Steve Yurash is a retired high-tech professional with 38 years in the industry, including 23 at Intel. He founded the Colorado Center Party and has served on the Larimer County Board of Health and the Fort Collins Electric Board. Yurash is a candidate for Fort Collins City Council, District 3.
Episode Summary
Nick Armstrong interviews District 3 candidate Steve Yurash about his priorities and approach to city governance. Yurash advocates for more centrist representation on council, data-driven decision-making, and what he describes as greater fiscal discipline in light of recent budget growth. He supports ranked choice voting, increased individual campaign-donation limits, and opposes publicly funded local campaigns. Policy areas discussed include water and growth, small-business support, transportation and parking, urban forestry, Foothills Mall redevelopment, homelessness and mental health, ozone attainment, and the Platte River Power Authority integrated resource plan.
- Sensitive topics noted in this episode include recent protests over a Gaza ceasefire resolution and a brief discussion of hate-crime reporting with a mention of a hate group; the host provides an editor’s note and SPLC link about “Gays Against Groomers.”
Key Takeaways
- Council composition: Steve argues council would benefit from “more in the center” voices to question staff proposals and emphasize data analysis and fiscal impacts.
- Budget and finance: He cites a ~34% five-year budget increase and calls for “more financially responsible” choices; opposes publicly funded campaigns and favors higher individual donation limits.
- Elections: Steve supports ranked choice voting, contending it reduces “lesser-of-two-evils” dynamics and discourages negative campaigning.
- Small business: Steve hears concerns about slow permitting; says he is “anti-large growth” but “not anti-developer or anti-business,” and wants better city responsiveness.
- Water and growth: He favors limiting growth due to water constraints; references NISP and Halligan while urging caution during drought and climate pressures.
- Transportation and parking: Steve supports roundabouts, wants more e-bike/scooter connections (bridges over creeks/rail lines), and questions the state’s reduced parking requirements; suggests exploring smaller buses.
- Public realm: Steve proposes more shade trees along trails to expand use in hot months; is interested in participating in Foothills Mall redevelopment discussions.
- Housing and homelessness: For affordability, Steve suggests public-private partnerships with sectors like restaurants to house workers; on homelessness, he differentiates groups (those seeking help, those refusing help, and severely ill individuals) and supports stronger interventions alongside mental-health investments.
- Arts & culture: He frames support as a venue issue (e.g., Lincoln Center, Downtown Triangle; possible south-side venue).
Notable Quotes
- “We need a better balance of different views on the city council.”
- “Ranked choice voting is wonderful.”
- “I’m not going to be bought by a $1,000 donation.”
- “Climate resilience is really the catchphrase that we need to focus on.”
- “I don’t think I would try to change anything [about Fort Collins].”
Resources / Links
Candidate site: https://www.steveyurash.org
Editor’s note reference (SPLC): https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/gays-against-groomers
Show: https://dearfortcollins.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
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