LOUISVILLE NEEDS DON BROWN

We strongly endorse Don Brown for Mayor of Louisville. Don served on the City Council for eight years, worked with many of the community boards and commissions, has led several community organizations and established a successful business. Most importantly, he has done so in a collegial and collaborative manner. Louisville is at a crossroads; Louisville is at a crossroads; the Mayor we need is the Mayor who can build teams, engage and energize city staff, work together with city council members and staff and harness citizen energy to respond to the challenges we face. the Mayor we need is the Mayor who can build teams, engage and energize city staff, work together with city council members and staff and harness citizen energy to respond to the challenges we face. The only candidate that can do that Is Don Brown.

We need someone who both understands why Louisville supported advantageous policies in the past and also has the practical vision and experience to find new ways to attract revenue, to make housing affordable for young families and empty-nesters, and to respect the values we have always cherished. Don is widely respected by those organizations that have made Louisville the city you enjoy today. But many of those things are being threatened. Ask members of the Downtown Business Association, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, the small business owners, your neighbors, and your children’s teachers about concerns they have as Louisville has evolved. Ask Don Brown about his ideas as we enter 2020.

Louisville cannot afford to become another town that says “No” not only to new ideas but to any ideas that differ from a very small group that seeks to take Louisville backward. Think about what you love about our city. Recognize how those things were accomplished. Then compare the values of the candidates and their ability to work with people, and vote for Don Brown.

Charles Sisk and Terre Rushton
Louisville, CO

Don Brown has been a fixture in the City of Louisville since moving here in the early 90’s. I first met him when he came to my door to introduce himself as the Ward 3 candidate for City Council. He was friendly, enthusiastic and willing to listen to my ideas. I would continue to see him at community events in Louisville and he would always take the time to chat and find My wife and I intend to stay in Louisville throughout our retirement and Don is working to ensure we are able to live out our lives in community that is diverse and active. out what was happening in my world. But I have also seen him reach out to many others in the community trying to understand what is important to them and how he could help to make Louisville a better place to live. Don is now bringing those same qualities to his mayoral campaign.

Louisville needs to make some moves to help ensure a sustainable and vibrant community. This begins with addressing our entrance into the city from U.S. 36. Sam’s Club has sat vacant over 10 years and now Kohls is leaving. As a community we must act to properly develop this area to make it vibrant for all ages. At the same time, we must continue to keep our downtown area a place to take families for meals and shopping. This is Don’s focus also. He has met with business leaders in these areas to understand what would help them to better serve Louisville. He is also meeting with citizens to gain an understanding of their concerns.

I see today what I saw in the campaign of ’99. Someone who cares about the community in which he lives and is willing to put in the time and effort to make it better. My wife and I intend to stay in Louisville throughout our retirement and Don is working to ensure we are able to live out our lives in community that is diverse and active. Don Brown is the candidate for Louisville Mayor and I am proud to endorse him.

William Nelson
Louisville, CO

As long time residents of Louisville, we have lived through many facets of city government from no-growth advocates to growth promotors. What has been best for Louisville?

Growth advocates expanded our city limits and brought us affordable housing that allowed our children the Don will be objective, efficient and supports efforts that will help Louisville thrive for generations to come. opportunity to stay in our community. In addition, retail outlets opened and hotels, restaurants and our championship golf course followed. Sales tax revenues brought our beautiful city hall; library; recreation and senior center, which is second to none; and established a museum complex to commemorate our past. Our downtown was preserved and it is the envy of surrounding communities. Traditions such as our Labor Day Parade, Parade of Lights and Street Faire were expanded and yet we maintained our small town atmosphere.

Because of the efforts of the no-growth advocates, we are land locked. There are significant consequences to these policies. Housing and property taxes have increased drastically and our own children can no long grow up in the community that nurtured their childhood. Because of lack of numbers of roofs and unaffordable cost of living, businesses are struggling and sales tax revenue is declining. These funds support the very programs that define Louisville as the community it is today.

We are supporting Don Brown for mayor. Don is aware of consequences of the past. His experience on City Council, numerous boards, and establishing and expanding his own business gives him the knowledge that it takes to be successful. Don will be objective, efficient and supports efforts that will help Louisville thrive for generations to come. He will collaborate with city staff to bring efficiency in city government. Don has the experience to value the past and the vision to guide us to a productive future.

Barb and Dan DiSalle.
Louisville, CO

If the Louisville Mayor’s election is going to be a referendum on which candidate will best protect the City’s “small town charm,” Don Brown should win in a landslide.

As a longtime friend of Don’s, I know that his love of If the Louisville Mayor’s election is going to be a referendum on which candidate will best protect the City’s “small town charm,” Don Brown should win in a landslide. Louisville stems from growing up in the small town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio (pop. 4,104). It is this background that drives him to protect what makes Louisville special – not just by trying to stop change but by bringing people together to improve our community.

Every Louisville election seems to be a referendum on growth. In this one, Don is being painted as the pro-growth candidate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Don knows that downtown is our crown jewel. He helped make it what it is today when he served on the council from 2000-2008 and will fight to maintain it. But he also knows that what makes a community is more than building heights and densities. It is also libraries, pancake breakfasts and pet parades. It is providing services for seniors and programs for kids. It is working together to keep our community vibrant.

