. The current grant program is a great start and is something we should continue to keep in our back pocket as we wait and see how the economy will pull through these times. Castle Rock itself has a large population that we need to promote our local businesses too, but we also have a massive population just north of us. One of my goals would be to help promote our local small businesses in both our local community but also to our neighbors to the north and east. Bringing in outside money will not only help our small businesses but will help the Castle Rock economy get back to the strength it once had. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Every Saturday night my girlfriend and I go down to Festival Park and walk around downtown with the dog. Walking around and visiting different restaurants and ice cream shops is one of my favorite things to do. In that sense, Downtown Castle Rock is starting to see a much more lively nightlife and appears to be bringing everyone out to explore. The town is clearly moving in the direction of modernizing our downtown and trying to make it a place where people want to live and spend their nights out. I think this is a great idea but needs to be done in a very methodical process. With new large developments quickly popping up downtown, many will start to think that Castle Rock is changing too much from that "small town" that it once was. My biggest fear is developing too much, too quickly, and creating a very congested and cramped downtown. The best way to make sure we avoid this is to make sure that we work with the town planners and staff to create a much smoother transition into our more developed downtown. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? As we all know, Colorado is seeing exponential growth at an incredible rate. Castle Rock is no different and is seeing daily growth. With that is going to come to the need to really look at and work on our infrastructure. As all of Castle Rock continues to grow and develop, we will see an increase in traffic and needs for parking. Because of these issues, a new look at local public transportation should be looked at. Public transportation may not have been necessary in the past, but as we grow, a Castle Rock Transit may be a viable option to help contain some of these upcoming issues. Additionally, Castle Rock's geographic location creates an interesting issue for our infrastructure. As the only entrance to and from I-25 for several miles, our neighbors to the east rely heavily on using our roadways and services. We need to make sure we are working with the local neighboring towns to make sure that we are all working together in a sustainable and fair manner. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? As all of my clients know, my lines of communication are always open. Whether it is by phone, email, facebook, or twitter, I will always be responsive and open to talking. For those who prefer the more in-person feel, I am always happy to sit down at one of our coffee shops or restaurants to talk. One of my biggest goals would be to make sure to help educate and include as much of our residents as possible when it comes to issues that will impact them. My door will always be open. What sets you apart from the other candidates? As a trial attorney, I believe I have a special set of skills that can help me strongly promote and fight for our residents. Not only do I have strong connections with local law enforcement and judicial officers, but I have a strong understanding of the law and how to navigate it in a way to make sure we support our local community the best way we can. As mentioned before, I also like to believe I have very strong people skills, and communicating with our residents is one of my favorite things to do. If there are issues that I cannot answer immediately, I have the tools to be able to quickly research and study those issues to make sure that I can provide all the knowledge that residents would need. I have the ability to give a voice to even the quietest of people and I will make sure I use that to create a better future for us all.
Gary Godfrey
DISTRICT 2
From: Arkansas
Family: 2 Sisters and 1 Brother
Where are you from, what neighborhood do you currently live in, who is in your family, and what do you do professionally? I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. I graduated from the Historical Little Rock Central High School. My mother and father are deceased. I have two older sisters and a younger brother. Why are you running for office? Moving here after the 2013 floods, when I lost all I owned including my home and business due to the floods, I have seen the 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan at work. I paid much attention to the town governments progress and the mixed attitudes of the community. The timing now is right for me to participate. By much encouragement from key local peers, I have decided it is time to serve. Service in the capacity of Town Council gives me an opportunity to bring the skillset of public relations and decision making to this service. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness? I am grassroots in my approach to life and people, as well as my leadership. I am traditional in personal values. I believe in God, Country, and Family. I understand the value of people and how we can all contribute in our own personal ways. I am by nature and character a liaison to balancing disputes. I am honest and equitable. Integrity is everything. My weakness? I can get lost in the details, so often I need to step back and see the bigger picture, which I have learned to do quite well. How do you plan to help small businesses? Currently in my private work life, I work with small businesses in helping to maximize their presence in the world of local social media. I believe in a philosophy of small business community support between all local small business owners. Development along the lines of the 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan is supposed to be geared towards helping small businesses thrive in Castle Rock. In governing by the laws of the Home Rule Municipality Charter, I will see to this. Do you think Mainstreet / downtown is healthy and successful? If not, how will you change that? Some areas are healthy and some struggle. Foot traffic has greatly been hindered by the Covid pandemic. There is discussion about urban renewal of Downtown Castle Rock in big ways. Downtown Castle Rock MUST ALWAYS be the primary destination for shopping, dining, recreation, and events. Locals and visitors alike should always feel a need to come downtown. What are your views on our transportation infrastructure - traffic, parking, growth, etc? Obviously all of these have been and still are an issue. All of these also have plans moving forward. The key is prioritizing. Where and when I can I will assist with Public Works to identify these priorities. How do you plan to involve residents in decisions? My campaign includes transparency in the form of all forms of outreach. Reminding all residents that they are the power of the town, even over the Town Council by virtue of the Home Rule Charter. What sets you apart from the other candidates? Honesty and integrity to serve others in humility. I am a Common-Sense Conservative. What I bring to the Town of Castle Rock is an understanding of the likes and dislikes of the direction the town is moving, and the steps currently being taken to get there. I envision a goal where we have a thriving community where everyone can look back and say, "Castle Rock is a great place to live!"
Stephen Weaver
DISTRICT 2