I came in possession of some deeply disturbing information today: the District Attorney in Glenwood Springs is pursuing the Toni Kronberg investigation. Aggressively.
In some dark corner of my mind, I knew that Toni was under investigation for election fraud because of the contention that she lied about living in Aspen even as she was running for Aspen City Council. The disturbing news is that the D.A. is calling material witnesses on the phone that would have knowledge of her living situation. It’s disturbing because that means the case is alive and well and Toni could go to jail or face other penalties if convicted.
I believe in enforcing the law, but this so clearly smacks of political payback that I can’t let it stand unremarked. In my opinion, the investigation is continuing not because Toni broke the law–and she might have–but because she dared on a continuous basis to fight the powers that be. That’s unacceptable in Aspen, where anyone who questions the existing order is either a pariah or a talk show host.
Toni’s sin, if there was one, was to shock the world and come in third in the City Council race–a finish far better than anyone expected. Her other sin is that she cares. Is she misguided? Yes–frequently. Is she a bit crazed when it comes to her causes? Absolutely. But the bottom line for Toni Kronberg is she has the temerity to exercise her right to free speech and free assembly, and she has been tireless of working for the things she believes in.
So of course she must be punished.
The City of Aspen and the D.A. will have spent tens of thousands of dollars before they’re done. My real fear is that now that the process in motion there’s no way to stop and that Toni will be brought to trial.
I have a simple response to that possibility: shame on you–shame on every public official who has anything to do with this investigation. If ever there was a victimless crime, this is it, proving beyond a shadow that justice in the Roaring Fork Valley is deaf, dumb, and blind. Toni can be annoying or even incomprehensible at times, but she doesn’t have a criminal bone in her body.
Drop the investigation because it’s the right thing to do. Leave Toni alone. We all have better things to do.
I agree that the investigation into Toni’s residency should be dropped as we all have better things to do including Toni.
Toni is fighting for the good things in Aspen and willing to take the crap the City dishes out to her. Maybe someone should ask Toni what “dirt” she has uncovered in some of the recent land use developments approved within the last couple of years and why there are some people who definitely want her out of the political activist role she has assumed.
Toni taught my kids and now my grandkids to swim, and, believe me, we are trying to figure out who started this witch hunt. We want to know who, how and why this investigation got started. Michael, do you know who is behind this?
DIdn’t the City give her a restraining order when she was campaigning FOR the swimming pools and recreation center? DIdn’t that get dismissed?
The City also gave her a tresspass ticket when she was campaigning against the building on the corner of Galena and Main aka as the “visitor center”. That ticket also was dismissed.
DIdn’t Andrew Kole (a candidate for Council and challenger to Toni’s residency) conduct a “Shut up Toni” campaign which cost him his radio job because he was downright slanderous to Toni?
DIdn’t Toni lobby against the monster heights of the Dancing Bear and Chart House which Jim De Francia, one of the challengers to Toni’s residency, is or was one of the developers for the Projects?
There is alot more that Toni has been subjected to which in time will come out. Toni should write a book about her experiences with Aspen’s political process. I admire her braveness and passion.
Why is the Glenwood Springs District Attorney’s office investigating Toni’s residency? How come Aspen’s DA is not investigating? DId Toni move to Glenwood?
I can agree that Toni is very outspoken in getting the Town Council to listen to citizens. And I do support her comitment for Aspen.
But , and this is a big but – she lied about where she lives. I happen to know that she did (and does) live in Aspen Village. I saw her every morning prior to her throwing her hat in the ring. Once someone questioned her residency requirements – poof – she disappeared. And when it was all said and done – more Toni sightings.
Just because a person has the right to free speach it does not make them unaccountable for breaking the election process. Sure she would have probably been great on the council and she could probably use the money. She can’t be making much teaching swimming . But , she doesn’t qualify to be on the council. She is still a presence at the council meetings , so nothing has changed – except she is not getting paid.
If it doesn’t matter where you live , then if you find that Glenwood Springs council needs a little more direction and you feel you are qualified for the position and you live in Aspen. Does that make it alright for you to run for office?
If she would tell a little white lie about where she lives , what other things are in her closet? She put herself in the public eye – and she got caught.
There are laws , and she commited election FRAUD. You break the law , there are consquences – no matter how good your intentions were to begin with.
The DA’s office for the Ninth Judicial District, which includes Pitkin, Garfield, and Rio Blanco Counties, is located in Glenwood Springs. This office is repsonsible for procecuting all crimes in it’s district.
Michael, I think you finally understand the idea of enforcing the ‘spirit of the law’ versus the ‘letter of the law.’
Michael,
After reading the comments posted about Toni Kronberg’s residency issue, I have a few comments of my own.
Who is flower 77?
I am sure the Glenwood Springs District Attorney’s office
(who is responsible for investigating, and, if enough EVIDENCE warrants, filing of charges for prosecution)
would love to know if flower 77 is a credible witness who should be subpoened to court to testify about their KNOWLEDGE of Toni Kronberg’s residency.
Their KNOWL:EDGE would need to prove more than just “seeing” Toni in Aspen Village. Toni is seen every day in City Hall? Does that mean she lives there? Toni should declare City Hall as her residence because she has admitted to spending the last ten years of her life attending meetings almost on a daily basis.
As for flower 77 saying Toni doesn’t qualify to be on City Council, I would suggest they pull up on the internet what the qualifications are for someone to run for municipal office in Colorado.
While they are researching the “letter of the law” and “cases of residency”, I suggest they take the time to read and understand what false statements made to influence public officials in the course of a criminal investigation warrants in jail time.
To quote flower 77, “There are laws. You break the law, there are consequences.” There are consequences to providing false statements in the course of a criminal investigation. So who is flower 77?
Flower 77 has not broken any law by posting what they know on this post…and if I were the Aspen Post, I would require a subpoena from the DA’s office seeking that information. And I doubt a judge would sign one granting that information, if it in fact exists, since all you need is an email address to post, which could be under a false name, the DA’s office would have to show good cause to obtain that information, not just a fishing expedition for hear say witnesses.
Second, even if Flower was questioned and provided information, that she believed to be truthful, even if it is not, could not be charged with giving false statements, unless she knew those statements were false. And, the DA would have to verify any information it receives through other means, other then hear say, so their case would be not made or broken by anything Flower said here.
Sorry peanut butter, but your you will have to take your witness intimidation tactics somewhere else, they won’t fly here. : )
Peanunt butter, it is not “the Glenwood Springs district Attorney’s Office”. It is the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Offifce, that happens to be based in Glenwood Springs. I know the difference is suttle, but let us aviod the confussion we had earlier.
I couldn’t agree more with alpha6, it’s good to know that a few citizens still know thier rights.