MONUMENT – It’s anything but politics as usual in this bustling bedroom community.

The town is having a contested election for the first time in nine years after huge turnover on the seven-member Board of Trustees in recent months. In the last year, Monument endured the resignations of its mayor and three trustees.

So Monument’s 3,400 registered voters find themselves with choices everywhere. The mayor’s race pits two former rival trustees. And four men are competing for three trustee seats. All are four-year terms.

In addition, voters will find on their ballots, mailed last week, a measure asking them to decide whether to change rules for publishing some legal notices to save the town upwards of $30,000.

A survey of the candidates conducted by The Gazette uncovered a host of issues in Monument that may play roles in voters’ ballot decisions: roads, water, taxes, preserving small-town identity while providing Wi-Fi everywhere.

First, the marquee race for mayor.

It features incumbent Travis Easton, 37, against Trustee Gail Drumm, 58.

In reality, this is an open race because Easton has only been mayor since Bryon Glenn quit last July after five years in office. Easton was a trustee before his appointment as mayor.

Challenger Drumm’s motto is to preserve the status quo: “Keep Monument, Monument.”

“Keep the small-town feel,” he said. “It has a small-town attitude but has been growing. We don’t want to be just a suburb. The thing that has been enjoyable about living in a small town is still there. Keep it a fun place to live. And safe. We put a lot of emphasis on the safety and the maintenance of the town.”

Easton echoes the desire to preserve Monument’s “family-oriented environment,” but he also sees a need to attract businesses and tourists while fostering a regional water supply. His goals, written in answer to the survey, are to: “Promote the town of Monument as a regional destination point for business, events and tourism.”

Easton also advocates “incentives to help expand existing and attract new primary businesses to the area.”

Four are contending for the trustee seats. Newcomer Jeffrey Bornstein is running against trustees Rick Squires, Stanley Gingrich and Jeffrey Kaiser, who all were appointed in recent months to fill vacant positions. Each must be elected to retain a seat on the board.

The posts are unpaid, but a seat on the board demands a lot more time than a hobby, requiring a couple of dozen hours a week as trustees craft an average of 40 ordinances a year, said Town Clerk Scott Meszaros.

The ballot issue is another twist that should boost turnout.

It seeks voter permission to simply publish abbreviated legal notices of new ordinances in the local newspaper. The town must publish the entire ordinance, which can run dozens of pages long. Even when printed in agate type, they are expensive to publish.

“That cost about $20,000-$30,000 in expenses,” Meszaros said. “This could probably be reduced to about $1,000. It is not to reduce availability, it is to minimize taxpayer money. A lot of places do this already.”

The last time voters cast meaningful votes in a contested race for mayor and trustee was a recall election in 2001, Meszaros said.

“All the rest have been canceled because there were the same number as petitions as candidates,” he said. “We hope to have a huge turnout. At least half.”

Deadline to return the recently mailed ballots is 7 p.m. April 6.

Here are the candidates’ responses to a Gazette survey, edited for space.

MAYOR

Travis W. Easton

Age: 37

Employment: part owner of Nolte Associates

Reason for running: I believe that the opportunities for our great community require initiative, an innovative mindset, and a collaborative approach. We need to further develop our sense of a family-friendly community and embrace the character of our small town, while also planning for our future.

I also find it important to sustain our local businesses. I have already laid the foundation for short-term initiatives, but we need to work together to further those efforts and prepare a long-term sustainable plan.

Priorities: Continue to oversee the town budget to insure that taxes remain as low as possible with minimal affect on services. Develop regional partnerships to plan for future growth and regional water requirement. Promote Monument as a regional destination point for business, events and tourism. Support incentives to help expand existing and attract new primary businesses to the area.

Gail G. Drumm

Age: 58

Employment: retired railroad machinist and vocational teacher

Reason for running: Keep Monument, Monument. That is why people moved here in the first place: a small town atmosphere, a good safe place to live, and the fact that we like our independence. While cutbacks may be needed in some areas, the police department is the first priority for the people. We need an ongoing program to make some street conditions better. But not to take on massive road projects that put us in long-term debt.

Keep downtown viable and fun. This is where we can all go and enjoy the businesses that only a small town can give you.

Priority: Keep people, businesses, and visitors safe. And not just in Monument, but surrounding areas when needed. While cutbacks may be needed in some areas, the police department is the first priority for the people. In the future we may need to look into good water sources. Another priority is attending to the needs of seniors.

TRUSTEES

Stanley E. Gingrich

Age: 50

Employment: URS department manager

Reason for running: I’m interested in seeing Monument reaching its full potential and being one of the best places to live and work in Colorado. Managing and leading in these difficult economic times takes focused leadership to get results for the benefit of Monument.

Priorities: Specific priorities are to establish a workable Capital Improvement Plan, developing a sustainable water plan, maintaining a top-notch police force, continual development of Monument residential and business districts to meet Monument Mission and Vision.

Rick Squires

Age: 57

Employment: self-employed construction consultant

Reason for running: To continue to improve on the community infrastructure so the vision of our town will carry on for generations to come.

Priorities: This current board, mayor and town staff all have great ideas to improve our community and I just want to assist them with the best implementation that can be accomplished without creating budget problems that most communities seem to have today. A city provided Internet service would be great for the citizens and businesses. I’ve seen that in other smaller communities and that would be a nice amenity for us if it feasible.

Jeffrey Kaiser

Age: 48

Employment: electrical engineer

Reason for running: I want to serve our community and help ensure that the interests of the taxpayers are represented as the board considers decisions that will affect them.

Priorities: Help resolve a long-term solution to the water needs of Monument. Help ensure that the taxpayers are fairly represented so that they know that their hard-earned dollars are being spent wisely. Help to preserve the great town of Monument so that it remains the wonderful place that it is, as well as create a vision of the future for its growth and for the needs of the individual citizens.

Jeffrey Bornstein

Age: 52

Employment: project sales manager

Reason for running: My interests include our schools, education, our historic downtown, the environment and “smart” growth within the city, both present and future. One aspect of a successful community is to stay connected and informed on key issues that challenge one’s community. My primary objective would be to make good decisions that are representative and in the best interest of the community.

Priorities: My priorities as trustee would always be based on the needs of the community and its residents. I would always promote active involvement, seeking the opinions and perspectives from all Monument residents.

Downtown Monument, Colorado photographed Thursday, March 18, 2010. Monument is having a contested election for the first time in nearly 10 years. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS

Businesses along 2nd Street at Chapala Plaza in downtown Monument, Colorado Thursday, March 18, 2010. Monument is having a contested election for the first time in nearly 10 years. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS