Cory Reid-Vanas: Edgewater City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Cory Reid-Vanas, candidate for Edgewater City Council

We asked each candidate for Edgewater City Council five questions to help community members get to know the candidates and their views.

Here are the answers sent by Cory Reid-Vanas:

Your Occupation:

Family & Teen Therapist (Mental Health Professional)

What do you love about Edgewater?

Edgewater’s proximity to Denver’s city center and quick access to the foothills and mountains make it an ideal location, but more importantly, Edgewater fosters a connected community. Maybe it’s the small size, or the local businesses where neighbors gather, or the engagement of our citizens, but the cohesiveness of our community is why I choose to live in Edgewater.

What do you view as the role of the Edgewater City Council?

City Council has a responsibility to represent the collective voice of the community and each council member brings a unique perspective from the community and their own professions and life experience to contribute to that collective voice. These varying approaches ensure that steps forward are inclusive and that Edgewater’s growth and advancement attends to the diverse needs of its citizens.

Which of Edgewater’s recent legislative actions is your least favorite? Which is your favorite?

As an avid biker and walker, I am personally excited about the adoption of the mobility plan, which addresses sustainability, traffic calming, and creating safety around modes of transportation other than cars. In discussions with community members, I am not alone in the enthusiasm towards improving livability issues in Edgewater.

However, one lesson learned is that city council cannot make decisions that satisfy all possible outcomes. This limitation highlights how vital it is for community members to express their specific concerns and needs. As change and new growth continue to affect Edgewater, we must work hard not to lose its character and charm.

What role can Edgewater City Council play in supporting current small businesses and attracting new ones?

Edgewater City Council maintains a strong focus on small and local businesses. The construction and design of recent commercial developments have been by local companies and Edgewater Public Market was built as a haven for boutique shops and locally owned restaurants. Mainstreet Edgewater has always welcomed small businesses and will continue to do so. City Council should place a high priority on amenities, open space, infrastructure, and fiscal health to attract and support small businesses. Studies to consider businesses, customers, and neighbors can inform City Council in making decisions around commercial use. Finally, City Council can assist Edgewater businesses in practices that are in line with the recently adopted sustainability plan that not only support business, but the community.

Why should Edgewater residents vote for you?

When I decided to run two years ago, my motivation was to increase my civic engagement and to represent varied voices throughout our community, specifically in Edgewater and Jefferson County. I believe that I bring a unique skill set to my role as a Council member. As a mental health professional and small business owner I recognize the importance of listening, and I have learned how to collaborate, negotiate, and compromise, which supports decision making and the community. My motivation to represent all voices has solidified over this two-year period. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as a council member, and I ask for your vote to enable me to continue to represent all of Edgewater for the next four years.

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.