Biographies are Provided by the Town Council Candidates

Jason Auerbach

I have loved Breckenridge since I was six years old, learning to ski and later snowboard here. I came back every year I could, and in 2021 I moved here for good. I came for the winters and stayed for the summers, like so many before me. I plan to live here the rest of my life, and my heart is fully invested in this community. 

I grew up in Colorado. I have 20 years of experience in finance and investments and currently work at Northwestern Mutual. My role involves bringing together stakeholders to find the best path forward, and I know how to read a budget and ask hard questions about spending. Working remotely means I am here full-time, available, and present in this community every day. 

Over nearly five-years as a renter, I have lived in multiple neighborhoods throughout Breck: from higher up on Four O'Clock Road, to a single-family home on Ridge behind La Cima Mall and the Tonopah lot, to now in Tannhauser on Main Street. That gives me firsthand perspective on housing costs, neighborhood impacts, and what it takes to stay here. I have seen up close how short-term rentals shape our community and have benefitted from town decisions like short-term rental regulations and the e-delivery program that improve quality of life for locals. 

I volunteer every year at Oktoberfest, participate in the annual town clean up, and am active in the Summit County Democratic Party. Those who know me know I spend my free time picking up litter on streets like Ridge and Main, in our parking lots, and on our trails. I would like to see a second cleanup day added after Oktoberfest, before the snow falls. 

This past summer, while rehabbing a knee injury, I biked the Blue River Rec Path nearly everyday, staying within town limits and noting everything I would work to improve. I was excited to see that the Blue River Pathways Master Plan already reflects much of what I had identified. 

Our visitors and local businesses are the engines that funds everything we do as a town, from workforce housing to trail maintenance. I want to make sure that engine keeps running and that the people who live and work here share in the benefits. 

I am running for Town Council to keep Breck livable for locals: affordable housing and childcare so the people who work here can live here, a more boot and bike friendly town, and clean streets and trails. I will show up, listen, and do the homework before I vote. I want to hear from everyone who care about Breckenridge: long-time residents and newcomers, renters and homeowners, second homeowners, business owners, and the people who work here. We all want the same thing: a town that works. 

I believe our professional town staff are essential partners in making council decisions a reality, and I look forward to working closely with them. In winter I snowboard and snowshoe; in summer I hike and bike our trails. I would be honored to earn your vote and serve Breckenridge. 

Jay Beckerman

  
During the over two decades Jay Beckerman has lived in Breckenridge he has made good use of his time. He married, began raising a family, owned and operated several restaurants, while still finding time to give back to the community he loves. 

Jay grew up in New England just a train ride away from Yankees Stadium. He moved out west to attend the Leads School of Business at the University of Colorado. He came to Colorado for the education but stayed to make a difference. When he graduated from college in 2001, he moved to Breckenridge to operate Blue River Bistro. In 2002, he co-founded the Summit Lacrosse Program which introduced the sport of lacrosse to Summit County youth. This led to starting a club high school team that soon became a CHSAA certified varsity program which continues today. 

He continued public service by joining the Breckenridge Tourism Office in 2015 and currently serves on the finance committee. In 2016, he was asked to join the Upper Blue Planning Commission and represent the basin on the County Wide Planning Commission. Jay also served as Chairman of the Town of Breckenridge Planning Commission. In a desire to be a part of his children's education, he volunteered to serve on the Summit School District Finance Committee. Lastly, he volunteers on his neighborhood HOA and is currently the treasurer and has been honored to have served on Town Council for the past four years. 

Jay has had multiple restaurants over the last twenty years, but Blue River Bistro has been a staple in Breckenridge. Recently, he and his team opened Bistro North in Dillon. Through his two scratch kitchens he is able to support other summit county local businesses by sourcing local olive oil, salts, vinegars, honey, coffee, tea, ice cream, and beef. When it comes to supporting a community that has been so good to him and his family, Jay lives by the credo "If you can, you should". His businesses have been consistent financial supporters of organizations such as FIRC, Summit Foundation, NRO, Team Breck, High Country Conservation Center and Timberline Learning Center. 

Jay is married to a local family physician, Erin, and his two daughters who attend Dillon Valley Elementary and Summit Middle School. As his children would say, their dad can be found "getting his wiggles out" every morning skiing, alpine touring, mountain biking, hiking, or at the recreation center. 

Abbey Browne

Abbey moved to Breckenridge in 2004 for what was supposed to be just one ski season after college in Austin, Texas. Like a lot of people, she ended up falling in love with this place and never left. 

