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J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Arvadans will vote on tax to fix streets The tax would be used for street maintenance and improvements By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Arvada resident Eldon Laidig poses with his family after being inducted into the West Chamber Jefferson County Hall of Fame. Laidig was one of five inductees. Photo by Clarke Reader
Chamber honors Hall of Fame class Arvadans highlighted in annual event By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com At the third annual West Chamber Jefferson County Hall of Fame Awards, Arvada and Evergreen residents shone and one of Lakewood’s most influential residents was remembered for her contributions to the county. “We’re here to celebrate five
people who helped to do so much in Jeffco,” said Pam Bales, president and CEO of the chamber, to the audience in attendance at Pinehurst Country Club on Aug. 24. The honorees were Evergreen’s Sylvia Brockner and Dan Pike and Arvada’s Steve Camins and Eldon Laidig. Lakewood’s Betty Miller was also posthumously recognized. The Hall of Fame recognizes business, government, and philanthropy by honoring outstanding individuals, from past and present, who have had significant long-last-
ing impacts through their leadership and contributions to Jefferson County’s economy, community and legacy. “I come to these events and always learning something new,” said Ernie Witucki, Hall of Fame Chair for the chamber. “This event is an important tribute to those who have given of their time, talent and treasure to helping the entire area.” Meet the honorees, and hear what they had to say about winning: Class continues on Page 15
Jeffco may be site of close political fight Candidates, parties will make numerous appearances in county By Clarke Reader creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com Jefferson County has long had the reputation as being a bellwether in elections, and residents can expect to hear and see a lot from local, state and national candidates as Election Day nears. “Jeffco has one of the most diverse voting populations in our state,” said Don Ytterberg, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. “You have chunks of the mountains and foothills on the west side, and more urban areas on the east side of Arvada and Lakewood, as well as Edgewater.” With roughly 566,000 residents — about one-tenth of the entire population of the state — Jefferson is the fourth most populous county in Colorado. It can be said to be a purple county, in which there are a relatively even number of Democrats, often identified as blue, and Republicans, often identified as red, generally with a high number of unaffiliated voters. Among active registered voters in the
A request for a 1/2 cent sales and use tax increase for street maintenance and improvements will be on the November ballot for Arvada residents. Arvada City Council approved the ballot measure 7-0 during its Aug. 29 meeting. If the 1/2 cent street improvement tax is approved by voters in November, the sales tax rate would be 3.96 percent. That is a nickel on a $10 purchase. In 2012 and 2015, Atkins North America, a pavement engineering firm, assessed the condition of Arvada’s streets and roads using a nationally-recognized scale, and nearly 40 percent of the roads in the city rated “poor” or worse. During a 2015 citizen survey, 85.02 percent of those questioned said that Arvada’s transportation infrastructure is the city’s largest and most valuable asset and must be a priority in terms of maintenance and improvements. Preventative maintenance that will extend street life and save money long term clocked at 68 percent, the highest interest of those surveyed. Filling potholes and repairing cracks was a close second. Of those surveyed, 58.41 percent said they would be willing to support a 1/2 cent sales tax increase specifically for Arvada streets and roads. The current sales tax rate in Arvada is 3.46 percent. The city is seeking a sales tax and not a property tax because property taxes are only paid by property owners within city limits. With the sales and use tax, everyone who lives, works and drives in Arvada will pay toward the roads they use. Repairs and improvements to roads being considered include new construction, resurfacing and widening, among others.
Graphic illustration by Ben Wiebesiek county as of Aug. 1, there were 111,374 Republicans, 109,140 Democrats and 128,938 unaffiliated voters, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. Colorado has been very important in the past couple elections, not only to the presidential races, but in the U.S. Senate and House contests, because it was unclear which way the state as a whole would go, said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Straayer’s concentration is Colorado and legislative politics. This year, he noted, the mystery
might be gone when it comes to the presidential race. “Everything I’m seeing shows Colorado leaning pretty heavily in favor of the Democrats,” he said. “I look at voter registration data from August 2012 to where we are now, and there’s an increase of about 22,000 Democrats in Jefferson County, and 10,000 Republicans.” Still, the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s Office currently shows roughly 2,000 more active Republican voters than Democrats. Election continues on Page 5
POMONA GETS OFF TO STRONG START The Panthers began the season in fine form, beating one of the best schools in the state. Read this story and other prep sports news on PAGE 19.