Lisa Markalunas

Following her parents' footsteps, Lisa Markalunas declared her candidacy for Aspen City Council on Wednesday.

But unlike her father, Jim Markalunas, and her mother, Ramona Markalunas, who served on Aspen City Council from 1997-2001 and 1971-1975, respectively, Lisa Markalunas still has to win the voters' trust.
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Markalunas became the sixth challenger to announce a candidacy against incumbent council members Tom McCabe and Tony Hershey.
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Markalunas said she has been "witness to numerous positive and negative changes in Aspen. ... While change is inevitable, we must strive to direct such change for the common good.After a great deal of thought and reflection, I have decided to take an active role in this process.For far too long we have allowed the erosion of our quality of life and our community character.Our independent nature has faded beyond recognition."

Markalunas says some of the blame lies with Aspen's current leaders.

"Sadly, the majority of our current leadership on the City Council has lost their sense of direction and does not reflect the visionary leadership we in Aspen deserve in these challenging times.Environmental degradation of the air we breathe; of our rivers and streams; rampant traffic congestion; a lack of local residents living in their own community; the lack of a truly efficient, mass-transit system; urban sprawl and the degradation of wildlife and agricultural habitat. ...These environmental factors when coupled with the national economic downturns, have had significant impacts on our local economy."

While, in a telephone interview, Markalunas acknowledged that her parents' involvement in local politics influenced her decision to run for council, she said she will stand on her own beliefs during her campaign.

"I think my parents have always encouraged their children to be involved in the community and they've set a standard with their involvement in the community.I imagine they will always have a certain amount of advice but I have my own opinions and my own views on the community and what works and what doesn't."

On mass transit: "I believe that we deserve a mass-transit system that serves both the human population and the environment without preconceived determination as to technology.A viable mass transit system that protects our environment is financially feasible.We must make such an investment in our future," Markalunas said.

She said she envisions a mass-transit system that integrates both buses and rail and that "light rail will certainly prove to be an integral component of mass transit.I think it has proven itself to really be the most efficient means of moving the public," though she conceded "there are costs involved."
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Markalunas has a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder.She works as an accountant at Reese Henry & Company Inc. and lives in the Williams Ranch subdivision near Smuggler Mountain.

Following her parents' footsteps, Lisa Markalunas declared her candidacy for Aspen City Council on Wednesday.

But unlike her father, Jim Markalunas, and her mother, Ramona Markalunas, who served on Aspen City Council from 1997-2001 and 1971-1975, respectively, Lisa Markalunas still has to win the voters' trust.
...
Markalunas became the sixth challenger to announce a candidacy against incumbent council members Tom McCabe and Tony Hershey.
...
Markalunas said she has been "witness to numerous positive and negative changes in Aspen. ... While change is inevitable, we must strive to direct such change for the common good.After a great deal of thought and reflection, I have decided to take an active role in this process.For far too long we have allowed the erosion of our quality of life and our community character.Our independent nature has faded beyond recognition."

Markalunas says some of the blame lies with Aspen's current leaders.

"Sadly, the majority of our current leadership on the City Council has lost their sense of direction and does not reflect the visionary leadership we in Aspen deserve in these challenging times.Environmental degradation of the air we breathe; of our rivers and streams; rampant traffic congestion; a lack of local residents living in their own community; the lack of a truly efficient, mass-transit system; urban sprawl and the degradation of wildlife and agricultural habitat. ...These environmental factors when coupled with the national economic downturns, have had significant impacts on our local economy."

While, in a telephone interview, Markalunas acknowledged that her parents' involvement in local politics influenced her decision to run for council, she said she will stand on her own beliefs during her campaign.

"I think my parents have always encouraged their children to be involved in the community and they've set a standard with their involvement in the community.I imagine they will always have a certain amount of advice but I have my own opinions and my own views on the community and what works and what doesn't."

On mass transit: "I believe that we deserve a mass-transit system that serves both the human population and the environment without preconceived determination as to technology.A viable mass transit system that protects our environment is financially feasible.We must make such an investment in our future," Markalunas said.

She said she envisions a mass-transit system that integrates both buses and rail and that "light rail will certainly prove to be an integral component of mass transit.I think it has proven itself to really be the most efficient means of moving the public," though she conceded "there are costs involved."

On affordable housing: "I have the privilege to live in an affordable housing neighborhood where many longtime locals continue to live and work in a community that they love.Aspen's working people, both new and old, deserve the opportunity to continue to make this resort town a 'real' community.We must recognize the impacts of affordable housing, like any development, but we must strive to meet the challenges of providing such housing where it proves to be appropriate."

She concluded by saying, "Our clean air and water, open space, the night sky and the beauty of Shadow Mountain are all things worth fighting for.I believe that Aspen's future can be better than its past and I am willing to dedicate myself toward working to make such a future a reality."
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Markalunas has a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder.She works as an accountant at Reese Henry & Company Inc. and lives in the Williams Ranch subdivision near Smuggler Mountain.

,Following her parents' footsteps, Lisa Markalunas declared her candidacy for Aspen City Council on Wednesday.

,But unlike her father, Jim Markalunas, and her mother, Ramona Markalunas, who served on Aspen City Council from 1997-2001 and 1971-1975, respectively, Lisa Markalunas still has to win the voters' trust.
...
,Markalunas became the sixth challenger to announce a candidacy against incumbent council members Tom McCabe and Tony Hershey.
...
,Markalunas said she has been "witness to numerous positive and negative changes in Aspen. ... While change is inevitable, we must strive to direct such change for the common good.After a great deal of thought and reflection, I have decided to take an active role in this process.For far too long we have allowed the erosion of our quality of life and our community character.Our independent nature has faded beyond recognition."

,Markalunas says some of the blame lies with Aspen's current leaders.

,"Sadly, the majority of our current leadership on the City Council has lost their sense of direction and does not reflect the visionary leadership we in Aspen deserve in these challenging times.Environmental degradation of the air we breathe; of our rivers and streams; rampant traffic congestion; a lack of local residents living in their own community; the lack of a truly efficient, mass-transit system; urban sprawl and the degradation of wildlife and agricultural habitat. ...These environmental factors when coupled with the national economic downturns, have had significant impacts on our local economy."

,While, in a telephone interview, Markalunas acknowledged that her parents' involvement in local politics influenced her decision to run for council, she said she will stand on her own beliefs during her campaign.

,"I think my parents have always encouraged their children to be involved in the community and they've set a standard with their involvement in the community.I imagine they will always have a certain amount of advice but I have my own opinions and my own views on the community and what works and what doesn't."

,On mass transit: "I believe that we deserve a mass-transit system that serves both the human population and the environment without preconceived determination as to technology.A viable mass transit system that protects our environment is financially feasible.We must make such an investment in our future," Markalunas said.

,She said she envisions a mass-transit system that integrates both buses and rail and that "light rail will certainly prove to be an integral component of mass transit.I think it has proven itself to really be the most efficient means of moving the public," though she conceded "there are costs involved."
...
,Markalunas has a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder.She works as an accountant at Reese Henry & Company Inc. and lives in the Williams Ranch subdivision near Smuggler Mountain.