Rick for Avon Town Council

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Avon, CO
Rick for Avon Town Council

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Retired attorney and co-chair of the Avon Planning & Zoning Commission. On the Avon Town Council ballot November 3, 2026 — Lucky No. 7 on the ballot!

10/27/2026

Today's Vail Daily has a good article on the seven candidates running for the four open seats on the Avon Town Council. It covers each candidate's background and draws mainly on the High Five Access Media candidate forum held at Avon Town Hall on Sept. 24, 2026.

It may sound self-serving, but my background is somewhat unique among the candidates. I spent my career as a trial attorney focusing on contract disputes. The Council regularly approves development agreements, intergovernmental agreements and major contracts, and I would bring a careful eye to what those documents actually commit the Town and its taxpayers to.

As I said at the forum: I don't know everything, and I'm not going to lecture anyone. I will listen, study, analyze, communicate, collaborate and work tirelessly for this community.

You can vote for up to four candidates. I would be honored to be one of them. I'm Lucky No. 7 on your ballot.

Read the article:
https://www.vaildaily.com/news/deep-field-of-avon-town-council-candidates-seek-four-available-seats-on-nov-3/

It's too late to mail your ballot. Please use the 24-hour drop box at Avon Town Hall, 100 Mikaela Way, by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Photo: High Five Access Media, Avon candidate forum, Sept. 24, 2026

Paid for by Frederick Sudekum

10/25/2026

Here are some reminders because the election is over in a little more than a week.

10/24/2026

The Elevar program at the Eagle Valley Community Foundation is on the move!

10/23/2026

Thanks to Peter Braxton for convening the Minturn Saloon Social Club last night. About 25 neighbors gathered to talk through the 14 statewide ballot measures and hear short presentations from Jake Wells, co-owner of FÔRM Attainment, and Avon Councilmember Gary Brooks on the Eagle River. Gatherings like this remind me what a wonderful community and environment we enjoy in the Vail Valley. Ballots are due November 3 — please vote.

10/22/2026

Thank you Nancy Tashman for this letter of endorsement to the Vail Daily!

Opinion | Tashman: Support Sudekum for Avon Town Council

I just marked my ballot for Frederick (“Rick”) Sudekum for Avon Town Council. I have served with Rick on the Avon Planning and Zoning Commission (PNZ) for the past two years. Rick has approached every meeting with extensive preparation for the topic at hand. His questions are thoughtful and thorough, and his insightful comments are always appreciated in our discussions.

In addition to his service on the Avon PNZ, Rick serves on the board of the Eagle River Coalition and as liaison for the Eagle Valley Community Foundation to Elevar, mentoring young entrepreneurs in the community. You may also spot him picking up trash along Highway 6 as a volunteer for CDOT!

Rick has shown a clear commitment to the town of Avon. I have seen firsthand how his attention to detail, forged as a trial attorney with his own firm in Chicago for over 40 years, benefits our town. Please join me in voting for Rick Sudekum for Avon Town Council!

10/20/2026

Thank you Peter Braxton for the very kind letter to the editor in the Vail Daily today.

10/19/2026

Reminder,

The Minturn Saloon Social Club will meet on:

📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
🕟 4:30–7:00 PM
📍 Minturn Saloon — the bar area is reserved for our group, and we’ve confirmed they’ll be open!

We will have a short presentation about the varuious ballot measures we all fsace. Whether your questions concern Colorado’s 4.4% state income tax rate, Flock cameras, or ensuring Eagle County has ample, clean drinking water, this gathering is about information, not debate. No one will try to argue you into their corner.

Bring your questions and, if you know someone who can help explain a ballot issue in a neutral, informative way, bring them along! We hope to have folks there who can help us better understand the issues before we vote.

Food and beverages are generously sponsored by our very own Rick Sudekum. Whatever your views, the goal is simple: enjoy a beverage and a bite, spend some time with friends, and get out and vote!

No RSVP needed. Bring a friend, carpool if you can, and join us. I’ll send a reminder that day!

