Meet the 6 Holyoke City Council candidates

Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Holyoke City Council. Those elected in the Nov. 3 election will serve four-year terms. Candidates are incumbents John Schneider and Kevin Scott as well as Cathy Edge, Jimmy French, Hannah Goodman and Ashley Sullivan. Each candidate was given the opportunity to fill out a survey, and their responses are printed below.

Cathy Edge

Current employment/past experience: I am retired stay at home grandparent and housewife. I have been married to my husband Ron for 20 years. We have lived in Phillips Co for 20 years but moved to Holyoke to raise our grand-daughter 5 years ago. We moved to Holyoke because it was friendly, family-oriented farming community; a community we felt would bless our grand-daughter with great friends and experiences as she grows. Prior to retirement I held a number of different positions which provided me with opportunities and experiences preparing me to run for City Council. Some positions included business owner, Office Manager at Jack’s Bean Co., Blackwolf Brockerage & Transportation and secretary at Amherst Coop and Rainbow Grain. I also held a customer service position for D&J Hardware.

Experience on boards/committees: Currently I hold a Board position at the GPRC/Peerless Theater holding the office of treasurer and member of the fundraising committe. I am also a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Women of Zion and hold a position on a committe for Bethesda Home in Colorado. I also belong to Sew Caring a sewing group making items for community members and patient’s at the local hospitals and Nursing Home. We have made lap quilts for MMH Chemo Room, Patients recive a lap quit at the start of their chemo treatments to help them keep warm and provide comfort. I have also have been a Girl Scout Leader for 2 year for my grand-daughter.

Family: Besides my grand-daughter Elizabeth, my husband and I have 5 children and eight grandchildren. I enjoy quilting, yard work, walking my dogs, camping and helping others.

Reason for seeking election/re-election: I am running for City Council for the following reason:

First: Needed tennis court and swimming pool. Currently, at any given time, only 1/2 of the tennis court is being used by our community, and young adults for any number of reasons such as timing and number of individuals wanting to use the courts, disrepair ect. When driving by the grade school, often there are both youth and adults using the grade school basketball court. I propose that we, as a community, repair/upgrade the tennis court and add a basketball court on the other half. This would also decrease repairs to the school basketball court, an expense that would be passed on to the community. There hasn’t been improvements to court in a very long time so why can’t we look into that?

We have a beautiful swimming pool. I realize that with Covid and the subsequents mandates by Govenor Polis the pool has had to close. However, the pool is closed more then it is open due to a “boiler” issue. I propose that we look into grants to repair the boiler. Our youth and adults use the swimming pool all year round.

Second: Needed street repairs. There are very few streets in town which are not littered with pot holes and other with very deep pot holes. There need to be a better process for evaluating our streets needs and proposed repairs. As a counsel member I would advocate for repairs and head the committee if necessary to investige cost effetive methods for improving the street repairs.

Third: Alleys in disrepair or cluttered. While driving down some of allyes I have notice a lot of trash in the alleys and even blocked alleys from overflowing posessions of some of our residents. Because of this, our trash truck have problems going down the alleys. I have agreed to ride on the trash truck to better understand what our sanitation work encounter when attemping to pick up the trash. One solution to this challenge would be to give those residents who are “chronic offenders” a warning with the expectation the alley would be cleared and cleaned. If there is no progress after the waring then it is important to make sure the current laws/ordinances are enforced. All residents in Holyoke are to be treated the same, the law/ordinances were not enacted for one set of individuals but for all Holyoke community members. Therefore, it is my intent to make sure that all community members are treated the same and fairly.

The above items are just three (3) areas where I believe our community needs an advocate for improvement. I am always open to conversation regarding your thoughts and concerns. Living in Holyoke, I can see where we can go and what we can be. Our ancestors took pride in our community so lets continue with their intial steps and have “PRIDE and PROGRESS” in our community.

These are the reasons that I am running for Holyoke City Council.

Jimmy French

Current employment/past experience: I have been a math teacher and robotics sponsor at Holyoke High School since 2017, and an assistant baseball coach starting in 2019. I previously worked at a Christian boarding school in Texas for 5 years.

Education/training: I graduated from Amherst College in 2011 with a double major in mathematics and computer science

Experience on boards/committees: I was part of the pastor search committee at First Christian Church. Over the summer I was part of the interview process for hiring our new principal as well as being part of a committee to design our new seminar curriculum at the school.

Community involvement: In addition to being part of many community events through my role at the school, I am an active member of First Christian Church where I serve on the worship team. I am also a leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a youth group for junior high and high school students.

Family: My wife, Jes-c, and I have been married for six and a half years. Holyoke is her hometown and most of my in-laws live here. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York, where my parents, Jim and Nancy, and my sister, Jane, still live. I also have a sister, Molly, who lives in Oregon and a brother, Alan, who lives in Washington, D.C.

Reason for seeking election/re-election: I think one of my strengths is thinking through and evaluating both sides of any situation and choosing what I believe is best. I think many people have preconceived views that they refuse to change regardless of what new information they receive. I want to bring a voice to the council without an agenda and just consider the needs of as many people as possible to do what’s best for our community as a whole.

