Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach announced the reappointment of Valerie Hunter and appointment of Zachary McComsey to fill two positions on the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority Board – the group that has a big say in the City for Champions project, among others.

The City Council is expected to vote on whether to confirm the appointments at its Feb. 10 meeting. City Council president Keith King said council has not decided whether the council wants to interview the candidates before confirming.

“This is an important position,” King said.

Hunter has a background in business, strategic and tactical planning, fiscal and program management. She is president and co-owner of the Hunter Group USA, LLC. Hunter was appointed to fill a URA board vacancy in March 2014 for a one-year term which expires April 1, 2015. Her reappointment would be for a five-year term, until April 2020.

McComsey has a background in business, strategic planning, financial analysis and real estate. He is the founder and executive director of Atlas Preparatory School. McComsey also serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Springs Health Foundation.  If confirmed, he would serve a two-year term, until April 2017.  

At a March 25, 2014 City Council meeting, Bach told the City Council that the URA board appointees did not require a confirmation hearing like when he appoints executive staff members. Rather, it was more a ceremonial approval, he said then.

But three council members — King, Don Knight and former council member Joel Miller — said it was their responsibility to interview potential URA board members, especially when such big taxpayer projects are in play like the City for Champions project.

The Urban Renewal Authority will act as the financing entity for the City for Champions projects – a role spelled out in the city-state agreement. As envisioned, the authority would become the recipient of state sales tax funds used to help fund the projects and could issue bonds to help pay for their development, among other responsibilities.

Bach also appointed Roland Laning to the Housing Authority Board. Laning has served on the Housing Board since 2006 and has been selected for another five-year term.

This undated handout photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Donald Newbury. Newbury, one of the fugitives in the notorious “Texas 7” prison gang, is set for execution Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 for the slaying of a suburban Dallas police officer during the escaped prisoners’ holdup of a sporting goods store more than 14 years ago. (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

AP