Scott VanTatenhove (“ScottyV”) is a longtime Fort Collins resident, Poudre School District social studies/economics teacher, and community advocate. He has served on the City’s Transportation Board, helped launch FoCoMX/Fort Collins Musicians Association, and has been active in local civic and arts initiatives. He is running for Mayor in the November 2025 municipal election.
Episode Summary
Host Nick Armstrong speaks with mayoral candidate ScottyV about his background, why he’s running again, and how he views the Mayor’s role on a council-manager government. He outlines priorities around affordable housing, homelessness, small-business vitality, and environmental stewardship. He describes his “zero-dollar” campaign approach (no fundraising or spending) and emphasizes collaboration across constituencies—including YIMBY and Preserve Fort Collins perspectives—when debating land use and growth.
ScottyV discusses nonprofit funding pressures, tradeoffs downtown (housing, parking, and business impacts), and long-term infrastructure choices (horizontal expansion vs. infill/vertical growth). He shares his perspective as an LGBTQIA+ ally and parent of a trans son, and names restoration of the City Park Train as a personal, symbolic priority. The episode touches on debated topics including land-use/zoning, the City Park Train decision, and the Northern Integrated Supply Project (he cites rising cost figures) without endorsing a single policy line.
Key Takeaways
• Scott argues the Mayor’s influence is collaborative; council sets priorities in retreat, and complex issues (housing, homelessness) lack simple fixes.
• On housing, he says he’ll “listen to” both pro-upzoning and Preserve Fort Collins advocates and start from shared values.
• Downtown tradeoffs: adding housing can displace parking that merchants value; he raises compensating businesses or integrating parking into projects.
• Environmental stewardship should remain visible across departments; he notes electricity demand growth and cites PRPA’s approved gas turbines.
• Infrastructure: Fort Collins must choose between outward growth (with long-run maintenance costs) or denser infill; he cites the Northern Integrated Supply Project’s rising costs as an example of fiscal realities.
• Nonprofit funding is tightening; he supports leveraging City partnerships to help 501(c)(3)s pursue grants but says the City can’t fully backfill federal/state cuts.
• Campaign finance: he refuses donations and spending, saying it keeps him independent of interest groups; he supports idea-sharing from all sides.
• Personal priority: restore the City Park Train; he frames it as a unifying, voter-supported amenity.
Notable Quotes (verbatim)
• “I’m willing to listen to those that want to crack open the zoning laws, but I also want to talk to the Preserve Fort Collins people.”
• “My budget is zero.”
• “I don’t accept money from anybody.”
• “Free child care for everybody.”
• “Fort Collins is home.”
Resources / Links
- Candidate page (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/scott.vantatenhove
- Fort Collins Musicians Association (FoCoMA): https://focoma.org/
- Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC): https://www.ecclc.org/
Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
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