Share your thoughts on how the City of Holyoke can be improved: I think Holyoke is an amazing community that really stands out in our region. I also know it’s very easy for small towns to grow complacent or stagnant since we have so many familiar comforts that we assume will always be there. I just want our community to continue growing and embracing new opportunities that may arise.

Hannah Goodman

Current employment/past experience: Currently I am a homeschooling mother of four children and entrepreneur. I have dedicated a large portion of my time to raising a young family and providing a thorough education. I run a successful online shop focusing on folk art. I am also an ammature furrier and have expanded my shop in the last couple years to include a variety of animal furs that I tanned myself. My goal is to join the Colorado Fur Trappers Guild and tan professionally.

Before moving back to Colorado several years ago, I worked at a One-Stop Career Center, which is a branch of the California Employment Development Department services. I was a receptionist initially and then promoted to Senior Clerk. I found the work very fulfilling and educational, especially during the economic downturn of 2008. I left traditional employment to become a full-time homeschooling mother. Running an online business gives me the flexibility to set my own hours and teach my children.

Education/training: I spent part of my highschool years at Sterling High School and graduated from Ortega High School in Lake Elsinore, California.  I am an avid scholar and deeply invested in my personal studies. I am a student of Aristotelian Logic and its continuation, Objectivism.  I have taken and completed many courses of philosophical studies through the Ayn Rand University, including The History of Philosophy, The Philosophy of Objectivism, and several others. Economics is another area of study I focus on; I am a student of Austrian School of Economics. I have also taken several accredited courses at FEE.org through their Words and Numbers Classroom Professional Development for Teachers Program. Philosophy, Economics and Political Science are my passion.

Experience on boards/committees: I have not had the opportunity to serve on boards or committees, but I am eagerly awaiting the chance as seats open up. My children are getting older and I have more time to dedicate to community boards and committees.

Community involvement: The community here in Holyoke is very important to me. The safe and warm environment is perfect to raise a young family. The local library has been an excellent resource for educating my children. My kids and I participate in many of the library’s annual events. The history of Holyoke is a knowledgeable passion of mine and the County Museum here in town is another important community resource I enjoy with my family. The exhibits feature the life of Holyoke past and the general history of our area--my own family brands hang proudly on display there. One thing that I really love is that you can meet all your needs through our local merchants.  I am a proud patron of our local restaurants, shop for my groceries weekly at the Holyoke MarketPlace, utilize many of the shops for home repairs, as well as have vehicles serviced in town. I like being able to keep my money local. My run for City Council is only the beginning of my community involvement and I intend to serve our local community with enthusiasm and strive to further enrich the city we love.

Family: I have been married to my husband Marvin for 10 years and we have four children. My name may be initially unfamiliar to some locals however, my family has deep roots in Holyoke. My mother is Lori Poe, who is the daughter of Ruth Kinnie and Elwin Poe. Joe and Ruth Kinnie are excellent and upstanding members of this community. Joe is a wonderful grandfather to both me and my children, and is very happy to see me want to participate in municipal service. Elwin Poe has served on many boards and ran for several offices himself in his day. Elwin has been  involved in local and state politics for decades. He is also known for farming on lands on the South East of town. Guy Poe was my Great Grandfather and was very active on local and state boards and held a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives. I am very proud to come from such wonderful people and my family’s history has inspired me to want to continue the family tradition of serving the community.

Reason for seeking election/re-election: I am very passionate about the local community, as well as the businesses and organizations that keep our community together. I strive to stay informed on relevant information and how it affects my family and our community as a whole. The role of a city council member is to act as a public servant and represent the members of the community. If elected, representing the people of Holyoke--their needs and concerns, would be my number one priority. I will strive to listen and make sure all voices of the community are being heard. I also want to encourage wider community involvement, especially with the younger generations. I believe I can bridge that gap between generations to bring positive community enrichment and growth. My goal is to act as a fresh voice for the community.

Share your thoughts on how the City of Holyoke can be improved: After attending City Council meetings and interacting with various members of the community, I believe the meetings and local pertinent information can be made more accessible to the public. I have several great ideas that I plan to implement if I am elected to City Council. I would utilize technology and social media to increase community involvement and awareness. Having a social media presence can be a vital tool in encouraging more participation from the community. It can also make transparency real time by bringing all the local city meetings to you as they happen. This would keep the community informed of the board, its proceedings, and help to keep our municipal issues on the forefront of the minds of the people.

John Schneider

Current employment/past experience: I have been retired from banking since 2009.  My 39-year career in the banking industry includes time spent in Nebraska, Wyoming, and my final 33 years here in Holyoke.

Education/training: Over the years, I have held real estate and insurance licenses in Nebraska and Insurance and securities licenses in Colorado.  During my years spent in banking I completed numerous continuing education and certification courses.

Experience on boards/committees: I have served five years as a Holyoke City Council member.  I also currently serve as vice president of the PCTelcom Board of Directors and am a trustee on the Will Henginbotham Trust.  I am also a member of the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church.

