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Christopher and Hoban for RTD board

Published October 19, 2006 at midnight

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Voters approved the $4.7-billion FasTracks measure in 2004. But the work of the Regional Transportation District's board of directors is hardly done, which makes who sits on the board important.

The board has the duty to keep the rollout of FasTracks on time and on budget, without compromising service or amenities elsewhere. Members must also make sure that RTD contracts privately for at least 50 percent of the bus service. Any attempt to have the legislature roll back that mandate could leave riders stranded in the event of another strike like the one that shut down rail service for five days in the spring.

Candidates in six of the eight contested districts are unopposed: Chris Martinez (District B); Juanita Chacon (District C); O'Neill Quinlan (District G): Noel Busck (District K): Wally Pulliam (District L): and John Tayer (District O).

In District J (Adams, Jefferson counties), incumbent William Christopher faces Heather Barry, a former Seattle transit planner. Christopher supports the 50-percent contracting requirement, and tried to ease tensions between management and union members before, during and after the strike. Barry wants to roll back privatization. Re-elect Christopher.

Four candidates seek the open seat in District N (southern Jefferson County). Voters would not go wrong with either Bob Hoban, a land-use attorney, or Rich Mahan, a retired telephone company manager.

Both seek to expand service to their rural constituents, including larger park-and-ride facilities. They support the 50-percent privatization standard.

Hoban gets the nod because he has helped state lawmakers draft important land-use legislation, including laws that subjected private toll road projects like the Super Slab proposal to tougher state oversight, and that limited the use of eminent domain by local governments for economic development.

And as part of his work for a postgraduate degree at CU-Denver, he has studied transit systems around the world.

Hoban also understands that many patrons ride RTD by choice, not necessity. So he wants RTD to expand passenger amenities, starting with wireless Internet service aboard rail cars and buses.

Bob Hoban offers energy, ideas and experience, and has an eye for the bottom line, which will serve residents of District N well.