October 11, 2012
12 Jeferson County Election Guide 2012
RTD Director District M
QUESTIONS
By Cassie Monroe cmonroe@ourcoloradonews.com
1) Please use three words to describe your leadership style.
2) Describe the skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the job.
3) Please list your top three priorities if elected.
4) What do you make of the delayed timeline of the North Metro FasTracks line and what should be done?
5)Would you support a future tax increase for the build out of the North Metro rail? Why or why not?
Candidates compete to serve on state Board of Regents
MATT COHEN
NATALIE MENTEN
Incumbent Address: 11287 W. 26th Place, Lakewood 80215 Background: Current RTD director District M, 2nd vice chair of the RTD Board of Directors, chair of the FasTracks Committee, CDOT Liaison, Lifetime of Service with a number of organizations. Contact: www.cohen4rtd.com, 303717-5623
Address: Lakewood Background: Colorado resident since 1971 and Lakewood 1990 to present. Co-owner of an automotive service facility. Active community facilitator driven toward promoting common sense solutions and fair, respectful treatment for citizens. Contact: 303-647-8900, www. NatalieMenten.com, RTDNatalie@ gmail.com
1) Collaborative, passionate, visionary.
1) Innovative, frugal, principled.
2) I have served in this position for the last four years through the worst economic downturn since the Depression, and I have not been afraid to make the tough decisions necessary to keep the RTD fiscally sustainable for the long term. I understand how service decisions are made, and I favor policies that better serve the needs of the rider while still ensuring financial responsibility of the taxpayers’ dollars. My experience in the Legislature in terms of getting things done is very valuable
2) For years I’ve publicly advocated for increased transparency in government spending. Transparency invites public involvement and quickly identifies budget savings, allowing government agencies to provide a bigger bang for the buck. I’ve voluntarily worked to reduce taxes that especially affect limited income households and protect property rights, helping those in need is a rewarding civic duty.
3) 1) Seamlessly transitioning into operational service on the West Rail Line 2) Maximizing technological advances with regards to the bus fleet and how service is provided and 3) Finding an answer for “how do we complete the FasTracks project sooner rather than later?” 4) I hope to see vigorous investment and a rebirth of the area that the West Rail will serve, and I hope to see greater mobility options in Jefferson County now that the train will finally be pulling into the station. 5) Four billion worth of projects are either under contract or under construction so getting all of those projects done is priority one. I abide by the mantra of “build as much as we can, as fast as we can, until it’s done.” I think it’s imperative to solve the conundrum of the northwest and northern congestion issues.
3) Advocate for full transparency of the Regional Transportation District, including that purchases made with public credit cards, by check and contracts be posted on the internet. This will save taxpayers money and allow more money to provide first-class public transportation for the Denver metro area. Steer RTD back to concentrating on providing affordable transportation with more options to serve the needs of those who use it occasionally or regularly to get to the doctor, work, school or the grocery store. Identify excess properties owned by RTD, which produce zero property taxes, and sell them. Adding these properties back to the tax rolls will produce more property taxes to support important projects such as social services, libraries and schools. 4) I hope the results show promises were kept and those most in need of affordable, convenient transportation are served well. 5) Ensure that we learn from past mistakes before the other transit lines are built out. Increase transportation options by wisely allocating our budget without increasing taxes.
Among the decisions Jefferson County voters will make in November is who will be the District 7 representative for the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The candidates are Republican, Mary Dambman, Democrat and incumbent Irene Griego and Libertarian Eric Robinson. Dambman and Griego took part in a forum in Wheat Ridge last month to discuss their campaign stances. Robinson was unable to attend the forum, and did not respond in time for this article. The nine CU regents are responsible for supervising decisions that effect the university and controlling the funds and appropriations of the school. Generally, members serve six-year terms, but there have been exceptions. Griego was appointed to the position Nov. 19, 2011, by Gov. John Hickenlooper after former Regent Monisha Merchant resigned to work in Sen. Michael Bennet’s office. Prior to the appointment, Griego was a community superintendent for Jeffco Public Schools for 10 years. She supervised 37 K-12 schools in the district. She has worked as a faculty member for the University of Colorado Denver, Teachers for Colorado Program, and Metropolitan State College of Denver. She has been a principal and assistant principal for several schools, and was a classroom teacher for Denver Public Schools. At the forum, Griego said what sets her apart from her opponents is her perspective on education because of her experience in classrooms, at universities and as a CU regent. “What I’ve learned is that students have to be first,” she said. She said if elected, her priorities will be making college affordable, giving students good professors and preparing the student population to enter the workforce. Dambman said that, as a fourth-generation Coloradan, she has the best interest of Colorado students in mind, but has seen education all over the country, which she believes gives her a good working background. She earned her master’s degree at Colorado College and taught English at the Air Academy High School. She was named chairman of the English Department and elected president of the Air Academy Education Association. She decided to change careers and began pursuing political aspirations. “I felt I could accomplish as much there as I could in the classroom,” Dambman said. In 1982, she ran for the state House of Representatives District 20 seat, and served in the General Assembly for three terms, sitting on education committees among others. She said she was responsible in part for working with higher-education legislation, amending the state’s budget bill, and securing in-state tuition rates for dependents of active-duty military personnel.