10/18/2026

Buying a home in Avon? You could save up to $10,000 on the town’s Real Estate Transfer Tax—and some buyers may qualify for even more relief.

As I’ve spoken with Avon voters, several have asked questions—and expressed concerns—about this tax, commonly called the RETT. Here’s how it works and what relief is available to people buying a home as their primary residence.

Avon generally imposes a 2% tax when real estate changes hands within town. In 2024, the town collected approximately $7.82 million from this tax. The revenue primarily supports capital improvements, including streets, trails, parks, and public facilities.

Under the standard primary-residence exemption, the first $500,000 of the purchase price is exempt from the buyer’s portion of the tax—a potential savings of up to $10,000. There is no limit on the home’s total purchase price, and buyers do not have to qualify as Eagle County employees to receive this exemption.

For example, if you purchase an $800,000 home and are responsible for the entire tax, the RETT would ordinarily be $16,000. With the standard exemption, you would pay $6,000 instead—a $10,000 savings.

An increased exemption is available to qualifying local workers, self-employed residents, certain retirees, and people working for an employer outside Eagle County who establish the home as their primary residence. That exemption covers the first $750,000 of the purchase price—a potential savings of up to $15,000—for qualifying homes purchased for $1.4 million or less. Additional requirements apply.

These exemptions are not automatic. Buyers must apply, sign an affidavit and promissory note, and satisfy the town’s occupancy requirements. For the standard exemption, buyers generally must move in within 30 days and use the home as their primary residence for a full year. The town places a lien on the property until those requirements are satisfied. The standard exemption is generally a one-time benefit; separate rules govern subsequent purchases.

If you’re purchasing a home in Avon as your primary residence, check with your real estate agent or the town’s Finance Department before closing. These exemptions could make a substantial difference in your purchase costs.

Is Avon’s current RETT relief enough, or should we do more to help people buy a home here? Share your thoughts in the comments—especially if you’ve used an exemption or are trying to buy in Avon. Your experience can help inform what we do next.

10/17/2026

Today I spent two hours outside City Market in Avon with my “Rick for Avon” and “Lucky No. 7” sign, handing out campaign cards, introducing myself, and—most importantly—listening.

People were friendly and generous with their time. Some said, “I already voted” or “Good luck.” Others said, “I’ll support you.” Five people I’d never met told me they had already voted for me! That felt pretty great.

Several people stopped to share what was on their minds. Topics ranged from Flock cameras—most who raised the issue opposed their use—to support for the arts and housing.

One conversation especially stayed with me. A woman who works at Vail Health’s Shaw Surgery Center in Edwards told me that, by her estimate, about half the people working there are locals and the other half are traveling professionals. Her point was clear: This valley is an expensive place to live, and we need to focus on housing for the people who live and work here.

That conversation brought home why housing matters so much. It’s about the people who care for us, teach our children, keep our businesses running, and make this valley a community. We need to keep working toward housing options that allow people to build a life here—not just come here to work.

Today also reminded me that campaigning isn’t just about asking for votes. It’s about hearing people’s concerns and understanding what matters to them.

I came away encouraged by the support and grateful for the conversations. Thank you to everyone who took a moment to stop, talk, and share your thoughts. I enjoyed being out there today and look forward to more conversations.

Rick for Avon. Lucky No. 7!

10/17/2026

I’m often asked why I’d like to serve on Avon’s Town Council. My answer is twofold: the environment and the community.

Whether I’m riding my bike, hiking a trail, or fishing with friends, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to call this valley home. Protecting our river, open spaces, and mountain environment means protecting so much of what makes Avon special.

But a beautiful setting is only part of what makes a town a home. It’s the people—neighbors who look out for one another, volunteers who show up, local businesses that bring us together, and everyone who contributes to our community.

I want to serve because I care about both: taking care of the place we love and making sure the people who call it home have a voice in its future.

That’s why I’m running for Avon Town Council.

Rick for Avon. On the ballot, I’m lucky no. 7!

Address

38460 US 6, Apt. 402
Avon, CO
81620

Website

https://rick-for-avon.pplx.app/

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