PROTECTING OUR SPECIAL HOME
Grand Junction is a special place - one worth protecting.
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But that secret is out and our small city doesn't feel so small anymore. With growth comes opportunity to get ahead, a vibrant downtown and diverse economy, great places to eat and shop, and more family opportunities.
But growth also stresses our housing market, crowds our streets, endangers our neighborhood character, and creates safety issues.
The next few years are pivotal to growing smart and protecting what we love about our community. The City Council can lead that smart growth by working better together with more thoughtful public engagement, avoiding rushed choices. Leadership that listens to the public and models teamwork can better achieve our goals. Restoring and retaining public trust is my highest priority.
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​I'm Ken Scissors, 27 year Grand Junction resident and physician at our three major medical centers. Grand Junction has given so much to my family that now, after decades of service on various community boards and five years on our planning commission, I feel ready to take my service to the next level by running for city council.
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27 years of
local SERVICE
I moved to Grand Junction in 1998 to raise my family and practice medicine.
My first six years of practice was in the Emergency Room at Community Hospital, followed by ten years of treating those who served us at the Grand Junction Veterans Administration Hospital ICU, ER, and wards. I completed my career in 2020 as a hospitalist at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. During my medical career, I held leadership roles including Intensive Care Unit Director, Emergency Room Director, and new doctor teaching program Assistant Director.
Besides practicing medicine, I also became an investor in local small businesses and developed new homesites. My civic activities include the Western Colorado Community Foundation, Planning Commission, Cleantech Business Coalition, and Impact Fees Stakeholder Committee. On the Planning Commission, I've worked collaboratively with our city staff and city council on housing and zoning strategies.
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I enjoy many outdoor sports and activities with my wife, son, and dogs. Grand Junction has been wonderful to our family and this feels like the time to give back by using my skills and experiences to represent the community in the At-Large City Council seat.
PRIORITIES
1
AN EFFECTIVE CITY COUNCL
The Grand Junction City Council has enacted many measures during my time here to improve most all aspects of community life, and it continues to move in the right direction. There does seem to be a problem, however, with bringing good ideas to fruition without some mis-steps along the way. If elected I would prioritize analyzing our processes to determine the reasons that we sometimes get off track, and instituting changes to implement our plans with greater transparency, community input, and forethought. Fiscal responsibility to the needs and wants of the community is paramount to Council effectiveness.
2
HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY
Inflated housing costs hurt nearly everyone in our community and contribute to homelessness. The reasons are many, some of which are out of our local control. There is no single solution and there is no single entity that can tackle the housing crisis alone. If ever there was a problem that requires extensive collaboration -- this is it. The City, County, business sector, nonprofit sector, and the community at large must work together strategically and efficiently to focus on things we can control. The City Council plays a key role in providing leadership, guidance, and strategic investments to increase our attainable and affordable housing stock. The city must promote better paying jobs to increase the purchasing power side of the affordability gap.
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GROWTH & OPPORTUNITY
The City Council’s primary role in growth and development is to provide top notch essential services and amenities to create a vibrant and welcoming community. This sets the stage for the community to determine how it wants to grow and develop. The One Grand Junction Comprehensive Plan was forged by public input and serves as the Council’s guide for the future, but as circumstances change it is critical that the city and community work closely together to implement and adjust the Comprehensive Plan. Public-Private partnerships, strategic business incentives, and practical zoning and development codes with streamlined processes are strategic priorities the City Council can promote to keep us moving in the right direction. The City Council should prioritize measures that help retain and attract productive young adults to live here and raise a family.
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