Brian O'Connor for Erie Town Council, District 3

After being sworn in to my first term in 2024.

About Me

In 2001, my wife and I recognized we had outgrown our condominium in Gunbarrel, which we had owned for three years. With my wife working in Boulder and me in Denver, we decided it was time to sell and search for a new home that would better suit both of our commutes. After exploring numerous properties, our real estate agent introduced us to Erie. Though unfamiliar with Erie at the time, my heart skipped a beat at the thought of a single-family home featuring a three-car garage.

We made that house our home for three years before relocating to the San Francisco area for work. We held onto our Erie home and became long-distance landlords while living in California. In 2010, we returned to our beloved home in Erie, where, two years later, I embraced my new role as a stay-at-home dad. During this period, my son and I enjoyed swimming at the Erie Community Center, where he learned to swim, participated in Twinkle Babies at the library, and embarked on many adventures along the Front Range.

Prior to my life as a resident of Erie, I have had a number of diverse opportunities and occupations. Some of which included: dishwasher, museum exhibits curator, CAD operator, trade show exhibits designer, busboy, production manger, bicycle mechanic, buyer, waiter, online reseller, salesman, and more. Nowadays I own and operate a one man home services business with Erie in the name; and during a typical year, I visit over 200 homes in and around Erie. I have the opportunity to chat with a lot of residents about issues that concern them I also have a chance to see how our homes and Town are aging.

Our love for Erie has only grown over the years, and we're grateful to our real estate agent who brought us here over 20 years ago. In 2024, the Town of Erie will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Did you know that Erie incorporated just two years before Colorado became a state? Back when we bought our first home, there were around 6,000 residents. Today, Erie boasts a population exceeding 40,000, with growth anticipated to continue. If re-elected, I look forward to serving the constituents in my district and all of Erie, as we embrace this ongoing growth and seek to meet the needs of our community.

Planting a tree with Town Council at the annual Arbor Day/Earth Day event

Why am I running for re-election?

In 2015, I began my first volunteer appointment for the Town of Erie on the Tree Board and served as its chairman or a number of years. During my service on the Tree Board, we have expanded the annual Arbor Day/Earth Day event through collaboration with the Sustainability Advisory Board, initiated the annual Leaf Collection Event to redirect leaves from landfills for reuse (also in partnership with the Sustainability Advisory Board), enhanced our elementary school outreach program, and supported residents in the planting and care of their trees.

In 2022, I decided to get involved with the Home Rule Charter Commission. Alongside eight other elected Erie residents, we drafted the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Erie over a six-month period. The process involved numerous meetings, extensive research, and public outreach for feedback. The dedication of all Charter Commissioners culminated in the charter being approved by the residents of Erie on November 7, 2023.

In 2024, I was asked by a number of residents to run for a Council seat in District 3. I connected with my neighbors and discovered common ground in our shared concerns and aspirations for District 3 and the Town of Erie. From tackling traffic issues to maintaining Town facilities and ensuring fiscal responsibility, we all focused on the needs of our current residents. That November, the residents of District 3 elected me to fill one of the two vacancies that arose after the passage of the Home Rule Charter. Since then, I have been addressing the topics discussed with my fellow residents, including preserving open space, ensuring that infill developments harmonize with surrounding areas, improving traffic safety, and addressing fees.

My desire and reason for running again, is to continue keeping Erie a great place to live and to raise a family. If re-elected, I look forward to continue working on those priorities and addressing new ones.