I am always available to set up time to talk about the various issues impacting Erie. Please see the Contact page.
Workforce Housing
Call it what you will, workforce housing, income appropriate housing, or affordable housing, people who work in Erie should be able to afford to live here. There are several reasons why this is important for the Town:
Flag Policy
In my mind, the Town Council made a big mistake when revising the town Flag Policy to severely restrict the use of flags in the Town. We need a policy that lets us fly flags that are authorized through a Federal, State, or Erie proclamation.
Mixed-Use Zoning and Development
As a member and former Vice-Chair of the Erie Planning Commission I have learned how important mixed-use zoning and development are to our community. I will continue to be a champion of having areas where there are a variety of housing options and people can walk or bike to stores and restaurants, and ideally to work.
Mineral Rights
I was pleased to see SM Energy back out of the mineral rights deal and for the Town Council to rescind the ordinance, as the Town negotiated a terrible deal. This would not have happened if the residents hadn’t collected sufficient signatures to get the repeal referendum over the threshold to be put on a ballot. When elected, I will ensure that proper procedure is always followed and that discussions of future ordinance are conducted in a transparent manner. Here are the facts as I know them.
- The initial payment to the Town was $4.5 million, with an immediate outgoing payment of the same amount to the consultant, for a $0 net gain.
- The Town decided to sell rather than lease their rights, which isn’t the preferred arrangement.
- For some unknown reason, the Town agreed to allow SM Energy to recoup 200% of their initial investment before the Town received anything. Talking with people who have leased their land for significant number of wells, they say you should always start receiving payment from day one. The reason for this is clear if you look at the following graph from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and table from a web search for “mineral extraction from fracking over time graph for a single well”:
Production Breakdown by Phase
| Phase | Timeframe | Volume Trajectory | Physical Cause |
| Peak Production (IP) | Month 1 | 100% capacity (e.g., 600–1,800 BOE/day). | The initial surge immediately after the well is “completed” and fracking fluids are cleared. |
| Phase 1: Hyperbolic Crash | Months 2–12 | Drops by 50% to 70% by the end of year one. | Rapid depletion of the artificial, high-pressure fracture network immediately adjacent to the wellbore. |
| Phase 2: Transitional Decline | Years 2–5 | Drops by 15% to 25% annually. By year two, up to 80% of total initial volume is permanently gone. | Fluid flow transitions from the artificial fractures to the tighter, surrounding rock matrix. |
| Phase 3: Terminal Decline | Years 6–30+ | Flattens to 5% to 10% annual decline. | The well settles into a long, low-producing “tail” driven by slow, natural matrix drainage that can last decades. |
4. There are many wells in Erie that should have already been cleaned up, and SM Energy and its predecessors have declined to do so. I am against giving money (which is what this deal would have done) to pay for something that the recipient already has an obligation to do.
Business Development
Erie is a great place for doing business, and we have a strong Economic Development program. If elected, I will work with staff and We Love Erie Business Collective (formerly the Erie Economic Development Council) to promote new businesses. This is part of the creation of mixed-use communities.
Growth
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Erie was the third fastest-growing town (as opposed to city) in the United States between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024:
This is incredible growth, and must be managed. The updated Comprehensive Plan does a good job of planning for future growth while realizing that a significant portion of future development has already been authorized.
Budget Transparency
The Town of Erie has a very complex budget – the 2016 budget document is 719 pages long! How many residents of Erie understand where our money is going? There are 10 current priorities for the Town:
While I agree with these priorities, I do not feel that the current Town Council has actually implemented policies that reflect them. I pledge to work with Town Residents to help you understand the budget and align your priorities with the budget and associated policy.