Centennial Citizen 0115

Page 1

January 15, 2016

Voluntary Contribution

VO LUM E 1 5 | IS S U E 8 | FREE

PROGRAM

See ad inside for details CentennialCitizen.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

Attorney takes seat in state House Former precinct leader Wist will fill Tate’s post as Centennial’s representative

By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Cole Wist, an attorney, will replace Jack Tate as the state representative for House District 37. The seat opened last month when Tate was appointed to Senate District 27 following the resignation of David Balmer, who left to take a position as political director of state campaigns for the Humane Society legislative fund. Wist, a Republican who works for Holland & Hart, was one of seven nominees

who spoke at a vacancy committee meeting on Jan. 9. “I love this country,” said Wist, a Centennial resident. “But, my friends, our country is not as shiny as it used to be.” Nearly 70 Arapahoe County Republican voters met at Valley Country Club in Centennial for the meeting. A vacancy meeting is a rare session, according to Joe Brown, vice chairman of the rules committee. “It’s not often that you have a candidate vacate midterm,” he added. Brown said the vacancy committee wasn’t necessarily looking for a seasoned politician to fill Tate’s spot. “The responsibility is to push forth the conservative principles,” Brown said. “I Wist continues on Page 4

Cole Wist is sworn into House District 37 at the Capitol in Denver on Jan. 12. He spoke of his mentor in politics, his grandmother. “I can’t help but think she is looking down today smiling.” Photo by Alex DeWind

WHAT’S INSIDE

Pup encounters porcupine: Dog treated for injuries is available for adoption. See Page 5

Judge Ford Wheatley swears Carrie Penaloza into Centennial City Council District 2 on Jan. 4. Photo by Alex DeWind

New face joins city council Carrie Penaloza brings background as an attorney to District 2

By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Carrie Penaloza, the new councilmember for Centennial District 2, developed an interest in politics at a young age with the influence of her Republican parents. “My parents were always precinct leaders,” she said. “We talked about politics at my house all the time.” When Penaloza moved to Centennial

10 years ago, she became involved in local politics. She declared her candidacy for Centennial City Council last year, and after a busy campaign with countless fliers distributed, she won the vote for District 2. She was sworn into city council on Jan. 4, replacing longtime councilmember Keith Gardner, who reached his term limit. Penaloza was raised in Denver. She earned English and political science degrees from William Jewell College in Missouri and went on to study law at Northern Illinois University. She married shortly after college and has been with her husband for 24 years. They have two teenage daughters. She describes herself as family oriented.

She enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking through Rocky Mountain National Park. In her spare time, she reads and watches documentaries. “I’m a bit of a bookworm,” she said. Penaloza’s family initially moved to Centennial because of its neighborhoods and schools. She resides in Homestead in District 2, which is bordered by East Orchard Road, South University Boulevard and East Dry Creek Road. She was a Colorado attorney for 20 years and now works part-time as a municipal prosecutor. She plans to use her background

Online grief: How people cope with loss in the digital age. See Page 10

Wrestling: High school athletes learn far more than just the halfnelson. See Page 15

Penaloza continues on Page 4

Concerning mole or spot? Let us give you peace of mind. 303-945-2080

See Page 7 for Dr. Kim Neyman’s Column on what to look for in skin lesions


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.