Candidate: Aaron Brockett
Office: Boulder Mayor
Website: https://brockett4mayor.org/
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:
Yes/No Questions – Please answer only with yes/no.
Are you a homeowner? Yes
Do you think your City should add more beds to the homeless shelter? Yes
If the City police force was fully staffed, would you advocate for adding more officers? Depends
Do you believe there’s a need for more housing? Yes
Do you believe the City should spend more money on homelessness services? Yes
Longform Questions – Please limit responses to 300 words or less.
Why do you want to be Boulder’s first elected mayor?
“Fundamentally, I want to continue on City Council and as Mayor so that I can continue to make a positive impact on people’s lives in Boulder. We’ve passed some important ordinances in the last 8 years including things like increasing affordable housing, gun violence prevention, flood mitigation, immigrant protections, public safety, and many other, but there is so much work left to be done and I believe that I can make a real difference as mayor in tackling the problems that we face.”
When was the last time you paid rent, and where was that?
“When my family moved to Boulder in 2003, we rented a home in North Boulder for about a year before purchasing the house we live in now in 2004.”
Boulder County has experienced extreme natural disasters over the last decade, including flooding and wildfire. How do you plan to address these challenges?
“We need to boost our wildfire preparedness substantially. Fortunately we have two new funding streams to help with this — the renewal of the city Climate Action Plan tax last year includes $1.5 million annually, and the County passed a sales tax dedicated to wildfire resilience, with some of that money available for cities. We need to use this money to reduce wildfire risk within and around the community and to improve emergency alerts and planning. Regarding flooding, we need to continue to add flood mitigation to vulnerable areas of town such as around South Boulder Creek to be as resilient as possible for the next flood. We also need to continue to improve and upgrade the storm water and sewer systems so they don’t have problems like they did in 2013.”
How do you think you stand out from other candidates?
“Experience is a key differentiator — I have been on council for eight years and mayor for the last two. In that time, I have built strong connections in the community and around the region with our partners at all levels of government. This is demonstrated by my endorsements by Governor Jared Polis, State Treasurer Dave Young, 10 state legislators including all eight that represent Boulder County, eight area mayors, four former Boulder mayors, and numerous current and former city council members. In my time as mayor, I have been out in the community on a daily basis supporting area non-profits, schools, community groups, etc. I also have a detailed knowledge of how the city government works, and can connect constituents with the resources they need to solve any problems they’re experiencing. So I have the right experience, and I also have the empathy to work to help the people most in need in our community.”
What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?
“How are you elevating the voices and needs of the vulnerable in our community rather than just paying attention to the loudest voices.”
What are your solutions for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness?
“The need for additional solutions for unhoused community members is great. I firmly support the creation of more permanent supportive housing using the Housing First model as well as interim solutions like tiny home villages and safe outdoor spaces like those implemented in Denver. We also need to ensure better access to mental health and substance use treatment options, including with transitional housing. Another important piece of the puzzle is opening the day services centers to connect people experiencing homelessness with services and housing. We can make many of these initiatives possible by leveraging state Proposition 123 funding.”
What’s your plan for creating more affordable housing in Boulder?
“This is a critically important issue given the depth of Boulder’s housing crisis. One of our biggest opportunities is converting older business parks and strip malls into vibrant, mixed-use, 15-minute neighborhoods with a diversity of housing types and prices. We’re working on this in East Boulder and the Boulder Junction area and we need to continue those efforts. I am a proponent of revising our zoning codes to permit smaller, more affordable housing units. By allowing for diverse housing types like duplexes, triplexes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), we can boost the supply of “missing middle” housing while preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods. Reducing parking requirements in new developments would lower costs as well. Reducing some of the complications and delays in our permitting process would help with housing costs and availability as well. “
How will you address climate change? How do you plan to meet some of the City’s climate goals, like reducing emissions by 70% by 2030, becoming a net-zero City by 2035, and becoming a carbon-positive City by 2040?
