Scott Pearson
2023 Town Council Candidate
Professional Background/Occupation:
My career over the past 40 years has spanned both public service and private enterprise. I retired in 2020 and am eager to bring my professional skills and experiences to the Town Council.
My business background is in corporate strategy. I was a management consultant with Bain and Company and led corporate development efforts for AOL, where I focused on strategy, new technologies, and acquisitions.
I have had a lifelong interest in public service, both at the local and national level.
- In the 1990’s I was a trade negotiator for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton, with a focus on Europe and the Middle East;
- In 2002 I co-founded a network of college preparatory public charter high schools serving low-income students in California;
- In 2009 I served in the Obama administration’s Department of Education, leading their work on charter schools and support for military families;
- Most recently I led for eight years the Washington DC Public Charter School Board, where I oversaw 120 schools serving 40,000 students, and was a member of the Mayor’s cabinet.
Length of Time as Town Resident:
Three years
Previous Political Experience/Specific Qualifications:
My eight years running a local government agency taught me much about how to get things done in local government: the importance of compromise, of listening to the community and key stakeholders, of working through the legal and fiscal constraints to arrive at smart outcomes, of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This work convinced me that a well-run local government can have a huge positive impact on residents’ quality of life. Mountain Village is an example of this.
My background in strategy and finance will help me as the Town works through its annual budget and its comprehensive plan, and finds creative ways to finance community housing and other priorities.
My work as a professional negotiator may be of help as we collaborate on such regional issues as the gondola, the medical center, and area housing. So many issues we face require working effectively with others, whether it’s Telski, TMVOA, or neighboring jurisdictions.
Reasons You Would Like to Serve:
I love this community and want to see it continue to thrive. I am so impressed by the vision of its founders, and the careful stewardship by town leaders that have made our community such a unique and wonderful place to live. I’d like to continue in that tradition.
I am particularly interested in three issues:
- The first is community housing, which must expand in a fiscally responsible way that preserves the character of our town. Real progress has been made, and I want to help that continue. Ensuring that those who work here can live here is foundational. It ensures local businesses can thrive. It reduces traffic. And it makes our town more vital, improving the quality of life for all, including second homeowners.
- The second is recreation. The town has adopted superb plans for improving area trails, parks and recreation facilities. I’m eager to see these fully implemented, as it will be a huge benefit to all town residents.
- The third is health care. It’s critical that we upgrade our medical center to a fully-equipped hospital. Of course, this is a regional issue. It’s one I want to put real energy into.
Other Information You Want to Include:
My wife, Diana Farrell, and I are avid skiers, hikers, and bikers, as well as novice but enthusiastic golfers. We have two adult children and a cute little dog who climbs the local peaks with us. After so many years living in other places, we pinch ourselves every day we get to wake up in Mountain Village.
In the three years since we moved here, I’ve gotten involved locally in areas I care about. I represent the American Red Cross in San Miguel County to help ensure we are prepared for effective disaster response. I volunteer with the Telluride Venture Network, coaching local business founders. And I’m a disc jockey on KOTO. My show is called “Northbound Train” - check it out!