Council Member Bios
Bill PelhamMayorLived in Frisco: 13 yearsCareer Information: 30 years in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot and administrator; 5 years in city government in Hampton, VAPrevious Participation on Town Boards or Committees: Currently serving a four year term on Town Council that will be completed this April. Currently performing duties as Mayor Pro-Tem. Served as Planning Commissioner from 1994-2004 with additional experience as chairperson from May 1998-April 2004.Educational Background: Degree in Business Administration; Occidental College, Master’s in Business Administration; Auburn University – Montgomery
Comments: Nearly 14 years ago, Frisco became our home. We fell in love with this quaint small mountain town and its friendly, family oriented character and ambiance. It is my desire to help keep Frisco the community that we all love. I believe that I have the time, energy, education and experience to help move Frisco forward.
I have served two four year terms on the Summit Board of Education with two terms as Board President. I am also currently serving as Vice-Chair of the St. Anthony’s Summit Medical Center Community Board, a member of the Bristlecone Health Services Board, a member of the CARE (Communities Accessing Resources Effectively) Board, and, as a member of the Summit School District Facilities Committee.
I believe that my background, education, years on Town Council, Planning Commission and Board of Education and my love of Frisco uniquely qualify me for further service to the Town and its citizens as Mayor. I look forward to having this opportunity.
Karen and I have five children, ten grand-children and two great grand-children. I also work part-time at The Barnyard pet supply store in Frisco.
Woody Van Gundy
Lived in Frisco: 29 years
Career: Local Businessman
Previous Participation in Town Boards or committees: FLAPOSAC Member, Frisco Merchant and Frisco Chamber Board Member
Educational Background: B.A. in Vocal and Choral Music, Secondary Elementary Education, Adam State College
Comments: The Town of Frisco and its citizens are looking for responsive leadership from the Town Council. Although many see our financial concerns as a major issue for our community, how we arrive at the solutions to this concern and the process by which we resolve this issue is extremely important to the residents of Frisco. Everyone in our community has to live within their own personal means and the Town of Frisco should not be an exception.
The management of our current financial and natural resources are important issues that need to be resolved, but not at the expense of those that invested their time, energy and personal resources creating a community the residents, businesses and our visitors thrive in.
As a 29-year resident that’s invested my own time and personal resources in Frisco, I am honored that the citizens have allowed me the opportunity to represent their concerns as a Town Councilman.
Eileen Davies
Lived in Frisco: 4 1/2 years
Career Information: Teacher
Previous Participation in Town Board or Committees: Current member of Planning Commission
Educational Background: BA; Ursinus College, M.Ed.; Lehigh University, Class of 2008 Leadership Summit
Comments: I am a candidate for the Frisco Town Council because I am committed to public service, and I see in the position of council member an opportunity to contribute. I believe that I understand the major issues facing Frisco, and I am willing to devote the time required to fully-participate as council member.
We live in a unique and exceptional town, but it is not without challenges. To keep its vibrancy, Frisco needs a full-time community of locals, who live, work and raise their families here. Increasing the inventory of attainable housing in the midst of near build-out situation in Frisco demands that difficult choices be made.
Reliance on sales tax poses its own set of issues. I believe that in order to maintain the character of Frisco, we may need to learn to live with less. The benefits of keeping our locally owned businesses strong, in my opinion, far outweigh a temporary upswing in revenue that a big box might bring. While we may not, within the town of Frisco, be able to solve the sales tax dilemma ourselves, I know we can maintain the charm, character and vibrancy of Frisco until solutions on a broader county or state-wide scale can surface.
Protection of the environment has taken on new meaning since the devastation of the forests by the pine bark beetle. Town efforts to establish a defensible perimeter between our town and the forest, remove infested trees, and reforest key areas like the peninsula should continue and work in tandem with citizen efforts on private property and volunteer efforts on town owned public lands.
Over 30 years in teaching taught me how to work with and motivate others, communicate effectively, problem-solve, and maintain the resolve and patience to work through a process. I intend to utilize this experience to benefit the citizens of Frisco
Kim Cancelosi
Lived in Frisco: 15 years
Career: Attorney; Special Education teacher; Faux and Decorative Finisher
Previous participation on town boards: None
Educational background: B.A. degrees in Special Education and Elementary Education University of Northern Colorado; Jurist Doctorate University of Colorado School of Law.
Comments: Since given an opportunity to serve on Town Council, I can contribute significantly to the Town of Frisco. My husband and I each own a small business, own a home, and are raising our two sons, ages 8 and 10 in Frisco. I look forward to working with our town and community on the many issues and hard decisions that Frisco addresses with growth and changing needs.
Frisco is a family oriented, health conscious, and environmentally active community which attracts visitors and second home owners alike. If Frisco wants to maintain our unique community, I believe Frisco needs to strongly support and provide opportunities to increase the number of full-time residents, families, and local businesses, encourage second home owner interest in Town issues, and continue protecting our natural assets and beauty.