If you want a mayor who will work every day to protect what is great about Louisville now and for the future, I urge you to vote for Don Brown. Go to brownforlouisville.com for more information.

David Goossen
Louisville, CO

In a time characterized by partisanship and lack of civility in governing at our national level, it is a breath of fresh air to find someone who wants to govern with civility, collaboration and community as core values for Louisville. That person is Don Brown and he is running for Mayor.

Louisville Colorado needs leadership with an eye towards building upon the foundations Don Brown is the driver who can best steer Louisville going forward. that form the vibrant community in which we live. The reason why many of us decided to live here or have stayed over the past 5, 10, or 20 plus years, is that Louisville, in its location, character and community, promised solid roots, good schools and neighborhoods, and the possibility of a bright future. Today, Louisville is at a crossroads. It risks getting lost in a sea of changes that will occur whether the community and Louisville wants them or not.

Louisville needs to stop taking the back seat and become the driver in guiding its future. Don Brown is the driver who can best steer Louisville going forward. He values collaboration and what happens in this community, not just through City Council, but through our citizens and community volunteer groups.

Meg McClellan
Louisville, CO

I wish I could vote in the upcoming election for Louisville Mayor. I have read with great interest the innovative and progressive ideas of candidate Don Brown. I have known him well for the last 57 years. I am his mother.

I have always been awed by his intellect. He, as a tiny fellow pre-walking, would show his displeasure by banging his head on the floor. It took no time for Don to realize the carpeted floor worked better for this display than a hardwood floor. I am proud of him. I know he has the courage to tackle tough problems and find solutions.

In his eighth-grade year, his family moved to a nearby community that was an athletic rivalry. Don declared that “I will never like Chagrin Falls, Ohio”. Within three months he was president of the class.

At Northwestern University, Don realized that although he had wrestled varsity in high school, the Northwestern varsity was comprised of recruited, state champions with no room for “walk-ons”. Don left the program but was called back during his senior year. Northwestern was wrestling powerhouse Iowa and Cats were short of wrestlers. Don wrestled the reigning national champion. Despite no practice for three years, Don stepped up. He lasted until 17 seconds left in the first period. The Chicago Tribune published a front-page article citing Don’s courage and willingness to support his school. Northwestern awarded him a varsity letter.

I am proud of him. I know he has the courage to tackle tough problems and find solutions.

Don is a leader. He consistently has met academic, professional, and community challenges with diplomatic skills. Don listens to all and seeks cooperation in moving his beloved Louisville into its best future. I wish I could vote for Don Brown. His election is sure to be a huge benefit to Louisville making it a place desirable place to live and visit.

Nancy Marino
Fort Myers, Florida

For eight years, I have watched the old Sam’s Club property on McCaslin Boulevard sit empty and lifeless. Kohls is moving to Lafayette, and Safeway has been riddled with customer dissatisfaction. Not only is there little to no sales tax coming from this large retail space to support city services and amenities, it is a blighted area at the gateway to one of Louisville’s more prominent retail locations. Other than one unsuccessful effort to interest an outdoor Vote Don Brown for our next mayor of Louisville. sporting goods retailer, there has been no visionary leadership during this time to work with the nine property owners to find creative approaches to the planning challenges of the location.

A recent article in Colorado Hometown Weekly stated the Louisville City Council is just now looking to address economic vitality and development of the location. Given the significance of the McCaslin corridor to the economic health of the city, why has this not been a priority over the last eight years?

The timing of the newly focused attention to the area seems to be politically driven in this election year rather than an actual commitment and vision to address the lack of space utilization.

Vote Don Brown for our next mayor of Louisville. Brown would take an engaged, transparent, inclusive and creative approach to bring this property back from its retail grave and make it the signature gateway of Louisville. It is time for new leadership.

Fran Ryan
Louisville, CO

Louisville has a clear choice for mayor. Don Brown has the experience, the optimism, the authentic intent to engage all in our community (residents and businesses alike), and the civility to serve as mayor in alignment with our small-town character. And he is NOT for an above-ground parking structure, despite the misleading Don understands that Louisville’s historical strength and uniqueness are predicated upon its enduring embrace of change.fliers the campaign of Don’s opponent continues to leave on our porches. Just ask Don himself. Given his opponent’s dedicated years of service to Louisville, I am disappointed. We should expect more from her and her surrogates.

Many of us live in Louisville for the balance between friendly old town neighborhoods and a vibrant set of ever-changing commercial cores, not least of which is downtown. We are approaching an imbalance. Don understands that Louisville’s historical strength and uniqueness are predicated upon its enduring embrace of change. Over the last several years, a growing resistance to any form of change has become evident in our city. We have seen retailers leave (and in some cases, with none to replace them), recent residents move away again, current residents increasingly shopping and dining out in neighboring communities, and serious proposals submitted by existing Louisville employers with dreams of growth responded to with delays and so many strings attached that the counterproposals from our City Council appear to be hollow gestures.

Don served on our City Council at a time when our city embraced experiments, change, risks, and creativity. We can look around our city for the benefits of this approach (Community Park, Waterloo, Empire, Lucky Pie, the Street Faire, to name a few). Defaulting to “no” does not work in modern city governance. Getting to “yes” is much more difficult. But saying yes to Don as our mayor is the easiest choice we can all make.

Brian Armstrong
Louisville, CO