Community involvement: I have been a member of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and am currently a member of First Baptist Church.  I have always enjoyed spending time visiting residents at Regent Park and the Carriage House.  I also am a proud supporter of the Holyoke community and enjoy taking part in and volunteering for various community activities.

Family: My wife, Lynn, is a teacher at Holyoke Elementary School.  Our older daughter, Christie, and her husband, Eric Stein, and their children, Lucas and Isaac, live in Ft. Collins.  Our son, Chad, resides in Holyoke and works for Mike Smith Construction.  Our younger daughter, Rachel, recently received her Master’s Degree and is currently back at home working at the Phillips County Museum and is on the substitute list at Holyoke Jr/Sr High School as she applies to begin her PhD program next fall.

Reason for seeking election/re-election: Holyoke is an outstanding community, and I appreciate all the opportunities it has provided to me.  I look at service on the City Council as a chance to give back to my community.  As I near the completion of my first full term on the Council, I feel that I have learned so much, and I believe the knowledge and experience I have gained will allow me to be an even more effective Council member in the upcoming four years.  I also greatly admire the outstanding group of individuals our City currently employs, and look forward to coming up with innovative ways to reward our current employees as well as attracting quality people to fill needed vacancies.  Finally, I feel that my retired status allows me the necessary time to devote to this position and the availability to members of the community that is so vital.

Share your thoughts on how the City of Holyoke can be improved: As with most small, rural communities, Holyoke faces definite challenges in the area of economic development.  Maintaining a strong infrastructure, addressing housing needs and child care, and continuing to provide the quality of services we have grown accustomed to while dealing with increasing budget constraints is a definite challenge.  It is important for our city to stay progressive while still maintaining our excellent quality of life.  I look forward to having the opportunity to work with fellow Council members in addressing these issues. There are also several items which the Council has begun considering, including the construction of a new Fire Hall, renovation of the tennis courts,  the upcoming work on the Holyoke Child Care Initiative, and the county-wide housing assessment.  These are opportunities I look forward to continuing to work on as well.

Kevin Scott

Current employment/past experience: Phillips County Assistant Road And Bridge & Maintenance Supervisor.    Been with Phillips County for 33 years.    

Education/training: Graduated from Loveland High School.

Experience on boards/committees: 13 years on the City Council, 10 years as Mayor Pro Tem, Holyoke Rec. Committee, Phillips County Economic Development Board, Holyoke Planning Board, Holyoke Variance Committee. Colorado LTAP Board , Re5J School Board

Community involvement: I like being on the boards for community involvement.  

Family: Married, Wife Karen. Daughter Kelsey Hindert and son-in-law Jim.        

Reason for seeking election/re-election: Really enjoy being on the City Council.  Want to see a few more things through in the community.   

Share your thoughts on how the City of Holyoke can be improved: Helping in anyway I can to see we get a new Day Care Center. Try to figure out how to revive down town Holyoke. Work on saving and finding the money for replacement of the cities infrastructure. Trying to work on the Housing shortage.

Ashley Sullivan

Current employment/past experience: I’ve been the receptionist/office manager at The Holyoke Enterprise for almost 11 years.

Education/training: I am a Holyoke High School graduate and received my Bachelor of Science degree in audiology and speech language sciences with a minor in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.

Experience on boards/committees: I’ve served on the leadership team for Holyoke’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (nondenominational youth group) for over 10 years to coordinate the planning for weekly schedule/locations, special events, snacks/meals, lessons, social media, public relations, games, setup/cleanup, etc.

Community involvement: I run the worship slides at Holyoke First United Methodist Church and have been involved with FCA since returning home from college almost 11 years ago. I really believe in investing in the youth in our community and being intentional about building relationships with them and being a positive role model for them. I like to support the kids in their sporting events, plays, concerts and other activities whenever I can. I also love playing coed softball in the summer, and you will occasionally find me on stage in a Phillips County Players production.

Family: My parents, Steve and Cathy, live in Holyoke, and my brother Jared lives in Denver with his wife Sarah and their son Sam.

Reason for seeking election/re-election: I have lived in Holyoke my entire life (minus the few years I was at college in Greeley) and have gotten to witness the changes and growth that Holyoke has gone through in that time. And having worked at the Enterprise for over 10 years, I have read possibly every article covering city council in that time, so I feel I am fairly familiar with what goes on in our local government. The council has done a lot of good things for our town, but one thing I feel that it lacks is diversity. Aside from simply offering more equal representation for all members of our community, diversity among council members affords additional perspectives and greater insights into the challenges our city faces and increases the range of potential solutions that can be found. This is my home, and it has been for over 33 years, and I want to be a part of the decisions being made that affect all of us and to help Holyoke grow and be able to give back to this community that raised me.

Share your thoughts on how the city of Holyoke can be improved: Holyoke and Phillips County have done some amazing things recently with improving our parks and community facilities, and I would love to see that continue. Holyoke has so much to offer, but there are always more opportunities for improvement, progress and growth. There is always more we can do to promote economic growth and add to our quality of life. I would strive to balance growth and improvements with being fiscally responsible and seeking opportunities for grants and other outside funding whenever possible while also preserving all the great things that make Holyoke unique.