Name: Max Brooks
Profession: Marketing/Advertising Consultant
Biography: Raised in Colorado, worked for 20 years with 850 KOA radio including nearly 10 years traveling with the Colorado Rockies as the producer/engineer of baseball broadcasts. My time in radio included working as an on-air sports reporter, DJ for 103.5 The Fox radio, political sales manager for all eight radio stations in the KOA radio family, and sales manager for KKZN, KHOW, and KRFX radio stations. Currently working with the Denver Post in print/digital advertising sales. Moved to Castle Rock in 2006 and began serving on Boards and Commissions in 2008, including: Multiple terms on the Planning Commission, served as Chairman Design Review Board, Vice Chairman Water (Utilities Commission) Vice Chairman Citizens board for Mayor, Citizens board for revised Master Plan, served as the first Castlewood Ranch HOA Board president, nearly a decade on the Castlewood Ranch Metropolitan District Board of directors, board of directors for Dolphins (now Raptors) baseball, and many years as youth baseball coach through Castle Rock’s Sandlot Bees competitive tournament teams and Ave Maria Catholic School baseball teams. Avid gardener, terrible golfer, part-time youth baseball umpire, father to three sons, three step daughters, a black Lab rescue (Murphy), a Springer Spaniel (Ribbie), a Hurricane Harvey Russian Blue rescue (Nyssa), and a Snowshoe Siamese rescue (Finn).
Why are you running for council?
I was asked by several residents of Castle Rock to run for Council, to bring my years of experience working with the town to solve issues they see as priorities that have not been adequately addressed. They feel they, and other Castle Rock residents, are not in a better place than we were four years ago from the last Council election.
What is your approach to governing growth?
To actively work with the Economic Development Council to ensure projects are brought to town that generate income for the benefit of all residents, paying for fire/police personnel, vital infrastructures to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance our family friendly community. We need to match the strong character and feel of the town.
What are your top priorities and how will they be addressed?
Growth, Economy, Crime & Safety. All three of these are so closely tied together. Our growth needs to be carefully planned to create income for Castle Rock through retail tax while our future neighborhoods need decreased density with increased open space and connective trails/parks. Long term planning will keep the Town from asking residents to pay for growth through increased taxation, keeping our paychecks where they belong - in our pockets. These revenues will help Castle Rock be competitive in attracting additional fire and police personnel, offering signing bonuses and compensation packages to ensure those departments grow with our population.
Metro issues are starting to impact Castle Rock and Douglas County as a whole - How would you address homelessness in Castle Rock?
Ideology should NEVER come at a cost to public safety, and that is a very real threat to Castle Rock residents right now. I feel we are distracted with public relations measures that sound good but lack true solutions. I am 100% supportive of working overtime for our displaced families of Castle Rock, but the vast majority of homeless in this area are NOT from here - they are transients from Denver and other areas. We should be partnering with cities that have the resources to provide long term services, transporting them there and NOT housing them in our Town. I will resist any and all efforts to bring more homeless into Castle Rock or encampment ideas to keep homeless here without long term relocation solutions. I will not sacrifice the safety of our community and residents!
What are the biggest challenges facing the town?
Growth, traffic, economy, crime & safety. Water is also now an urgent issue with decreased deliverable water on the horizon from our partners due to future shortages from the Colorado river. I was part of the Water Commission when we developed long term renewable water solutions through our water partners and will jump right back into developing and strengthening those solutions again.
What are the biggest opportunities and good things happening in Castle Rock now?
Property values continue to soar for residents with additional increases on the horizon. Despite our challenges, Castle Rock remains a world class, quiet, beautiful, vibrant place to raise a family. Parks, trails, open space are at our fingertips and a short trip from our front doors. We are blessed with entertainment options for our children/grandchildren, fantastic places to dine, and outdoor activities of all types for all ages.
Crime is also a regional issue impacting the Denver metro area - What is Castle Rock doing right to address the issues? Where can Castle Rock improve?
We need to be more aggressive in offering competitive salary and benefits packages to attract additional personnel. We cannot afford to lag behind in fire/police staffing, need more officers on the street, and the shortfall realities impacting other agencies are making it harder for Castle Rock to keep pace with the demand. We need increased retail income NOT from increasing taxes on residents but ensuring our growth and developments incorporate retail locations to generate additional Town income.
Castle Rock asked voters to approve four tax measures in 2021 - The measures were aimed at improving public safety and addressing growing traffic concerns. As the population grows - What do you think Castle Rock should be doing to be proactive and stay on top of roads and infrastructure and the growing need for more firemen, officers and stations?
No additional taxes! Asking Town residents to shoulder the burden through increased taxes during record inflation and a recession is NOT the answer. I was very disappointed to see these tax measures on our ballots last year - especially in the face of opposition from Castle Rock residents. Developing retail solutions that will generate more income for the Town is the answer - NOT asking Town residents for more of their hard earned paychecks. I am running for Council to provide an alternate solution to the pro-tax ideas and more tax voting we saw last year. We need a change right now at Council before it costs us more than we, literally, cannot afford. I am a fiscal conservative that will protect our paychecks.
