Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Golden: My name is Justin Baun. I am 46. Golden is the only hometown I have ever had. My family put down roots here in the early 1960s, and this valley is where I grew up, worked, and am now raising my own family.
I live here with my wife, Jayne, and our two kids. I want them to have the same chance I had: to work in this valley, find a place to live, and keep the small-town life that made Golden worth staying in. That is getting harder, and that is part of why I am putting my name forward.
For 15 years I have worked with Emcon maintaining bridges in this valley. That work takes me around the region in all seasons. You learn how a community actually functions when the snow hits, when a structure is tired, and when deferred maintenance finally comes due. You also learn that the unglamorous work — the pipes, wells, roads, and crossings — is what keeps a town livable.
I have spent a lot of my life in the mountains around here, and I care about this place as a hometown first, not just as a destination. If I have a simple description of myself, it is this: a working dad who grew up here, still works here, and wants Golden to stay a place where local families can build a life.
Why have you decided to run for Golden Town Council? I want residents to have a strong voice at the table. Housing is tight. Peak season squeezes the town. Infrastructure is aging. I see that at work, I see it as a parent, and I hear it from people I grew up with who are trying to stay here. I would love for my kids to have the opportunity to work in this valley and find a place to live. Right now, that is not a given.
Council is not an abstract job to me. It is about pipes, wells, roads, housing, and whether tax dollars are being spent on things that actually make life better for the people who live here year-round. I want to help keep the focus on affordability and quality of life for all residents of Golden.
I support our tourism industry. It is a big part of how this town works. But visitors should not come first at the expense of taxpayers. Fiscal responsibility matters to me. I will scrutinize the budget, look hard at funding allocations, and chase grants that add real value instead of just adding cost.
I am not running because I think I have all the answers. I am running because I love this town, I live the same pressures other families live, and I believe a practical, resident-first voice on Council can help keep Golden Golden.
