Eight candidates vie for Poudre fire district positions

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

There's a lot of interest in the Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District's election set for May 4. Eight candidates are competing for four seats on the board, including three four-year positions and one two-year position.

Candidates for the four-year positions include LeAnn Davis, Jackie Matzner and Marybeth Snyder, all incumbents; and Dawn Niesent, Rachel Schneider and Robert Smith. Incumbent James Venable Jr. and David Hubbs are competing for the two-year position.

Brief candidate profiles follow.

LeAnn Davis

Incumbent LeAnn Davis, 67, moved to the canyon five years ago when she retired, but her family has owned property there since 1945. She has served on the fire district board since 2004. She wants to continue serving on the board "to see this project through."

She's also a volunteer firefighter and said being on the board gives her another way to help the fire department. "I totally believe in the fire department," she said.

Davis has been actively involved in putting together a budget for the proposed buildings and approves of the plans. "They're not extravagant at all," she said. "We're trying to plan for the next 50 years." She said the buildings could serve as an evacuation center and communication center, in addition to housing fire crews if a major fire occurs.

David Hubbs

David Hubbs, 51, has owned property in the canyon for 10 years but lives in Evans. "You should get more involved with the community," he said of his wish to serve on the board.

He wants to be "more reflective of the needs of the people I'm working for," he said, in terms of spending district money. "People who own property there worked hard for their money and property, and government agencies should respect that," he said.

Hubbs said the fire station plans are too extravagant and should better reflect the needs and wishes of property owners, "not the needs and ambitions of the current board. We need to review what is actually needed."

Jackie Matzner

Incumbent Jackie Matzner, 56, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board one year ago. She was raised in the canyon and moved back five years ago.

Matzner is running for election because as part of the community, she wants to help out. "I would like to see this project completed. I think the majority of people do want the new facilities," she said.

The building plans have been scaled back, Matzner pointed out, and they are still not finalized. Everyone she talks to in the upper canyon is happy with the plans, she said.

"We need someplace to put our equipment, and we want it to be adequate for bigger fire trucks and an ambulance," Matzner said.

Dawn Niesent

Dawn Niesent, 49, grew up in the Poudre Canyon and moved back to the canyon 11 years ago. "I love this canyon and I feel what is happening now on our fire board is not acceptable," she said.

The board needs to listen more to the community, she said, and "keep a good, sound budget going." She is concerned about the impact of the increased mill levy on seniors and others who are struggling in the current economy.

Niesent said she is proud of the Poudre Canyon firefighters and wants to provide them with anything they need. She is in favor of purchasing better equipment but thinks the new buildings need to be more modest than what has been proposed.

Rachel Schneider

Rachel Schneider, 42, has lived in the canyon for eight years and serves as a wildland firefighter, EMT, grant writer and fundraiser for the fire district. She is currently being trained in structure firefighting at the Fire Fighter I Academy. She also works at Hach Company.

Schneider said she wants to serve on the fire board "to make sure we keep moving forward. We've made a lot of progress and have earned respect from our mutual aid partners. I want to give our volunteers the resources they need to do a good job."

Schneider said the department has outgrown its current stations and needs new facilities. She wants functional buildings, but thinks they should not be too elaborate.

Robert Smith

Robert Smith, 62, has lived in the canyon for 17 years. He said he is running for a board position in order to "stop wasting taxpayer money." The board, he stated, "has been spending money like drunken sailors. Also, I have witnessed illegal acts with that board of directors, and somebody has to stop it."

As to the proposed new buildings, Smith said there is "no question that improvements are needed." However, he refers to current plans as "big, expensive Taj Mahal buildings" and said the district could erect metal buildings that would be much cheaper.

He also disapproves of building community centers along with the fire department buildings. "Community centers are rarely used," he said.

Marybeth Snyder

Incumbent Marybeth Snyder, 53, has lived in Poudre Canyon for eight years and was appointed to fill a vacancy on the fire board in 2008. She wants to continue on the board to "help lead the community to having fire buildings that satisfy everyone."

She also wants to help heal the rift that has developed in the canyon. "Our community is divided and wounded by this," she said. "I'm hoping we will get back on the same team."

Snyder does not like the idea of taking out a big loan for the new fire stations and favors building smaller facilities in both the upper and lower sections of the canyon. "Let's figure out something more affordable," she said.

James Venable Jr.

Incumbent James Venable Jr., 64, has lived in Poudre Canyon for two and one-half years. His family resides in a homestead building that has been in his wife's family since 1944.

Venable was appointed to the board in February. He had attended several meetings prior to that and wants to be more involved with the fire district and the community.

Venable is satisfied with the fire station plans and noted that they have been scaled back from the original plans. "Certain things outgrow their usefulness, and it's time to do something new," he said.

Venable reported that many people in the upper canyon are ready to get started on the fire station project.