“Government is the highest expression of ourselves as a community; it ought to be the best.”
Investing In Each Other
Protecting our Climate, Land, Water, and Wildlife
I am working to protect our shared natural treasures.
The natural environment is one of our greatest gifts. It’s why many of us live here. I co-founded the Eagle County Wildlife Roundtable to help provide protection — not just mitigation — for wildlife.
I recently served as president of Colorado Communities for Climate Action to advance state and federal policy to address the climate crisis.
Locally we are reducing our organizational emissions with innovative heat pump, geothermal, and fleet solutions, and targeting community-wide emissions with building and land-use codes.
Economies only prosper when people prosper.
The services governments provide to people are not welfare; they are the critical organs of a thriving modern economy and a high quality of life. Making life better for workers makes business better for everyone. I’ve supported…
more childcare services to give families freedom to work,
affordable housing to provide the most fundamental security to community members,
Equitable energy access, so more residents can have clean and comfortable homes with lower utility bills.
and greater behavioral health resources for the well-being of us all.
Growing a People-Centered Economy
Equity, opportunity, and dignity are not just
values, they are goals.
Eagle County’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative is helping our organization discover hidden talent, identify new opportunities, and create a more productive workplace. We intend to take these lessons into our public work and services in order to realize the potential of our entire community.
Underrepresented groups, such as Latinos, LGBTQ+, and others struggle disproportionately with social inclusion, economic opportunity, and equity issues. We support the work of Mountain Pride, Voces Unidas, and the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) to help these communities determine their own path and future.
Creating a Better Eagle County for All
A Dedication to Community Service
I grew up a rural kid. That’s where I developed my love of small-town life and natural places. Though college in Boulder and an early professional life pulled me away for a time, in 2000 I rediscovered that more authentic and rewarding life in Eagle County.
I found fulfillment in nonprofit work, volunteering, and public service. My time at the Vail Leadership Institute provided invaluable personal growth along with a deep connection to local leaders and our small community values. I took those lessons to the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability where I led that organization in advocating for sustainable public policy and helping our community discover sustainable lifestyle and business practices.
Throughout my time in Eagle County I’ve also stayed involved with the things our family cares about through volunteering and board service. Organizations like the Education Foundation of Eagle County (EFEC), The Literacy Project, Salvation Army, the Eagle River Coalition, and others have not only helped me understand the essential facets of a whole community, but they inspired my next step into public service.
I was first elected to the Minturn Town Council in 2008 and was later elected mayor. And for the past five years I have been honored to serve as commissioner for the entire county and to help build upon the exceptional quality of life we are all here for.
Creating a Shared Future
Eagle County was different when I arrived almost 25 years ago. It will be different in another 25 years. If it is still exceptional then, it will be because we have worked as a community for all of our community.
When we invest in the essential needs of our community members — housing, childcare, education, transportation, healthcare — we support the workforce that makes our economy thrive. We also ensure our friends, neighbors, and families also thrive and are able to make their own unique contributions to our community.
When we invest in each other, we foster the exceptional community of people that make Eagle County the exceptional place that it is.
Accomplishments
Housing
Housing in the high country has always been challenging. But it’s different now. When businesses cut their hours for lack of staff; when friends and neighbors leave — not for work, but for housing — we have a crisis, a crisis of our economy and our community.
In the past several years we have leveraged federal and state dollars to build upon already successful housing programs. We launched Bold Housing Moves to address every conceivable market opportunity that could grow workforce housing, from rental assistance to development of actual housing units.
Childcare
Childcare providers are some of our most valuable resources; they are our children’s first structured education, and without them many parents cannot participate in our workforce. We have used Covid relief funds and county funds to provide stipends to encourage these workers to stay in this noble profession and to keep childcare affordable for our workforce.
In 2023 we asked our taxpayers if they agreed with the great need to fund childcare and housing in Eagle County and they overwhelmingly approved a lodging tax for those purposes.
