HomeMy WebLinkAboutBIOGRAPHY Bill Brown 2026-02-05Candidate Profile
Candidate: Bill Brown
Years in Estes Park: 5-1/2 years - family history back to the 1960s
Prior Experience - Career Information: Attorney - 1977 to present. Specialized in business law, tax law and
mergers and acquisitions. Former managing partner of 60 attorney law firm in Des Moines, Iowa. Former
adjunct professor of law at Drake University and University of Iowa law schools
Previous Participation on Town Boards or Committees: Manager of Visit Estes Park Lodging Tax Exploration
Task Force; lobbied for passage of 6E increasing lodging tax to pay for workforce housing and child care;
Estes Park Housing Authority Board member; Estes Chamber legislative ambassador
Educational Background: Juris doctorate from University of Iowa College of Law; L.L.M. degree in Taxation
from University of Alabama. Author of numerous professional journal articles on tax law.
Narrative:*
I am running for a second term on the Estes Park Town Board and I would like to ask for your support. I have a
long family history in Estes Park dating back to the early 1960s when my parents became a part of this
community. My father helped form the Upper Thompson Sanitation District and he served on the hospital board.
My mom was active in the Elizabeth Guild and was a volunteer at the library. As a teenager my first job was at
the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Moraine (now Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ) and in college I drove the truck up Trail
Ridge to supply the shop on top of Trail Ridge. I believe we must strike the right balance between the needs of
the residents and our local businesses while recognizing that, as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park,
Estes Park’s leading industry is tourism. While providing a hospitable place for guests is important, we must
nevertheless be a community that prioritizes those who call Estes home. We must also understand that
communities are living organisms and communities must adapt to change and be open to smart growth in order
to support our local businesses, provide needed services to our residents, and maintain its infrastructure. I am
concerned about our aging housing stock and the challenges of affordability for our local workforce. People need
to be able to live in the community where they work. That is one of the hallmarks of a strong community.