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Tom Say’s Thank You…

Post-Election Note from Tom McCracken

One of my favorite metaphors to connect to the past few days has been the Christmas Snow Globe.  (Thanks Target)  All the swirling of emotions left me floating, wondering and reassessing. The lessons continue to bring forward life’s ongoing hurdles and remind me of the ebb and flow we all experience. 

Even today, Saturday, I am constantly reminded of all the efforts, commitments, and actions taken by so many people leaning into this local political process.  THANK YOU.  It truly has been a countywide effort.  There is nothing special about any one individual but the synergy created when we ALL step up and contribute anything always left me speechless and inspired to continue into the next event.  

Our steps were many.  THANK YOU. So many local politically minded people, both on and not on our Team, have recently remarked on the thoroughness and detailed campaign we ran.  My most cherished comment is, “You ran an A+ campaign!”  We did.  We did everything possible.  We tried to incorporate everything in a timely and appropriate fashion. For instance:

• Large highway signs, banners and printed materials  we did EARLY.
• Wearable merch gave us all an identity so we did that next. 
• We scheduled Team Meetings every 10 – 21 days throughout the entire process.
• We created huge community wide events to pull in both the North and South portions of the county. 
• Wherever there were a few people gathered, we considered having a presence there to build the brand.
• Every parade, festival and concert in the park needed (and got) a McCracken presence. Remember, “There’s McCracken. He brought his own parade!”
• The four Candidate Panels closed the campaign. We grew in effectiveness from the first AVV to the EDC at last. *
• We raised money continuously but seldom under duress. 
• Final estimates are at nearly $44,000 invested among over 101 people, for an average of $435 each.THANK YOU.  This was the only way for us to even get in the race. 
• We created half a dozen radio ads all over a Turkish Blonde Blend.
• We wrote letters to the editors. We sponsored the Rodeo Dance.
• We advertised in the printed papers, facebook and Instagram.
• As guest DJ, we stopped in and jumped “on air” for Cheap Trick and The Clash and little banter. 
• We ate many, many meals and drank gallons of coffee.
• Drove to Salida nearly every day.
• Almost any door in the county was fair game for knocking.  We hit hundreds
• Any local who had not voted near the end probably got at least one phone call. (We called thousands)
• Our little ongoing contest tallied who placed the most yard signs.
• We bought and placed nearly 286 yard and highway campaign signs throughout the county. (Feel free to take them down next week)
• We sponsored holes in golf tournaments in both Salida and BV.
• We reached out and talked to as many people as we could find.
• ETC, ETC, ETC…

* Note.  If you know me at all, you may recognize the fact that I have plenty of words, a skill or trait vital for the classroom. In fact, I can’t say hello or goodbye in 60 seconds, but that was that one-minute timeframe for the candidate’s responses in the first panel. I felt like I could not get it all said in that short period of time.  The second LWV panel allowed great interaction with the audience as the candidates were allowed to work the room for 10 minutes each.  The third Patriot Panel was in “my house” and we connected well with the audience.  Finally, the EDC was the sprint home. Applause. THANK YOU

 In our early meetings, we explored our options and wondered about the viability of a project like this, the commitment necessary, and if there was enough force, drive, or mass to get us across the finish line. It seemed like it could work. THANK YOU. We compared numbers in prior elections and thought our chances were better than average.  Feedback early was, “You’re the underdog!”  But we worked HARD. We always thought and acted like we were down 3 points. In the end, nobody would have predicted a 46/54 split.  NOBODY. 

Jan Wondra wrote to me during the watch party on Tuesday evening asking for a comment. I waited to the next morning to reply. Hopefully, you were able to read my quote in this article.  THANK YOU.

Of course, we all know Dan R’s voice on the radio.  One of our operatives from Salida called him the Swiss Army Knife of the radio station. This beautiful metaphor applies to so many people on the entire campaign team as well. So many people got out of their comfort zone and did what they could to support the process.  THANK YOU  There were no paid actors, political performers or professional politicians on this team, but they did a great job of acting like it. I would volunteer them and their life skills for any struggle, battle conflict or orchestration, anywhere! 

My father was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for the Cross County dynasty he created in the 70s. Part of the foundation of those trips was always high-altitude training. One of those summer training trips brought me to the valley for the first time in 1972. We trained, hiked, floated, argued, and got a 14er before heading back to 750 feet above sea level. Among the many life and team lessons was being a good winner AND a good loser. Never satisfied with second place, he would always push the young men forward to excel and do their best. If they ran their best race, like we ran our BEST RACE, he would lift them up and encourage them to double down and come back stronger next week. This story I wrote in 2014 describes Bryan and the last two races of his high school cross country career. THANK YOU, Pop, for teaching us how to be Champions.

Chaffee County, THANK YOU for making this entire thing happen. I will continue to share issues and concerns about our little Valley from this platform. November is the month of gratitude and right now, we have plenty of things that cause us to give thanks. Many talents. Daily Bread. Lots of relationships and plenty of time, now that the election is completed. What’s next?

We will see. I plan to make no decisions quickly but I am grateful for the wisdom and input shared by others. Please stay tuned for the next chapters.

