Huascar E. Gomez (Rick)

2025 Town Council Candidate

Professional Background/Occupation:

As a longtime local resident, hotelier, and your current Town Councilmember, I bring a rare blend of financial leadership and hands-on community advocacy to every decision we make. With over 27 plus years of experience in the hospitality and travel industry across the U.S. and the Caribbean, I currently serve as the Chief Financial Officer at Mountain Lodge Telluride. My career has taken me from frontline roles to executive leadership, giving me a deep understanding of finance, operations, and guest experience. I bring this same strategic and service-oriented mindset to public office, combining fiscal discipline with a people-first approach.

If you'd like to learn more about my professional background, you can visit my LinkedIn profile.

You can also follow my work and community engagement updates on my Town Council Facebook page.

Length of Time as Town Resident:

15 years plus

Previous Political Experience/Specific Qualifications:

I currently serve on the Mountain Village Town Council. When I first ran, I didn’t bring a background in politics—but what I did bring was something I believe matters just as much: a deep and genuine care for our town and its people. That kind of care can’t be taught, and it has guided every decision I’ve made since joining Council. I’ve always been clear about one thing: I want what’s best for Mountain Village and its residents—whether they live here part-time or full-time. Over time, I’ve come to see how pairing that care with my career experience in hospitality, finance, and operations allows me to serve in a way that is both heartfelt and highly effective.

Since joining Council, I’ve contributed to several critical initiatives, including planning for the future of our gondola system and regional wastewater treatment facility, expanding housing opportunities, enhancing wildfire mitigation, strengthening technology infrastructure, and advocating for mental health resources. I also represent Mountain Village on several regional boards—SMART, the Telluride Tourism Board (where I serve as Treasurer and sit on the Finance Committee), Colorado Flights Alliance, and Collaborative Action for Immigrants (CAFI)—ensuring that our community’s interests are reflected in broader policy and funding conversations across the region. Locally, I also serve on the Mountain Village Technology Committee, where I’ve worked in close partnership with our Chief Technology Officer to support key initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency across town departments.

Through my wife Madeline’s involvement with organizations like the Rotary Club, Raíces Sin Fronteras, and TASP, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of community events as well—taking every chance I can to listen, learn, and share Council updates with our neighbors. I also believe that being a visible and engaged member of the community matters. You’ll often find me at local events like the Telluride AIDS Benefit, joining marches that support employee rights, or simply catching up with residents at the distillery, Poachers, or wherever people gather to talk about the issues that matter most. These conversations offer real insight—and I value the opportunity to listen and learn from every one of them.

One of the things I’m most proud of is working alongside the talented and dedicated staff at the Town of Mountain Village. They do the heavy lifting that keeps our town running and improving every single day. It’s been an honor to collaborate with such capable professionals who truly care about this community as much as I do.

Professionally, I oversee complex financial planning, audit coordination, tax compliance, and capital improvement strategies—skills that translate directly to responsible and transparent municipal governance. I also serve as President of Tramontana HOA, Inc.

Reasons You Would Like to Serve:

Actively serving on Town Council has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with fellow Council members, staff, and community partners on key issues like, the Gondola, ADA accessibility, housing, waste water treatment plan, infrastructure, and much more. I want to continue contributing my operational and financial expertise to support Mountain Village’s long-term vision and ensure our town remains a thriving, welcoming destination for both residents and visitors. Equally important to me is representing the voices that are sometimes underrepresented. As a Latino resident, I take pride in serving as a bridge for our diverse community, ensuring that all perspectives are heard at the table. I held bilingual voter registration drives and also knocked on doors throughout our neighborhoods to help ensure that EVERYONE in our town—regardless of background—had the opportunity to register and participate in our local democracy. I’ve built a career balancing the needs of homeowners, developers, and rental management companies—and I believe that balanced perspective is critical as our town continues to grow.

Just as importantly, I represent our working-class residents—the people who power our community every day. I was proud to advocate for keeping commuter parking passes and fees at accessible levels so that those who work here can continue to afford to get here. Whether you're a longtime homeowner, a seasonal employee, a young family, or a second homeowner—I believe everyone deserves to have a voice on Council, and I’m committed to being that voice.

Serving on Council also taught me that the job goes beyond sitting in chambers making policy decisions. By listening to constituents and participating in community life, we make lasting impacts that shape the heart of Mountain Village. One of the most touching moments this past year was dressing up as Santa Claus and seeing the joy it brought to children and families. The smiles, the laughter, and the gratitude from parents reminded me that small acts of service ripple outward—and that being present matters.

The outpouring of support I’ve received from the local community, residents, and all fellow Council members encouraging me to seek re-election has been humbling. That trust and encouragement fuels my desire to continue this work. I consider our Council is working effectively and collaboratively with organizations such as TMVOA, San Miguel County and the Town of Telluride on crucial matters—from the wastewater treatment plant and gondola operations to affordable housing, fire mitigation, and upcoming hotel projects. Continuity in leadership is key to keeping these efforts on track. With your vote of confidence, I would be honored to continue serving and help see these initiatives through for the benefit of the entire Mountain Village community.

Other Information You Want to Include:

My wife Madeline and I moved here from Boston, MA and have truly fallen in love with Mountain Village. After 15 plus years, we proudly call this place home and believe there’s no better place in the world to raise a family. While we don’t have children yet, we work hard every day to ensure this is the kind of community we’d want to raise them in when the time comes. For now, we’ve got our little fur baby—our 9-pound shorkie, T-Rex—who keeps us on our toes and brings a lot of joy to our lives. You’ll often find us walking T-Rex around the neighborhood, riding our Harley through the mountains, or enjoying a round of golf with friends in the summer.

I’m also the host of Frequency Fusions with DJ Rick on KOTO, our local community radio station. It’s been an incredible platform for cultural outreach, where I play music for all backgrounds and generations. I was honored to receive the Rookie DJ of the Year award for community engagement. Tune in every other Tuesday from 9–11 p.m. on KOTO to enjoy the music—and feel free to call in with your favorite song requests or even questions about the upcoming council election. I’d love to hear from you!

I care deeply about our community—both professionally and personally—and would be honored to continue serving it on your behalf.