Incumbent Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober and challenger Toni Kronberg debated airport ballot questions, affordable housing and more at the Squirm Night candidate forum for the sole Pitkin County contested race. In the only contested Pitkin County commissioner race, incumbent Francie Jacober and challenger Toni Kronberg debated at Wednesday’s Squirm Night over affordable housing, rural character and the airport. Francie Jacober is seeking a second term on the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners representing District 5.
She is running as a Democrat. Toni Kronberg, her challenger, is running unaffiliated. She has held a number of jobs throughout the community over her decades and primarily works as a swimming instructor.
The two candidates diverge on the ballot measures related to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport. Kronberg said she will vote for ballot question 200, which asks voters to divest county commissioners of their authority to alter or relocate the runway from its Jan. 1, 2024, state.
“This is not a question about reaffirming the power of the Pitkin County commissioners, which I totally respect, but what it is doing is adding a subsection [to the Home Rule Charter], which is giving the Pitkin County commissioners the total authority and discretion on all aspects of the airport, including transportation, and the air quality,” Kronberg said. The Federal Aviation Administration sent a letter to the county on Oct. 17, expressing concern about the consequences .
