October 28, 2021
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 49
Just a few days left to vote in Centennial Residents choosing city leaders, school board members BY MARK HARDEN MHARDEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Health Department, Arapahoe County’s public health programs are likely to remain unaffected for now. But after the end of 2022 — when Douglas County could end its agreement with TriCounty Health and when Adams County expects to move to a new health department structure — the costs of Arapahoe and Adams counties pulling away from Tri-County could be in the
The last day to vote in the fall election is Nov. 2, just a few days away. If you haven’t voted yet and you want to have your ballot counted, now is the time to act. In this year’s election, Centennial voters are choosing city officials as well as school board candidates in the Cherry Creek or Littleton districts, depending on where you live in the city. Residents are voting for four city council members by district. The mayor, who is also a council member, is elected citywide. Current Mayor Stephanie Piko is running unopposed for re-election, as are candidates in council districts 2 and 3. The races in districts 1 and 4 are contested. This week, turn to Pages 2 and 4 for Centennial Citizen Community Editor Ellis Arnold’s profiles of the two candidates in west Centennial’s council District 1. As for school board races, if you live in west Centennial, you’re picking three Littleton board members from among five candidates. In central and east Centennial, you’re selecting two Cherry Creek school board members. To help you decide how to vote, the Centennial Citizen has information on candidates and issues online at tinyurl.com/ CentennialVotersGuide. There’s you’ll find Centennial and Cherry Creek candidate Q&As on the issues, candidate profiles, coverage of candidate forums and more. For information on Littleton school board candidates, go to tinyurl.com/LittletonVotersGuide. If you’re registered to vote, you should have received your ballot in the mail weeks ago. If you don’t have your ballot, contact the Arapahoe County Clerk’s office at 303-795-4511 or email elections@arapahoegov.com. By now it’s too late to mail your ballot back. In Centennial, you can drop it off at these locations:
SEE TRI-COUNTY, P12
SEE ELECTION, P20
The Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra during a 2019 performance.
COURTESY OF LISA COMSTOCK
‘A message of hope’ for shaken community Choirs join together for concert on teen suicide awareness BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Arapahoe High School choirs joined with the Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra for a concert Oct. 23 at St. Tim’s Episcopal Church in
Centennial to raise awareness of teen suicide, something that has rocked the high school for years. Since 2013, Arapahoe High School in Centennial, a Littleton Public Schools high school, has suffered nine student suicides that included two students who took their own lives just three days apart in 2018. For Kirk R. Schjodt, director of choirs for SEE CONCERT, P5
Tri-County Health exit could mean big costs later for Arapahoe, Adams But Arapahoe public health funding to stay stable for now BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With Douglas County setting off in its own direction on public health policy but still contracting to receive all services from Tri-County
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE
After polls close Nov. 2, visit ColoradoCommunityMedia. com for local election coverage and results.