It is important that Frisco be a destination town where people come for recreation and entertainment, and to shop and dine. Supporting a variety of local businesses is one element and careful expansion of the Town’s recreational facilities is another. Frisco is very fortunate to have parks, the Marina, and the Peninsula/Nordic Center. Full utilization of our recreational resources will provide jobs, revenue, and activities for locals and county visitors to engage in without having to leave Frisco and provides opportunities for our children year round.
It will take time and devotion to reach these goals and those set out in the town and countywide plans. We have to address affordable housing opportunities. Frisco must be vigilant in working with CDOT regarding I-70 and Highway 9 and the many issues which come about with the increased traffic. We must continue to focus on sustaining and protecting our natural environment. All of which must be achieved while maintaining a safe, well-balanced, diversified community for all the businesses, residents, and visitors.
I look forward to working with the town and all our community so Frisco continues to grow and prosper as we envision.
Lived in Frisco: 6 years
Career Information: Retired, General Mills Inc.
Previous Participation in Town Boards or Committees: Planning and Zoning Commission
Educational Background: BA, BS, History and Political Science; Univ. of Minnesota. Numerous Business courses.
Comments: My public life began forty two years ago, while managing a youth employment program cleaning up the Minneapolis and St. Paul Mississippi River Banks. The effort improved the environment while providing useful work for kids. At a very young age, I was responsible for over 1800 employees in a two city project. I was taught by one of my mentors that you can resolve any difficulty if you only practice goodwill. The lessons related to goodwill have served me well as an employee, a neighbor, and a volunteer.
Goodwill is the glue that holds town, business, school or resort together. It is the neighborliness that when practiced lets people get along. I shovel your side walk, you water my trees. You patronize Bob’s restaurant and he buys your daughter’s Girl Scout cookies. Goodwill can and must be saved up for troubled times and difficult decisions. If today’s problems and opportunities are worked within the context of goodwill tomorrow’s issues are more than likely to be resolved the same way. For a Town, it is its reservoir of goodwill that facilitates problem solving/working things out.
There are four problems or issues putting real pressure on Frisco. First, is housing, how much do we have and how much is needed to meet the demands of baby boomers and future employees. Second, as South Park develops, more and more traffic will flow through Frisco to destinations south. While CDOT moves to make Summit Blvd more efficient, Frisco will need to be vigilant to ensure their solutions do not compromise our quality of life. Third, the bark beetle epidemic has created the real threat of forest fire. We need bigger fire breaks and a healthy forest to ensure our safety. Finally, the Town needs to address Main Street’s parking problem, a problem exacerbated by the planning requirements for Granite and Galena Streets.
If you elect me to the Town Council, I pledge to use goodwill as a frame work for my term on the council. By nature, I am result oriented and direct. Through goodwill I hope to work the issues that face Frisco in a way that makes us stronger and more united.
Gary Wilkinson
Lived in Frisco: 42 years
Career Information: Project Manager and Senior Party Chief for Range West Inc., Summit County Surveyor
Previous Participation in Town Boards or Committees: Chairman, Ten Mile Planning Commission, Countywide Planning Commission, served on Citizen Advisory Committee for the update of Frisco Master Plan
Educational Background: BS, Mining Engineering; Colorado School of Mines
Comments: I am hoping to serve on the Frisco Town Council to give back to the community I have enjoyed and appreciated over the last 40 years. I look forward to working to maintain the special sense of the Frisco community, while ensuring a vibrant, diverse and prosperous economy. Being a member of the Summit County Countywide Planning Commission and Ten Mile Planning Commission, I can bring to the council an understanding of land use, as well as what issues the town and Summit County will face in the future. I helped with the most recent Frisco Master Plan, Ten Mile Basin Master Plan and Countywide Comprehensive Plan. Each of these plans addresses a number of elements important to our community and its transition towards being built out. I intend to work towards implementing goals outlined in each of those documents, which include key issues such as sustaining the environmental quality we enjoy, addressing affordable housing for our workers, and working with stakeholders on transportation planning. This would all be achieved while maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable community for our residents, visitors and business owners. I look forward to working with the community, as well as the related entities and committees affecting our town, as Frisco continues to grow and prosper.
Mayor Pro-TemLived in Frisco: 23 years
Career: Attorney
Previous Participation in Town Boards or committees: Frisco Home Rule Charter Commission, Personnel Services Board, Economic Development Advisory Committee
Educational Background: B.A. in American Studies, University of Denver; Juris Doctor, University of Denver
Comments: Having lived in Frisco for 23 years, I have seen the Town change a lot. Some of the changes have been good and some not so good. The Town Council has a lot of control over how the Town will change in the future. Future development is the primary issue facing the Town right now. I believe I am representing the interests of my fellow citizens.