April 23, 2015 VO LUM E 12 6 | IS S UE 39 | 7 5 ¢
LittletonIndependent.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
WHAT’S INSIDE
LITTLETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT
Bright idea: Find out how Mackintosh students helped their school save money. See Page 2
Fresh ink: Think Tank opens doors in downtown Littleton. See Page 12
Puttin’ on the hits: Find out how local teams fared last week. See Page 17
Outgoing LPS Superintendent Scott Murphy reads with Field Elementary School students Andy Santos, center, and Tyler Bagnall. Courtesy photo
Leaving a lasting impression After a quarter of a century, Scott Murphy enters final weeks with the school district By Jennifer Smith POSTAL ADDRESS
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices.
very, very important to people.’
Retiring Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Scott Murphy began his career days with, literally, a bang. “At 12, my mom helped me start a fireworks stand,” remembers Murphy, now 62. “My first stand burned down, and I was in it. I had to be dragged out.” Fortunately, things improved after that for Murphy, who will retire in June. By 16, he had six employees and successful stands on each end of Lake Loveland. Raised by a single mom, a teacher, the venture paid for his bachelor’s degree in social work from Colorado State University. But he wanted a graduate degree, so he con-
Scott Murphy, Littleton Public Schools Superintendent tinued to find creative ways to supplement his income. At one point he went to work for a guy who repossessed items like TVs and furniture. “But here I am a social worker,” he said. “One day I went up, knocked on the door, and there was my client. I only lasted about three days.” While working toward his master’s in public
administration from the University of Colorado, he worked with youths in Boulder County for a time, and later with the Colorado Department of Education as an evaluation analyst. He eventually became the CDE’s director of community-based education. Murphy continues on Page 11
Businessman chosen to fill council seat Hopping gets unanimous approval to replace Stein By Jennifer Smith
DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m.
With all six city councilmembers in agreement, Bill Hopping is poised to be sworn in to replace Randy Stein at the end of Littleton City Council’s April 21 meeting. “Bill has the best blend of all the attributes,” said Councilmember Bruce Stahlman after naming Hopping his No. 1 choice. In fact, Hopping was the first choice for all six councilmembers out of the seven applicants interviewed on April 14. John Brinkley got second-place votes from
P LE A S E R ECYC L E T H I S C O PY
But at the same time, how we treat people is
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GE T SOCI AL WITH US
‘Academics are extremely important to people.
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Debbie Brinkman and Mayor Phil Cernanec; Peggy Cole and Bruce Stahlman chose Jeffrey Sales; Jerry Valdes went with Jerry Hill; and David Novinger was Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Beckman’s runner-up. Pam Chadbourne and Bill Chamberlin were the other applicants. Hopping, a Littleton High School graduate, lived in Coventry for several years until moving to his current home in Bow Mar South. Hopping He’s run his hotel and restaurant consulting firm out of his Main Street office for 15 years, meaning he both lives and works in the district he will now
represent. That’s given him ample opportunity to be attuned to the perspective of the downtown merchants, something that contributed to the downfall of his predecessor. “It’s an interesting balance,” he said, noting that the downtown merchants have an interest in city politics as retailers and revenuegenerators for the city, though the many who don’t live in Littleton can’t vote in city elections. “I don’t know if it would be foremost in my mind when I was talking to them if they’re a voter or not,” he said. “You’re always trying to talk about what’s best for the city.” Hopping got to know downtown even more intimately while serving 10 years on the city’s His-
toric Preservation Board, until 2013. He helped negotiate the controversial downtown historic district, which is a unique entity that allows property owners to opt in at their discretion. Most districts simply blanket an area whether the owners like it or not, and that was an epic point of contention in Littleton in 2005 as city and business leaders struggled to define what the district would be. Hopping remembers his very first meeting as a member of HPB in a packed and angry room, wondering what he’d gotten himself into. “The meeting did not go well,” he said. “We later pulled the recommendation back and worked for two years to get the district to where it is today. And we worked Hopping continues on Page 4