Eight candidates vying for former Eagle County Commissioner Ryan’s seat

There are eight candidates applying to fill former Eagle County Commissioner Jill Ryan’s seat after she left to become the executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE).

The Eagle County Democratic Party Vacancy Committee will meet for a candidate forum followed by the vote and replacement decision on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

The candidates to replace Ryan are Albert Ewing, Megan Gilman, Dylan Heaney, Elyse Howard, Kim Langmaid, Meighen Lovelace, Claire Noble and Matt Scherr.

Ryan’s resignation as a commissioner from District 1 became effective on Sunday. She was named by new Colorado Gov. Jared Polis as the head of the CDPHE on Jan. 9.

There will be a candidate forum in El Jebel for Eagle County residents of the Roaring Fork Valley on Wednesday, Jan. 30, followed by the Eagle County candidate forum at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Then the decision will follow.

Here are all the details from the Eagle County Democratic Party website:

Vacancy Committee Meeting Information for Eagle County Commissioner, District 1

The Eagle County Democrats Commissioner Vacancy Committee will convene on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 in order to fill the office of outgoing Commissioner Jill Ryan. Jill has been selected by Governor Jared Polis to be the new Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  Her resignation is effective January 27, 2019.

Prior to the Vacancy Committee meeting, the Eagle County Democrats will hold two candidate forums. The first will be in the Roaring Fork Valley and the second will be held at the Edwards campus of Colorado Mountain College, preceding the convening of the Vacancy Committee.

Candidate Forums
Roaring Fork River Valley
Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 5:30 pm
Eagle County Building
20 Eagle County Rd, El Jebel, CO 81623

Eagle Valley
Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 5:30 pm
Colorado Mountain College
150 Miller Ranch Rd, Edwards, CO 81632

VACANCY COMMITTEE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The procedures which will govern the Vacancy Committee were approved by a majority of the Vacancy Committee members and may be downloaded, here. We have prepared the following answers to frequently asked questions.

When and where does the Vacancy Committee meeting take place?
On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, following the Candidate Forum at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards.

Who may attend the meeting?
The Vacancy Committee meeting will be open to the public for observation. Only credentialed members of the Vacancy Committee may participate and vote.

Who is on the Vacancy Committee?
The 50 member Vacancy Committee is comprised of all Precinct Committee Persons elected at the March 2018 caucus, plus the Officers and Executive Committee members of the Eagle County Democrats who were elected at last year’s Eagle County Democrats Reorganization in February 2017. Democratic county, state and federal elected officials residing in Eagle County are automatic members.  A list of the members may be found here.

Note: Vacancy Committee members contact information will be provided only to candidates who submit application materials as described in the Procedures, no later than January 23, 2019 at 11:59 pm.

Who is eligible to be appointed to this Commissioner office?
Colorado Revised Statutes and Colorado Democratic Party rules govern eligibility. To be eligible, a candidate must be a resident of the county and reside within Commissioner District 1, where the vacancy will occur.  A candidate must also have been affiliated as a Democrat for at least one year preceding the vacancy committee meeting.

How do you find your Commissioner District?
You can locate the Commissioner District in which you live by checking your voter registration record at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website at govotecolorado.com or by calling the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder’s office in Eagle at 970-328-8715.

The Commissioner District map lines may be viewed online, thanks to the Eagle County GIS Department. The link is here: gismap.eaglecounty.us/GIS_Viewer_Commissioner_District/

What is the application process?
Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements above should send a letter of intent, a résumé outlining qualifications for the position and answers to three questions, submitted via email to eaglecodems@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM, January 23, 2019. The three questions to be answered are:

1. What would be your top three priorities in your first year as a County Commissioner and how would you propose working toward and/or accomplishing each?

2. Propose what specifically can be done at a county level to help encourage families, young professionals, and people seeking career opportunities to settle in Eagle County, despite the high cost of living.

3. Explain how you would balance development proposals (commercial or residential) and environmental concerns and open space issues.

Additional Vacancy Committee Info Available Here