“To effectively reduce carbon emissions in Boulder, it is crucial to take comprehensive actions across the city government, residential, and business sectors, while ensuring equity for all Boulder community members, especially lower-income residents. Boulder must work towards achieving its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. This can be accomplished by either adopting Community Choice Energy if approved by the state legislature or participating in the new Xcel program, Zero Emissions Communities. Additionally, by updating and strengthening energy codes, Boulder can drive sustainability in new construction projects. Implementing an electric-only requirement for new construction – an initiative I have championed – will accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels and promote the use of cleaner energy sources. The residential and business sectors need to prioritize the electrification of buildings, encouraging the use of electric heating, cooling systems, and appliances. Furthermore, a concerted effort to electrify vehicles is essential. Establishing an extensive network of EV charging stations will facilitate the transition to electric vehicles, reducing emissions from traditional combustion engines. Boulder should actively promote e-bike use. By investing in dedicated e-bike infrastructure and providing incentives, the city can encourage workers to adopt this eco-friendly mode of transportation, especially for shorter commutes.”
What are your goals for transportation and how will you achieve them?
“My goals are focused on offering transportation solutions that reduce personal vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and mitigating the environmental impact of transportation in Boulder. Collaborating with RTD and the state to both continue and expand the free fare months for public transit can play a pivotal role in incentivizing residents to opt for sustainable transportation options. We need to work with RTD to restore cuts in our bus service. Moreover, I, as mayor, have collaborated with the Northwest Mayors and Commissioners Coalition to secure a $25 million Federal grant for the construction of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system and a regional bikeway connecting Boulder and Longmont. This completes the funding for the project and construction starts next year! These endeavors will not only encourage cycling along the corridor but also offer efficient public transit alternatives, curbing car reliance. We are also in the earlier stages of getting funding for a BRT line along SH 7 (Arapahoe) from Boulder to points east.
In tandem with these initiatives, currently, the City of Boulder is working to implement the Front Range Passenger Rail from Ft Collins to Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo in collaboration with Amtrak to revolutionize regional transportation. This ambitious rail network can significantly reduce both VMT and the overall environmental impact. Alongside infrastructure development, community education and programs must emphasize the advantages of multi-modal transportation, emphasizing biking, walking, micro-mobility and transit for shorter trips. Moreover, strategic integration of transportation modes, coupled with enhanced connectivity and last-mile solutions, would seamlessly link various options for commuters.
Funding all of these measures can be challenging of course. It’s critically important to tap into grant opportunities at state and federal levels. Fortunately there are more grant funding options available due to the Federal infrastructure bill and the state SB260 transportation funding bill. By weaving these threads together with ongoing efforts, Boulder can create a transport landscape where reduced VMT, elevated active transportation modes, and minimized environmental repercussions converge, fostering a greener, more accessible urban environment for all residents.”
How do you plan to engage with non-English speaking constituents?
“I have done a great deal of work in this area. In the last year I have been studying Spanish intensively so I can now talk with our Spanish-speaking residents in their preferred language. I often participate in meetings and gatherings with our Latino community. The city has made great strides in offering services in English and Spanish in the last few years, but we should continue to improve those. After Spanish and English, Nepali is the most common native language in Boulder. While I haven’t learned Nepali, I have strong ties to the community and often attend gatherings and events in Boulder and around the region. I’m very pleased that we’ve started offering Nepali translations in certain circumstances, like at the recent visioning for the Violet Park site in North Boulder.”
How does diversity factor into your policy making?
“Diversity is a huge factor in my policy making work. I’m proud that in the last few years the city has woven racial equity work throughout our planning and policy making process. All significant initiatives are run through our racial equity evaluation tool to make sure they improve racial equity in the community. We need to continue and enhance that work to make sure that we are a diverse community. “
How will you reach residents who have different lived experiences than you?
“I do this work every day. I am constantly out in the community meeting with folks from all walks of life and backgrounds. One of the most important roles of the mayor is to listen to the experiences of people who are different from you and make sure their voices are included in community conversations and decision making. An example of this is our Community Connector program, which is a group of local residents with identities that often aren’t brought to the table, including Spanish and Nepali speakers, BIPOC folks, people with lower incomes etc. Their input is included in city processes, and I reach out to members of the group directly on a regular basis as well.”
Rank your top 5 issues in priority.
- 1. Homelessness solutions
- 2. Affordable housing
- 3. Fighting climate change
- 4. Ensuring a safe community for all
- 5. Making our community more sustainable and resilient
