STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903
75cI
VOLUME 119
Issue 02
WEEK OF JANUARY 13, 2022
Optimism high as new council takes oaths Mayor, city council sworn in with an eye towards improving Brighton BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Mayor Greg Mills kicked off the Brighton City Council’s 2022-23 term Jan. 4, saying he expected great things to happen but urging residents to get involved. “Support your local elected officials, whether you voted for them or not,” Mills said during his inaugural address in the city’s Armory Performing Arts Center. “Just care. Serve on a board, serve on a commission and do something to help the community you live in. Don’t just make Brighton a place you sleep when you go to work someplace else — care.” Mills and returning councilors Matt Johnston and Ann Tadeo were joined by incoming councilors Peter Padilla and Jan Pawlowski as they took their oaths of office and took their seats for the new term. They joined sitting councilors Adam Cushing, Mary Ellen Pollack and Tim Watts. City council veteran and former Police Chief Clint Blackhurst was also sworn, in despite not seeking re-election. Councilors selected Blackhurst to replace Councilor Kris Jordinelli after he submitted his resignation Dec. 3. Councilors also selected Cushing to act as mayor pro tem for the next two years. Come together Mills had a tougher-than-expected path to retain his seat, facing challengers Laurie Lozano Maier and Wayne Scott in November’s election. He and Lozano Maier moved on to a runoff after the two claimed the most votes. Mills had 3,599 in the November election, compared to Lozano Maier’s 2,682 and Scott’s 1,337. Mill was able to claim the win in the Dec. 7 runoff, collecting 2,751 votes — 54 percent of the total votes cast — compared to Lozano Maier’s 2,340 votes.
Newly sworn City Councilors join sitting members of Brighton City Council on the dais of the Brighton Armory Jan. 4 during the PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR council’s inaugural meeting.
At the Jan. 4 inauguration, Mills acknowledged his opponents, saying he talked to them after the elections. “They were great challengers, and we challenged each other this past fall,” Mills said. “But now is the time to come back together.” He urged residents to do the same. “The next four years, we have to get back to basics,” Mills said. “We have to address our needs. We have water needs, infrastructure needs, like our transportation needs. And you are going to see a lot of transportation decisions made this year, and water decisions too. All of us are going to be involved with them. Some might be hard decisions, but it’s time to build a better Brighton together.” In his address, Mills acknowledged how nervous he was at first, but said he thinks the city council did great things. He said he expects more. “I’m looking forward to the next four years,” Mills said.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
CLASSIFIEDS
Padilla, a city council newcomer, said he wants to help keep Brighton a wonderful place to be. “We need to acknowledge that
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Brighton Mayor Greg Mills is flanked by outgoing mayor pro tem Matt Johnston and incoming Councilor Peter Padilla Jan. 4 at the Armory during the City Council”s inaugural meeting.
LOCAL
3 •Freddy’s Steakburgers 4 comes to Praire View 14 19
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SPORTS • Schedules for local high school winter sports
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city that was a little farming community of 10,000 people when I SEE OATHS, P4
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