Re-elect Brian O'Connor: Council Member, District 3, Town of Erie, Colorado
About Me
The year was 2001, my wife and I had outgrown our condominium that we had owned for just three years which was located in Gunbarrel and we decided that the time had come to sell. At the time, my wife worked in Boulder and I worked in Denver, so we wanted a new home that would work for both of our commutes. After looking at property after property, our agent took us out to Erie. We had never heard of Erie, but my heart skipped a beat when I heard that the property was a single family home with a three car garage.
We lived in that home for three years before work took us out to the San Francisco area. We kept that home and became long distant landlords, while we were tenants in California. In 2010, we decided to return to our home in Erie and two years later I became a stay-at-home dad. As a stay-at-home dad, my son and I swam at the Erie Community Center (where he learned how to swim), attended Twinkle Babies at the library, and had many other 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.
We have grown to love Erie and are so happy that our real estate agent drove us out here over 20-years ago. In 2024, the Town of Erie celbrated its 150th birthday. Erie incorporated two years prior to the Territory of Colorado becoming the State of Colorado and it has a wealth of history. When we purchased our first home, there was roughly 6,000-residents. Now Erie has well over 40,000-residents, with the anticipated growth to continuously increase. If re-elected to council, I look forward to serving the residents in my district and all of Erie as it continues to grow.
Why am I running for re-election?
In 2015, I started my first volunteer appointment for the Town of Erie on the Tree Board, which I still continue to serve on as chairman today. During the time on the Tree Board we have grown the annual Arbor Day/Earth Day event (collaborating with the Sustainability Advisory Board), started the annual Leaf Collection Event for the purpose of redirecting the leaves from the landfill for reuse (another collaboration with the Sustainability Advisory Board), growing the elementary school outreach program, and supporting residents in the planting and care for their trees.
In 2022, I decided to get involved with the Home Rule Charter Commission. I was elected by the Erie residents, along with eight others to draft the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Erie. That was a six month process, requiring numerous meetings, research, and public outreach for comment. All of the Charter Commissioners worked diligently together to draft the charter, which was approved by the residents of Erie on November 7, 2023.
Once I decided to pursue the opportunity, I connected with my potential constituents—my neighbors—and discovered that we shared similar concerns and aspirations for our neighborhoods and the Town. From addressing traffic issues to maintaining Town facilities and ensuring fiscal responsibility, the common sentiment was to focus on the needs of our current residents.
In 2024, I was elected by the residents of District 3 to fill one of the two vacancies created by the passing of the Home Rule Charter. During that time, I have worked on the items that I had discussed with my fellow residents. Preserving open space, ensuring that infill developments fit with the surrounding neighbors, traffic safety, and fees are just a few of the areas where I would like to continue the work. Check out the 'Priorities' link for more information.
Which neighborhoods are in District 3?
- Erie Airpark
- Erie Commons
- Vista Pointe
- Vista Pointe Estates
- Vista Ridge