Matt Carpenter
Manitou Springs
City Council - Ward 3
Call 719-685-5654 or send e-mail

Manitou Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak

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Manitou Springs Ward/Precinct Map
Manitou Springs Taxable Sales for 2005-2009

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Web Cams
Downtown 1 | Downtown 2 PP Summit
COG Railway | GOG Cam

In the news/Items of interest:
03/11/10: CS Independent: City haul - MS wants fewer trash trucks, more recycling
03/08/10: Homeless camp update - Camp 34
03/04/10: PPB: Parking fines / Camping law / Other
02/24/10: A Gazette story sent me on a follow-up visit to Camp 34
02/17/10: PPB: December sales sparkle / Special election / Other
02/11/10: PPB: Council ponders new waiver policy for special event fees
02/05/10: This letter prompted me to take a tour of a homeless camp
02/04/10: PPB: Council appoints Barry / Parking lot / Other
01/28/10: PPB: Council mulls medical pot shops, panhandling
01/21/10: PPB: Community Garden / HPC appeal denied / Other
01/14/10: PPB: Council readies bid documents for citywide trash collection
01/07/10: PPB: Park use fee increases postponed
01/07/10: PPB: New Mayor, Council seated
01/07/10: CS Independent: Pete Lee gets a challenger (Karen Cullen)
12/17/09: PPB: Council mulls raising use fees for parks
12/17/09: PPB: Shady Dell house / Red Crags / Other
12/17/09: PPB: City to residents: If it barks or meows, tag it
12/10/09: PPB: Council passes budget in split vote / Medical marijuana
MS Employees

    Home Town - Active
Colorado Springs     43
Manitou Spring       24
Fountain              3
Woodland Park         2
Boulder               1
Buena Vista           1
Divide                1
Elbert                1
Green Mtn Falls       1
Highlands Ranch       1
Widefield             1
Total                79

  Years with City - All
             F/T    P/T
< 1 year      13     13
1-5           19     45
5-10          11      3
10-20          6      1
20-30          5      0
30-40          0      0
> 40           1      0
Total         55     62
Part Time includes many seasonal employees like lifeguards
12/09/09: CSBJ: Clemens stepping down from Manitou eco devo position
12/09/09: Gazette: Opening the Manitou Incline takes a $95,500 step forward
12/03/09: PPB: Medical marijuana / Pool plan / Other
12/03/09: PPB: Land purchase deal entices Council, offends others
12/03/09: Fresh Ink: Manitou Chamber considering its options
12/01/09: The Incline GOCO grant was awarded (see 8/21/09 below)
11/19/09: PPB: 2010 budget axe falls on Chamber, EDC / Tattoo shop / Other
11/19/09: PPB: Council gets tough with Shady Dell owners / Barr Trail lot
11/19/09: Fresh Ink: Manitou Springs City Council Overview
11/18/09: During the campaign I called for Council minutes to be online. Done!
11/12/09: Fresh Ink: Manitou Springs City council struggles with budget
11/12/09: PPB: Council struggles to balance 2009 budget
11/12/09: PPB: Carpenter takes seat, retiring city clerk honored
11/10/09: Sworn in as City Council member
11/05/09: PPB: Snyder, Carpenter election winners
11/05/09: Fresh Ink: Snyder is elected mayor by 65 votes
11/03/09: Fresh Ink: Carpenter cruises, mayor race too close to call
11/03/09: Election (See election results and disclosure statements below)
10/15/09: Fresh Ink: Manitou Springs candidate forum recap
10/13/09: Gazette: Manitou’s most definitely not Colorado Springs
10/13/09: Gazette: Candidates aim to restore the peace in Manitou
10/08/09: CS Independent: Recommendations and endorsements
10/08/09: PPB: Meet the Candidates (Reprinted below)
10/07/09: Fresh Ink: Q&A with candidates Matt Carpenter and Karen Cullen
08/24/09: Entered race for vacant Council seat via election
08/21/09: Letter of support for a management study GOCO grant for the Incline
08/20/09: PPB: Residents get feisty over vacant Council seat / Other
08/05/09: Gazette: Manitou seat stays open; mayor won’t run
07/30/09: CS Independent: Is Clemens bringing prosperity or dissension to Manitou?
07/24/09: Applied for vacant Council seat via appointment
07/23/09: CS Independent: Dispute with mayor leads to resignation (3rd story)


Minority Report
Council votes where I voted in the minority
02/02/10: Appointment for vacant Council seat: 3-3 tie then 4-2
02/02/10: $400 fee waiver for Cub Scout Pinewood Derby: 5-1*
01/19/10: $100 fee waiver for Clayfest: 5-1*
01/05/10: $2,740 fee waiver for Carnival: 4-1*
01/05/10: Postponement of facility rental fee increase: 4-1

* There is an important distinction between voting against an event and voting against a fee waiver. I was not voting against these events. They are all great events! However, given our current budget situation I believe the city can’t afford to be waiving fees. Bottom line, at the end of 2009 we had our finger on the trigger of cutting employee benefits and yet we waived ~$18,000 in fees. I have a hard time with that. Especially when many of the folks asking for waivers are doing little in the way of seeking sponsorships for their events beyond asking the city to waive their fees. This was touched on a little in this PPB story.


