Submitted Biography
A fifty-year resident of Larimer County, Ben Aste has been involved in the life of the community in a wide variety of capacities. He and his wife of 43 years, Sandy, have two children and three grandchildren. Since 1995, Ben has been the founder and CEO of Uncle Benny's Building Supplies, which has diverted more than four million tons of building materials from the landfill. He has been involved as a stakeholder in the Larimer County Wasteshed Project, the Big Thompson River Reclamation Project, and the Highway 402 Corridor Expansion Project. Ben volunteered with recovery efforts after the 1976 and 2013 floods and multiple wildfires. He has also supported and volunteered for organizations including schools, FFA, 4-H, and mental health advocacy.
Biografía Enviada
Ben Aste, residente desde hace cincuenta años del condado de Larimer, ha estado involucrado en la vida de la comunidad en una amplia variedad de capacidades. Él y su esposa durante 43 años, Sandy, tienen dos hijos y tres nietos. Desde 1995, Ben ha sido el fundador y director ejecutivo de Uncle Benny's Building Supplies, que ha desviado más de cuatro millones de toneladas de materiales de construcción del vertedero. Ha participado como parte interesada en la construcción de la cuenca de residuos del condado de Larimer, el proyecto de recuperación del río Big Thompson y el proyecto de ampliación del corredor de la autopista 402. A lo largo de los años, Ben ha sido voluntario de recuperación después de las inundaciones y múltiples incendios forestales de 1976 y 2013. También ha apoyado y sido voluntario para múltiples organizaciones, incluidas escuelas, FFA, 4-H y defensa de la salud mental.
Campaign Phone
970-556-0760
This question has been asked every so often for many years, but considering that it has never been referred to the ballot, it doesn’t seem to have gained much traction. I understand the argument for expanding the number of commissioners based on population growth, but I’m not convinced that it would create better outcomes in terms of governance and policy outcomes. But we do know it would cost more in salary, benefits, and other related expenses. So I’d be concerned about the additional costs to the County right now, when we’re still recovering from the collateral effects of the pandemic and multiple natural disasters.
As a current rural resident who has lived in the area for 50 years, I have strong relationships and a good pulse on the needs and concerns of rural Larimer County. Rural residents are particularly concerned about thoughtful growth, the protection of ag land, and private property rights. They also face particularly high risks to life and property during wildfires and flood events. In taking proactive measures, we not only protect human life and property, but we also protect our watershed and the overall ecosystem.
I've attended several meetings of the Loveland Homelessness Task Force and have seen Fort Collins’ progress over the past several years, so I understand the complex challenges of helping people exit homelessness and ensuring the cleanliness of our public spaces. Our recently opened mental health facility addresses just one aspect of issues around homelessness. Anything we can do to bring down housing costs in Larimer County is also worth our attention. I know how important it is for people to be able to buy an attainably priced home and begin to build equity. Having lived some of my early years in mobile home parks, I understand how important it is to have a wide variety of housing options. I support identifying areas for modular homes, tiny homes, and other attainable market-rate housing. I’m in favor of encouraging a broad range of housing types that will bring creative solutions to the market, helping meet the housing needs of our lower-income residents.
The Tuesday morning meetings may be challenging for many working residents to attend, but every time slot presents obstacles for different groups of people. For example, evening meetings are often difficult for parents of young children to attend. I would be open to schedule adjustments if proposed, but commissioners should make themselves broadly available and responsive to residents outside of meetings as well. An effective county commissioner enjoys learning all sides of the issues, and that’s only possible with active engagement through phone, email, and face-to-face meetings. Residents need to know that they are being heard, valued, and represented well.
Larimer County residents recognized the dire need for funding mental health services when they voted in 2018 to create a county behavioral health campus with their tax dollars. The other funding pathway created by that ballot measure is the Impact Fund Grant Program, which provides funding to a wide variety of projects and programs that enrich behavioral health in our communities. I am a strong supporter of both the Longview campus and the Impact Fund Grant Program. Larimer County has come a long way over the past decade in providing direct support and partnering with nonprofits that are able to meet the needs of people on the ground in their communities.
I support NISP and the clean water storage that Chimney Hollow and Glade Reservoir will provide. According to Northern Water, we have always been able to meet the water needs of our neighbors to the east - but at times, we have been unable to hold the entirety of our own allocation because we didn’t have the proper storage. It’s important to learn from history. After the 2013 fires, when the water treatment facility in Fort Collins was clogged and contaminated with ash, we had enough water in Horsetooth Reservoir to meet our needs. If we hadn’t had the proper storage, what would we have done? As our communities continue to grow, more storage is critical. This is important for residents to understand as well: our choosing to live here gives implicit consent to water resource development for future generations.