Over the years, Breckenridge has truly become home. She built her career here, started a business here, and found a strong sense of community here. This town has shaped who she is, and she cares deeply about its future. 

As a local business owner, Abbey understands how important it is to support a healthy economy while also protecting the quality of life that makes Breckenridge such a special place to live. We all want a town that feels vibrant, welcoming, and true to its roots. Owning a property management company like Wood Winds not only requires intense problem-solving skills, but she gets to know all of the different types of residents and citizens of this town. That includes our local workforce, retirees, second homeowners, and visitors. 

Giving back has always been important to Abbey. She currently serves as Executive Treasurer for the Breckenridge Tourism Office and has been involved with Summit County Zero Waste Task Force since 2014, helping improve recycling efforts across the county. She has also served on the Breckenridge Lodging Association board and helped launch the Summit Alliance of Vacation Rental Managers to support responsible tourism. Abbey is the co-chair of the local chapter of Together Women Rise working to support women and children in underdeveloped countries. 

While she is not working, you'll usually find her skiing, kayaking, hiking, or spending time with her rescue dogs. Abbey loves being outdoors and cares deeply about protecting the places that make Breckenridge what it is. 

Abbey is running for Town Council because she wants to help keep Breckenridge a great place to live, work, and enjoy. Abbey's goal is to bring a practical, collaborative voice to local leadership and make sure our community continues to thrive for years to come. 

Emily Lutke 

For the past 19 years, Breckenridge has been more than just a place to live for Emily Lutke; it has been her home. Emily and her husband, Tom, a dedicated local high school teacher, are raising their two children, Rowan and Atlas and beloved dog, Ingrid, here and deeply rooted in the community that has shaped their lives. 

Emily is passionate about Breckenridge's small-but-mighty character, a town that welcomes visitors from all over the world while maintaining the strong, connected, and resilient community that residents cherish. Her commitment to giving back is reflected in her ongoing service on the FIRC Board, Breck History Board, and her involvement with her neighborhood HOA. She also served with Summit Youth Hockey, Carriage House, and Little Red Schoolhouse, consistently stepping up wherever community leadership is needed. 

Emily brings a unique blend of personal and professional experience that makes her exceptionally well suited to serve on Town Council. With firsthand experiences and living in deed-restricted housing, active involvement in local non-profits, and children in both childcare and the public school system, she understands the needs of local families, workers, and long-term residents. Her professional background in extensive customer service in Breckenridge and Keystone Ski Resort has strengthened her belief in collaboration, mutual respect, and the importance of every individual's role in maintaining a thriving community. 

Carol Saade  

Carol Saade moved to Breckenridge in 2010 and has served on Town Council since 2020. Like many here, Carol came for a winter season and never left. She proudly represents Breckenridge, loves this community, and continues to put down deep roots as she builds her life here with her husband and their two-year-old. 

Carol is running for reelection because she believes the Town plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of people in our community and can always do better. She is proud of her work supporting our workforce, strengthening our economy, and protecting our natural surroundings. When making decisions, Carol prioritizes the goals and priorities identified by the community, including balancing the Town's growth while preserving the community and natural surroundings, and prioritizing the quality of life of our full-time residents while maintaining a high-caliber experience for the guests and part-time residents who help fuel our economy. 

In addition to serving on Town Council, she serves on the boards of Little Red Schoolhouse (President), the Colorado Municipal League (Secretary/Treasurer), Mountain Dreamers (founding member), the High Country Conservation Center, and is a member of the BTO Community Affairs Committee. She is currently the Town Council representative for the Police Advisory Committee and the Breckenridge Social Equity Advisory Commission. Since 2016, Carol has been a mentor with CMC's Mountain Scholars program and has previously served on the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission, the Events Committee, Breckenridge History, and other wonderful local organizations. 

The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, she grew up in the DC suburbs. After earning a BA in Economics from James Madison University, she lived in Geneva, Switzerland for two years and worked at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. She currently works for a small strategic communications firm based in Summit County managing several accounts on various federal, state, and local issues ranging from infrastructure to immigration reform. Before that, locally she managed a coffee shop, catered, worked the front desk of a hotel and at a nonprofit. 

In her free time, Carol loves to ski, hike, mountain bike, and run on our trails and open space with family, friends, and her two dogs. She also loves to connect with community member, please reach out to CarolforBreck@gmail.com if you would like.