Daily Staff Report
October 7, 2005

By Edward Stoner

Daily Staff Writer

VAIL - Former council members and political newcomers are among the 10 people who have filed petitions to run for Vail Town Council on Nov. 8. Four incumbents and six challengers are vying for the four seats on the council that are up for grabs. The 10 unofficial candidates are:

-- Kevin R. Foley. Foley served six years on Vail Town Council, beginning in 1995. He was re-elected to a two-year term in 1999 and left office in 2001. He works for the Lifthouse condominiums in Lionshead.

Foley couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

-- Ludwig Kurz. Kurz was mayor of Vail from 1999-2003 and councilman from 1995-1999. He left office in 2003 due to term limits. He works as director of community relations for the Beaver Creek Resort Company.

"I think I still have a lot to offer," Kurz said. "There are important and exciting times coming up for Vail." He said he wants to help Vail rejuvenate itself and improve the product it offers to visitors.

-- Scott Pittman. Pittman has lived in Vail for 22 years. He's a resident of Vail Commons in West Vail and works as an engineer at the Vail Marriott. Previously, he owned his own painting business. He has no political experience. He said he supports the conference center as well as a rebuilt Crossroads.

"It's an opportunity for me to give back to the community," Pittman said. "This is my opportunity to serve."

-- Kristy Slack. Slack has lived in East Vail for more than four years. She works as a national sales manager at the Cascade Resort, and she has no previous political experience. She said she wants to bring balance to the council, both as a younger person and as a female. She also said she wants to help Vail work through the change that's being brought about by construction.

Candidates who previously announced intentions to run are:

-- Robert H. Aikens. Aikens is owner of Verbatim Booksellers in Vail Village and first moved to the Vail Valley in 1989. His political experience includes serving on the board of directors of the Avon-Beaver Creek Resort Association.

-- Dick Cleveland, incumbent. Cleveland was elected to the council in 2001. He serves as mayor pro tem. He is chief investigator for the District Attorney's Office in Breckenridge.

-- Diana M. Donovan, incumbent. Donovan was elected to council in 1999 to a two-year term and re-elected in 2001 to a four-year term. She is the owner of Vail Honeywagon waste disposal service. She would only be eligible to serve for two years because of term limits.

-- Mark Gordon. A West Vail resident, Gordon ran unsuccessfully for council in 2003 in the November election and in a special election in January 2004. He works as a foreman for the Vail Resorts Communications Center.

-- Farrow Hitt, incumbent. Hitt was elected in a special election in January 2004. He works as general manager at Simba Run in Lionshead.

-- Greg Moffet, incumbent. Moffet was elected to council in 1999 and re-elected to a two-year term in 2003. If elected again, he would only be able to serve two years due to term limits. He owns TIGA Advertising.

The petitioners are unofficial candidates until their qualifications and petition-signers are certified, which will happen Tuesday. Town Clerk Lorelei Donaldson said she will determine the ballot order Wednesday by a random selection. The deadline to submit a petition was Friday.



Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 604, or estoner@vaildaily.com.



Vail, Colorado