South Platte Independent 102121

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October 21, 2021

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

SouthPlatteIndependent.net

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 28

VOLUME 76 | ISSUE 50

Amid mask outrage, LPS candidates try to stay above fray Opinions vary, but board hopefuls call for following legal requirements BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Furor over masking policies in schools has swept across the Denver metro area as districts are faced with angry parents and shifting legal realities. In Douglas County, commissioners broke with the Tri-County Health Department to make their own health board, which recently ruled that students, faculty and staff could opt out of Tri-County’s mask mandate. The move comes after weeks of tense school-board meetings and protests. In Cherry Creek’s school board election, a candidate sued the district for not allowing her to remove her mask during forums. A federal judge ruled in the candidate’s favor.

The Littleton Public Schools Education Services Center, the district’s headquarters.

SEE MASKING, P34

COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS STREET VIEW

Littleton council candidates report new round of fundraising Kafer, running for at-large post, tops candidates in 2nd-round fundraising BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Candidates for Littleton City Council who led the pack in firstround fundraising reports have since reported lesser amounts in their second finance filings. Candidates had between Sept. 17 and Oct. 7 to report new donations and

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expenditures. Krista Kafer, candidate for an at-large seat, topped the pack in secondround fundraising with $9,615.22. Her opponent, Gretchen Rydin, who had outraised Kafer last period, reported $7,293.49, less than her initial contribution amount of $8,601.00. Outside the at-large race, the race for mayor saw Kyle Schlachter bring in nearly half the amount he reported last period with $5,700. Schlachter still has the most mon-

ey on hand of all nine candidates. Mayoral candidate Carol Fey, a council incumbent, reported raising $624, which is $1,026 less than she raised last period. Candidate Jon Buck, who reported raising just $225 last period, boosted his donations to $1,040 in the second round. Candice Ferguson, who is challenging incumbent Patrick Driscoll for his District 1 seat, outraised Driscoll last reporting period. But according to this round’s filings, Driscoll brought in $1,160 more SEE FUNDRAISING, P2

Meet your next mayor, at-large council member For the first time, Littleton residents are choosing their mayor directly in the election that ends Nov. 2. In the past, the city’s mayor — who is also a city council member — has been appointed by councilmembers. Three candidates are seeking the post: Jon Buck, a CEO of a nonprofit; Carol Fey, already on city council; and Kyle Schlachter, a marketing coordinator for a state industry board. Littleton Independent Community Editor Robert Tann profiles the three candidates inside on Pages 2, 4 and 6. You’ll also find his profiles of the two candidates for city council’s at-large seat, elected citywide — Krista Kafer and Gretchen Rydin — on Pages 8 and 10. Our Q&As with all city and school board candidates appeared in the Independent’s Oct. 7 print edition. You’ll also find them online at tinyurl. com/LittletonVoterGuide. There you’ll also find our campaign coverage, information on how to vote and more. Join us after the polls close Nov. 2 at LittletonIndependent. net as we bring you results of the election.

NEW PROMISE

Treatments mean shorter recovery from scoliosis P16


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