Healthcare
The healthcare system is too expensive and inaccessible throughout the United States, and we can’t entirely solve it here. But we are following the bold lead of Eagle Valley Behavioral Health and are funding additional counselors in schools to address the recent surge in youth behavioral health issues.
We are working with state leaders like Dylan Roberts for Colorado solutions. And we also support local partners serving our community, like Speak Up Reach Out, Mountain Youth, and Mountain Family Health Centers.
Community & Quality of Life
The best things about Eagle County — and the things most worth doing for it — can’t be measured. But they still take purpose, planning, and funding.
We developed a way to finally achieve the completion of the Eagle Valley Trail! The last pieces of that puzzle are the most challenging and most expensive, but we expect that by the end of 2025 you will be able to ride a paved trail from Breckenridge to Aspen! And if you choose, commute anywhere along Highway 6 in the Eagle River Valley.
The county launched an internal initiative to understand our opportunities through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We have learned — and continue to learn — how to unleash the potential in our team and provide them with greater opportunity to grow and contribute to our community. In time we believe this will create greater opportunity for our community members, which of course will create a better Eagle County for all!
Economic Development
Economic development doesn’t just mean bringing more dollars to our community; it also means providing economic opportunity and services to our residents.
We opened a new and expanded airport terminal that has brought new and expanded domestic routes at more affordable rates. And we are working to open a new international terminal that will provide customs services and the security required to make EGE an international airport!
Eagle County now hosts the Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC), offering free business consulting, training, and access to business loans to support the full life cycle of a small business.
Climate & Environment
Eagle County will not solve the climate crisis on its own. But when the global economy transforms to a sustainable, clean energy economy, we will be at the vanguard of that transformation.
I represent Eagle County on the Climate Action Collaborative to advance our local climate initiatives. I served as president of Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) to advance our state and federal policies to facilitate our work.
Among other efforts, in the past several years Eagle County has begun converting our fleet to electric vehicles, upgrading our mechanical systems to electric heat pumps, and are planning a geothermal heat exchange system at our main Eagle campus.
We are currently updating county building and land use codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to create safer, more affordable, and more comfortable homes and businesses.
We have leveraged state and federal money to bring safety, comfort, and affordability to lower income residents through our Beneficial Electrification of Eagle County Homes (BEECH) program so that everyone can benefit from the clean energy economy.
Upon learning that a Utah oil extraction project would haul up to 4.6 billion gallons of crude oil per year in 500 rail cars a day through Eagle County along the Colorado River, we successfully sued to overturn the improper federal approval of the rail project, protecting our greater environment, the climate, and the water supply for over 40 million people.
Transportation
Modern mobility is more than just buses, and our resort community has outgrown our transit system. Eagle Valley voters agreed and recently approved the creation of a transportation authority that can ultimately strategize and coordinate all mobility needs and opportunities in the valley. The Eagle Valley Regional Transportation Authority is already providing expanded and free service.
Endorsements
Your contribution supports our campaign and an equitable, responsible, and prosperous Eagle County community.
Joe Neguse
“As an Eagle County Commissioner, Matt Scherr has proven his commitment to protecting our natural resources, ensuring our economy works for everyone, and improving the lives of his constituents. His rural upbringing and leadership as an Eagle County Commissioner has continued to deliver meaningful results for our mountain communities time and time again. I am proud to endorse Matt knowing he will continue this critical work throughout Eagle County.” - Congressman Joe Neguse
Thank you, Joe Neguse, for your partnership and support for Eagle County!
Conservation Colorado
Conservation Colorado is an invaluable partner in the stewardship of our natural resources, and I am honored to receive their endorsement. This endorsement is not just about me; it's a testament to the collective efforts of everyone who believes it is important to protect our air, lands, water, and communities
Voces Unidas
Even more than our support, disproportionately impacted communities need their own voice. Voces Unidas works not just on behalf of our Hispanic communities, but also works with those communities to lift up leaders and amplify voices. We rely on organizations like Voces Unidas for grassroots advocacy, and I am proud to receive their endorsement! Together, we’ll build a stronger, more connected Eagle County.
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Re-Election Campaign
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