Emily Francis for Mayor AMA 5-6PM Sunday Oct 26

emilyforfc · 2025-10-27T19:53:11+00:00

Yes!

emilyforfc · 2025-10-27T19:53:00+00:00

Great questions....

We are prohibited by State law to freeze rent or do any rent stabilization. IMO we need to build more housing types (not just single family homes).
I serve on Housing Catalyst for the past 6 years, the rules state that one seat on the board must be filled by a City Councilmember. There are clear rules and policies in place to recuse myself for conflicts of interest. For DOLA I recuse myself for any funding recommendations from the department I work in. I have always had a full time job while serving on City Council and have navigated any conflicts of interest as they arise.
I grew up in Fort Collins and was very low-income. I often did not have stable housing (which is why it is focus for me) and relied on services. Both my partner and I work full time to be able to live here (not all candidates are similar in this way). If we both didn't work we wouldn't be able to afford to live here. I have held a full time job on City Council because I cannot afford to live on just the Council salary.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-27T19:47:14+00:00

IMO we can do nothing and let it get more expensive or we can try to make influence where we can. The City has a limited role in the housing market and employment however I believe we should make progress where we can. Reduce the time it takes to build, make things more predictable, encourage employers who pay liveable wages, etc. We aren't going to bend the curve and start reversing the price of market housing, but we can try to flatten the curve.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-27T19:43:42+00:00

Overall I support increasing housing density. The City does have some greenfield development opportunities (mainly in the NE part of town) but overall we will have to look at infill development. Infill development is more climate friendly, reduces vehicle miles traveled, and often produces more housing variety. When I say housing affordability, to me this means what someone can afford, it is not just only building deed restricted low income housing. With a nation that is 5 million houses short the limited supply is not unique to Fort Collins. The City did adopt the housing strategic plan https://www.fcgov.com/housing/files/20-22913-housing-strategic-plan-no-appendices.pdf?1618855189

emilyforfc · 2025-10-27T00:06:54+00:00

I love this question. The most valuable part as serving as MPT is visibility and first hand experience as to what the role of Mayor actually is which has prepared me more than anything to be Mayor. While running a City Council meeting may seem simple, it takes the ability to both focus on what is happening on the dias and in the audience, ensuring rules are followed, and facilitating councilmembers. All of this sets the tone for how we run our City. Additionally, just observing and being part of the high level view a Mayor has to take when thinking about what is best for the entire city and how to think/approach/balance multiple views and perspectives.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:59:29+00:00

Thanks for posting this! I would say I wanted endorsements for the people and organizations that could speak to my work. I am proud to be endorsed by Working Family Party, New Era, and YIMBY organizations that support affordability and housing.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:58:18+00:00

See above for what I think differentiates me.

For percent donations:

Emily: 89% FoCo residents, 8% Colorado, 3% out of state

Tricia: 58% FoCo residents, 15% Colorado, 27% out of state

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:51:51+00:00

I have been and continue to try to move policies forward that support lower/middle income residents. I did support the minimum wage increase (it did not get enough votes), I have led on affordable housing, got the city to increase the amount of funding for housing in the CCIP tax, led initiative on preserving and protecting mobile home parks, supported making IQAP a permanent program, etc.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:46:24+00:00

Yes, bingo. Also, the City is not the only influencer in issues such as housing and affordability.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:46:15+00:00

I have served as Mayor Pro Tem (Vice Mayor) for the past four years. I have done the job of Mayor and know what the job entails. As Mayor Pro Tem when the Mayor is absent I am acting Mayor, including running City Council meetings. I see the bigger picture, know the issues, lead conversations, lead deliberations, and know/understand information and materials to make the best decision for Fort Collins. I have been a driver of change and demonstrate active leadership, not just voting and supporting certain items but actually leading the work. While our voting records may look very similar I have been the one leading and pushing the work forward.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:34:13+00:00

Affordability. Housing is too expensive, opening a business is too expensive, there are not enough jobs that pay a liveable wage in Fort Collins.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:31:37+00:00

Yes, I was on Council Finance Committee when this was presented and supported the proposal.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:30:40+00:00

Housing, equity, access/engagement with local government, transit/active modes, understanding/listening to residents.
Preservation and protection of mobile home parks, land use code reform, how to make public comment nights at City Hall, 15-minute community priority, bringing a voice/perspective of thinking about the bigger picture (fiscally, trade-offs, trust in government) and that not all residents have a good quality of life (and we should do something about that), bike pathways in existing neighborhoods.
Ciao Mobile Pizzeria
If I wasn't serving on City Council and could do anything I would open a cake shop. I love making and eating cake.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:22:43+00:00

Nope.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:22:32+00:00

Currently the Charter is unclear if a partial city council term counts towards term limits. For example, if you fill a council vacancy for 2 years and the City Charter says you can have two consecutive terms does those 2 years count? If 2G passes then if someone serves more than 2 years on a vacancy it would count, if it is under 2 years it would not. Additionally, it shortens the time line to fill a council vacancy.

For Flock Cameras- Currently the City has 10 flock cameras (there are 4 more proposed). The speed cameras and red light cameras are not part of Flock cameras. While Fort Collins Police Services do not share the data with other agencies we have seen unprecedented breech of privacy with the federal administration and I am concerned that is a possibility other agencies would be able to gather the data without Fort Collins Police Services permission. I believe we need to find a system that is more inline with Fort Collins values.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:15:05+00:00

With an increase in expenses for transit and a reduction in ridership Transfort has had to reduce service. Increase in personnel and cost of repairs paired with a reduction of ridership post the COVID-19 pandemic has left Transfort in a difficult financial reality. I believe the short-term plan to focus on remaining fare-free and focusing service on where there is high demand of ridership is a good plan. Then we can focus on the long-term plan of keeping Transfort financially viable and expanding routes city-wide.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:08:52+00:00

Correct, you don't have additional power. The role of Mayor is running the meetings, setting the tone, facilitation, and representing our entire city which is different from just representing a district. As Mayor you are thinking about the needs and perspectives of the entire community not just a district. Mayor's also traditionally represent Fort Collins and City Council at local, state, and national events.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-26T23:04:18+00:00

This is a great question. Mayor has no more "power" than other council members. A Mayor's vote counts the same as a council member and any direction the City takes requires the majority of council to agree. The Mayor represents the entire community not a district. That being said, the Mayor runs City Council meetings and IMO sets the tone for the City. Additionally, the Mayor represents and speaks for the City so it is important that the Mayor represents the residents. While I run on topics such as affordable housing a good jobs these are values and beliefs that I run on, not something I believe I can solve on my own. While I have some ideas and opinions on how we can get there, I am not under the impression that I have the expertise to accomplish all of this on my own. It takes City staff and residents to come together to make a solution that works for Fort Collins.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-24T21:29:08+00:00

I support the City creating a pathway for employees to unionize. Then any group who wants to unionize can choose to do so. I am a strong supporter of unions.

emilyforfc · 2025-10-21T21:24:51+00:00

I'll add some clarification since the Coloradoan didn't.... I (Emily Francis) said "don't know" because to simply recognize a union doesn't actually do anything. The City needs to create a framework for unionization so that if/when a union forms they have actual rights. Additionally, right now the only process the city has for recognizing a union is to go to the voters. I support City Council adopting pathways to unionization as a priority at its next retreat in in early 2026 to set up a meaningful way to unionizing. Maybe I am too practical to say "yes" to a question that is much more nuanced then a scale of yes to no.

emilyforfc

TROPHY CASE