Grateful for the experience and wiser for the lessons, 

Tom McCracken

Chaffee County Commissioner Candidate District #2

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Tom says THANK YOU to you in Chaffee County!

Listen to this short 30-second message…

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Listen up to hear Tom on these stations during the 2024 election season.
Click the logo above to listen online.

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Economics

Once we commit to moving here…

Two things are necessary.  We must find a job AND find a place to live.  In our valley, jobs are often attainable, but housing is not.  Affordable housing, attainable housing, and workforce housing are terms to describe the imbalance of supply and demand.  We do not have enough supply for the demand. Some estimates claim we need over a thousand more units. This leads us to focus on increasing the supply.  Easing restrictions, taxes, fees, regulations, and barriers for builders and developers is our first step.  A working land use code that fosters and manages growth without undue obstacles could be a second step in increasing our inventory.   

Finally, this “open for business” attitude stems from my successful real estate career selling hundreds of homes. The county has entities (Housing Assessment) established to help foster and alleviate this imbalance. Cooperation among the existing non-profits currently tackling the housing needs is another step. CHA and De-Brucing are on the table. Prop 123 was approved two years ago and has some effect on the affordable housing market but often carries a mandated annual goal of 3% growth in housing.  There are many variables that factor into success when striving to attain adequate workforce housing in mountain towns.  

Education

After a good job is landed and a safe place to live is secured, new residents may consider schools and their effect on children and property values. As a real estate broker, the first variable in determining where to show any client a house was LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Good, well-funded, and staffed schools create stable property values.  With many people, their home is their most valuable asset.  Good schools filled with well-funded and appreciated teachers are a key component to building good neighborhoods. 

You can see more about the 3 Es on this site at Chaffee County Priorities.

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This is the July 10th Blog Post #11 directly from Tom’s desk…

Building a Stronger Chaffee County: Together

Dear Friends,

For over 50 years, Chaffee County has been my default go-to destination, a place where I’ve witnessed incredible growth. From the transformation of Buena Vista’s Main Street to the rise of remote work attracting newcomers, our community has seen significant change. However, these changes have also brought challenges: a strained housing market pressured small businesses and forced our educational system to adapt.

Now that we live here full-time, I’m running for Chaffee County Commissioner. My extensive experience equips me for success; in education, both in the classroom and principal’s office; floating the rivers and hiking the backcountry opens a nuanced perspective to environmental issues, and a successful career in real estate markets reveals economic development concerns and the raw effects of supply and demand on prices, together equips me to address these concerns and build a stronger future for all of us.

The Heart of Chaffee County:

The breathtaking landscapes and vibrant community drew many of us here. Yet, rising housing costs threaten this very essence. I believe in innovative solutions like exploring alternative housing options to make Chaffee County more affordable for everyone.  Reducing bureaucracy and streamlining the permitting process will only improve the plight of our housing market.  Ask a builder how long the permitting process takes today. 

Supporting Our Local Businesses:

Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are facing a tough time. We need to champion them by advocating for reduced regulations and, again, streamlining processes at the county level. Remember the recent closure of the county offices on Fridays? This is the kind of decision I’ll tackle—ensuring essential services are accessible when needed.

Investing in Education:

Our strong school system is a cornerstone. We need to support both traditional students and those who thrive in hands-on, alternative environments. I believe in expanding access to programs like fine and practical arts, fostering well-rounded individuals with diverse skill sets.  Students consistently found success for the first time while in my class or school. 

A Practical Voice for Our Community:

As an educator for many years, I honed my advocacy skills, always prioritizing the best interests of the community. My leadership experience will allow me to navigate complex issues and make informed decisions that benefit everyone, not just special interests.  Classrooms and school buildings require leaders to master soft skills while addressing sensitive personnel and student issues.

Join Me in Building a Brighter Future:

I’m dedicated to leading Chaffee County toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Your support, both financially and through volunteering, is crucial to this campaign. With your help, we can tackle these challenges and create a truly sustainable and prosperous Chaffee County.  This truly exemplifies a “less is more” attitude when government seeks more involvement in personal and business life. . 

Donate Securely Today: Donate

Please help us reach our goals and keep up with our counterparts who are spending a lot of money.  Good news:  We have had substantially more grassroots contributions showing great countywide buy-in. Join your fellow citizens in supporting this noble cause:

Volunteer Now: email tom@tommccrackenforchaffeecounty.com to get involved.  Share your interests or experience and how you see yourself engaging in this campaign. 

Attend or host a “Meet and Greet” near you:

We regularly meet all over the county.  Families in Salida, Poncha or Buena Vista regularly host small and large gatherings to meet and discuss strategies and planning.  Email Tom (tom@tommccracakenforchaffeecounty.com )or Blane (Blane@tommccrackenforchaffeecounty.com ) to find out about the upcoming events. 

Let’s build a stronger Chaffee County together.

Sincerely,

Tom McCracken Get Involved + Donate + Connect

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Valentine’s Day Dinner Date in Poncha Springs raises eyebrows as
Chaffee County Commissioner candidate is seen with wife and dance partner.

Original post on Tom’s Facebook Page.

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