To the Editor:

Fraser voters showed they wanted change when they rejected the annexation agreement in November. I’m running to be a Trustee on the Fraser Town Board so that we can work towards these changes.

Respect. Town Board Trustees should treat citizens and community members with respect. The disrespectful tone in letters to the editor and full-page ads before the November vote has continued in recent Town Board meetings and other community discussions. We need to change this culture poisoning our community.

Transparency. Fraser citizens and community members deserve answers. For example, since February 2013, we’ve been asking why Town of Fraser has enough water to serve the Byers Peak development. The answer is not a secret negotiating strategy; water rights are public records. We deserve an explanation.

Details. How can some citizens reach conclusions that are so different from most Town Trustees and Staff, especially given their time spent and consultants hired. The answers are in the details. Checking the details in major commercial real estate deals and long-term plans has been part of my job for more than twenty-five years. Details matter.

Fairness. Consider the special assessment on water users in the older parts of Fraser. Some Trustees claimed money in the water fund could not be used to research water storage (augmentation) alternatives because the water fund includes money from the newer parts of Fraser, Grand Park and Rendezvous, which already have augmentation ponds. In fact, those of us in the older parts of Fraser have contributed most of the $800,000 in water fund reserves and other savings. We’ve certainly paid enough to cover the first $50,000 for researching water storage alternatives.

Vision. We can also reach different conclusions because we have a different vision for Fraser’s future. Fraser will grow; we need to manage that growth carefully to protect what makes Fraser special and ensure that current residents can afford to live here. The Trustees who voted for the annexation agreement and the special assessment might say they agree, but I believe their votes support a different vision.

In the election on April 1, please vote for change, vote for me and three other new Board Trustees. You can contact me at 726-9500 or jmather@critcalcore.com.

Jane Mather

Fraser

Candidate for Fraser Town Board Trustee