2009 Manitou Springs Election Results
Overall: Matt Carpenter - 335/70%, Karen Cullen - 146/30%
Precinct 149: Carpenter 109/80%, Cullen 27/20% - Precinct 106: Carpenter 226/66%, Cullen 119/34%

Campaign Contributions/Returns/Expenditures
Matt Carpenter $0/$0/$14.50 - $0.04 per vote (3 of 3 reports in)
Karen Cullen, $2,925.00/$279.98/$2,645.02 - $18.12 per vote (3 of 3 reports in)


The following is from the 10/8/09 Pikes Peak Bulletin meet the candidates story

Matt Carpenter - Manitou Springs City Council This election is about two very important words to me — Community Involvement! Since graduating college with a computer science degree in 1987 I have been heavily involved with the communities where I have lived. At the relatively young age of 25 I co-chaired the Alternative Choices Team (ACT) which was started to give kids worthwhile things to do so they stay out of trouble. We put on dances, volleyball tournaments and hikes up 14,000 foot mountains.

Seeing the positive results of this program touched off my lifelong commitment to giving back. Be it volunteering with organizations like the Pikes Peak Road Runners or working on trails and access issues as a board member of Friends of the Peak or organizing events that bring 1,000s of visitors to Manitou I have been involved. My involvement in Manitou has grown as my love for Manitou has grown.

I first visited Manitou in 1987 and with each visit it grew on me a little more. In fact, it is because I have been so fortunate to be able to run in places all over the world that I truly began to appreciate what a wonderful place Manitou is. This resulted in my moving here in 1998. My wife, Yvonne, and I brought Kyla into our lives in 2002. This became the catalyst to co-chair our school district’s successful 2006 mill levy override. While knocking on doors for the initiative I got to meet many Manitou residents and gained a much greater sense and appreciation of our community.

In our community there are a lot of issues that we need to address. And while it is easy to list them; budget, staffing, parking, substandard housing, the “no man’s land” on both ends of our town and on and on, coming up with workable solutions is the hard part. Having a great idea that others don’t agree with is no good. Likewise, neither is being the lone voice or vote on council. It is only by working with others that things can be accomplished! I have worked with individuals, groups, organizations and City Council for a very long time. Over 10 years in Manitou alone. And while we have great staff, a parking authority board and an Economic Development Council, ultimately the buck stops with City Council. If elected to Council it is my goal to bring the residents of Manitou more into the process. We have got to have better communication.

In closing, I am running for council so that I can work with those in Ward 3 to make sure their voices are heard. To that I hope you come to the Candidates Forum and not only be heard but hear my ideas to address the issues. If you can’t make the forum call me at 685-5654 with what concerns you. Then vote for what you feel is best for your community, your neighborhood and you and your family!

Thank you,

Matt Carpenter


If you live in Ward 3 you should have gotten the following from me when I visited your home

Matt Carpenter - 2005 Leadville Trail 100 Mile Dear Manitou Neighbor,

My name is Matt Carpenter. Many of you probably know of me as “the runner.” Indeed, I have been fortunate to pursue my passion for running all over the world. But no matter where I have raced I have always looked forward to coming home to Manitou. I truly believe that our little town at the foot of Pikes Peak is one of the best places to live and raise a family. We have an awesome community, unique events, great parks, and a top notch school system all tucked away in a historic and beautiful gem of a town.

I want to help keep it that way! Therefore, my next race could be one of my most important — the race for the vacant Ward 3 City Council seat. A race in which I will need and would appreciate your support. Vote for me so I can represent our ward on City Council!

Thank you,

Matt Carpenter
E-mail of intent to City Council
Letter of application to City Council
Letters of support for City Council
More letters
Resume available upon request

Feel free to contact me about the issues that concern you!
Call me at 685-5654 or send me an e-mail
  • Since the late ’80s I have been involved in the communities where I have lived; Vail, Colorado Springs, and since 1998, Manitou Springs.
  • For over ten years not only have I been regularly attending City Council meetings and work sessions, but I have been actively taking part trying to be a valuable contributor. Not just for those issues concerning me, but for all things Manitou!
    Get Involved in Manitou!
    - Read the Pikes Peak Bulletin which not only covers City Council meetings but Manitou in general
    - Check out the city website which posts council agendas
    - Stop by City Hall where many public notices are posted by the front door
    - Attend a City Council meeting
    - Let your voice be heard!
  • Outside of meetings my community involvement has been consistent and diverse. Be it something small but meaningful like sponsoring my daughter’s tile in the ManiZoo or bringing her to City Hall to give her input on the design of the Soda Springs park playground, or something big such as organizing running races, or something vital like working to successfully pass our school’s 2006 mill levy override.
  • Please see www.skyrunner.com/council/ for more information, a complete resume and letters of support from fellow Manitou residents from all walks of life.


Meet the Candidates / Candidates Forum
October 12th at City Hall from 5:30 to 7:00PM
What a great turnout — I hope you were there!


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