Submitted Biography
Our family has called Larimer County home since 2000. Born and raised in Northern Colorado, I knew I wanted my husband and I to raise our three children with the same values and outdoor experiences. My husband of 31 years works in Larimer County in the medical field, our oldest son graduated from graduate school at Colorado State University, our younger son just graduated from graduate school with a focus on Business and Innovation, and our daughter is a student in engineering at CU Boulder and is a national science awarded scholar. All three of my children are proud Thompson School District graduates. I am fortunate to have my extended family living nearby throughout Larimer County and Colorado. I am extremely grateful to raise our family in unincorporated Larimer County where the quality of life is wonderful and opportunities bountiful. Early in my career I graduated with a Bachelors from CU and have a Master of Science degree. I have cofounded two nonprofits.
Biografía Enviada
Nuestra familia ha llamado hogar al condado de Larimer desde el año 2000. Nací y crecí en el norte de Colorado, y sabía que quería que mi esposo y yo criáramos a nuestros tres hijos con los mismos valores y experiencias al aire libre. Mi esposo, con quien llevo casado 31 años, trabaja en el condado de Larimer en el campo de la medicina, nuestro hijo mayor se graduó de la escuela de posgrado en la Universidad Estatal de Colorado, nuestro hijo menor acaba de graduarse de la escuela de posgrado con un enfoque en Negocios e Innovación, y nuestra hija es estudiante de ingeniería en CU Boulder y es una becaria científica premiada a nivel nacional. Mis tres hijos son orgullosos graduados del Distrito Escolar Thompson. Tengo la suerte de tener a mi familia extendida viviendo cerca en todo el condado de Larimer y Colorado. Estoy sumamente agradecida de criar a nuestra familia en el condado de Larimer no incorporado, donde la calidad de vida es maravillosa y las oportunidades abundan. Al princip
Campaign Phone
(970)541-9591
According to Colorado Law, each of the 64 counties can ask the voters of their county if they want to change the number of Commissioners from 3 to 5. Once we hit a population of around 500,000, we should put that question to the voters of Larimer County. While adding commissioners could help represent our diverse needs, it also comes with costs like salaries, benefits, and more staff to support them. Currently, we keep things lean in our office, doing a lot of the work ourselves, so additional support would be necessary. I make it a point to travel throughout Larimer County each year to listen to residents, and it is essential that the voters have the final say on this.
If re-elected, I’m dedicated to addressing the concerns of rural Larimer County. As the only commissioner living in this area with deep roots in multi-generational farming and ranching, I bring a unique perspective. I serve on the National Association of Counties Rural Action Caucus, participating in monthly meetings focused on rural issues. I’ll continue to prioritize improving broadband access, tackling water challenges, preserving agricultural land, enhancing behavioral health access, ensuring public safety, supporting wildfire mitigation, and improving transportation. My experience in unincorporated Larimer County fuels my commitment to being a strong advocate for my neighbors’ needs.
Since the start of my term as County Commissioner, I have focused on preventing homelessness and finding solutions for those affected. We have worked to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing and increase access to adequate housing. In May 2022, I convened 80 experts on youth homelessness, leading to a $1.5 million investment in a new youth shelter opening this fall. After the pandemic, we partnered with Neighbor to Neighbor to provide eviction protection assistance. We also hired a housing stability manager, allocated $2 million for workforce housing in Estes Park, and supported residents in a mobile home park to buy their park. Projects like Heartside Hill in southeast Fort Collins highlight the power of partnerships. I am eager to continue this vital work.
County Commissioners meet on Tuesday mornings, which can be tough for working residents, but it helps staff present effectively. We offer virtual participation options, and we also hold evening meetings for land use hearings and community conversations. We ensure accessibility with language translation and sign language services when requested. For significant decisions, we engage impacted residents through surveys, postcards, and community meetings, as well as emails and phone outreach on issues like the budget and land use. I also host meetings in our districts during evenings and weekends. I believe in listening to all community voices, attending local events, and enjoying one-on-one conversations to better understand residents' needs. This engagement is a key part of my role as a County Commissioner.
For over a decade, I've advocated for behavioral health issues in our region, and I believe the county plays a vital role in supporting access to these services. Behavioral health impacts our youth, justice system, older adults, and human services. With the new State Behavioral Health Administration, we have a coordinated approach to address these needs. In 2018, I championed the county mental health initiative that voters approved, funded by a sales tax. I chair the policy council for this initiative, which has successfully launched the Longview Acute Care Center and provided $15 million in grants to organizations to enhance access and intervention. Continuing this work is essential for the well-being of our community.
As your County Commissioner, I've consistently engaged in water courses and workshops to deepen my understanding of water management. Appointed by the Governor to the Forest Health Council, I focus on forest health, protecting and restoring our vital watersheds. Although the county isn’t a water provider, we collaborate with 124 local water providers, watershed coalitions, and environmental experts to ensure sustainable water resource cooperation. Being the headwaters for two major rivers, Larimer County has complex water issues that require a knowledgeable and collaborative approach. We've supported a water risk assessment and are now implementing the first-ever Larimer Water Master Plan, prioritizing water conservation, river health, and watershed preservation. Protecting our clean water is a top priority for me.