The Mammoth Lakes Town Council election this November will fill three open seats, with eight candidates in contention, none of whom are incumbents. Candidates have participated in public forums, including one organized by the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce on September 29 and another by the Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club on Tuesday. This week's candidate introductions feature Cory Rice, Danielle Bauman, and Mark Barrow. Last week, candidates Jason Elwell, Stacey Slichta, Steve Shatkin, and Lakota Mikulicich were highlighted. Tarek Nuttall did not provide a response for the interview series.
Cory Rice, a full-time Mammoth Lakes resident for two decades, is married to current Mayor Amanda Rice. He holds a psychology degree from California State University Long Beach and moved to Mammoth in 2006 after years of visiting as a tourist. He recounts that he and Amanda were “just barely able to purchase a condo” after their marriage. They now have two children who were born in Mammoth and attend MUSD schools. For over 16 years, Rice has co-owned and operated Anything Goes Fine Catering, a business they acquired through loans. His prior experience includes working in the fiscal department at the Mammoth Lakes courthouse, volunteering with Access Mammoth, managing a 20-unit residential complex, and serving multiple terms as president of his HOA board.
Rice stated that his wife’s four years on the town council underscored the importance of local political involvement, motivating him to support the community and contribute to Mammoth’s future. He believes he has the “time, personality, knowledge, and understanding to dedicate to town council.” With over 20 years as a business owner across three separate ventures, including his first business at 18 that funded his college education, Rice noted he has “worn many different hats in Mammoth, from snowboard bum to landlord.” He asserted that these experiences provide him with “first-hand knowledge of the different struggles facing residents” and enable him to “truly represent a wide range of perspectives.” Rice emphasized that council members need extensive facts for decision-making but warned against delaying crucial decisions with “unnecessary and costly data collection,” advocating for a balanced approach.
Rice identified development, housing, and wildlife as the three most pressing issues. He noted residents are concerned about the impacts of numerous large developments in the North Village Specific Plan Zone. Housing remains expensive and difficult to find, and recent summers have seen many bear incidents, prompting calls for respectful, permanent wildlife solutions. Rice also highlighted several town successes, including increased investment in housing and the addition of units. He cited The Parcel for meeting lower-income housing needs, Innsbruck Lodge and Access Apartments for workforce housing, and Housing Now programs for aiding residents at various income levels. He specifically mentioned knowing four middle-income individuals who purchased homes via the Bridge Program and several families who utilized the Placemates program to convert their homes into long-term rentals. Additionally, Rice pointed to public space enhancements like the park at The Parcel, the climbing wall and other features at Mammoth Creek Park, and the multi-use path connecting Main Street to Old Mammoth on Minaret Road. He also mentioned the impending completion of new town offices and the Dave and Roma McCoy Arts and Cultural Center, set to open next year. On handling potential conflicts of interest, Rice acknowledged his deep community connections, stating the town feels “smaller and smaller” the longer one lives there. He stressed his commitment to understanding diverse viewpoints and maintaining balance, asserting, “We can all have different viewpoints but still need to be kind while defending those viewpoints.” He concluded that his decisions would be grounded in facts, diverse Mammoth experiences, strong negotiating skills, budgeting knowledge, his college education, a thorough understanding of past council actions, and a willingness to stand up for his beliefs.
Danielle Bauman, a fifth-generation local, was born and raised in Mammoth Lakes and is now raising her two children in the community. As a businesswoman and single working mother, she described experiencing both the privileges and challenges of life in a world-class resort community. Bauman expressed a desire to move beyond discussing challenges to understanding them and finding solutions. She noted that existing resources are sometimes unknown, while other times “genuine gaps that need to be addressed” arise. She realized that immediate community involvement was a viable path to help, rather than starting a new nonprofit.
Bauman's professional background spans over 25 years in health and fitness, supplemented by experience in court administration with Mono County Superior Court, involvement in a local snow removal business, and real estate. A San Diego State University graduate, she believes these varied experiences offer distinct perspectives on community needs. Her skills include understanding legal documents and court procedures, reviewing complex contracts and transaction documents, appreciating the operational, infrastructure, and seasonal challenges of mountain town living, and working with diverse individuals to achieve personal goals. She also highlighted her understanding of the financial struggles involved in affording childcare, groceries, and housing while raising a family locally. Bauman stated that an elected official does not need “every answer,” but rather “the ability and willingness to ask good questions, listen, learn, collaborate, and make responsible decisions.” She acknowledged the complexity of local government matters, noting that seeking answers from different sources can yield varied understandings. This complexity, she explained, underscores the importance of continuously asking questions and examining underlying information. During her campaign, Bauman has attended town council meetings and engaged with town staff, community members, and business owners to better understand issues such as development impact fees, parking, workforce housing, snow removal, public safety, and wildlife management. She affirmed that “Good governance requires combining quantitative data with practical experience and community feedback,” emphasizing that numbers are only one part of the story.
