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April 4, 2014 Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 19 A publication of
centennialcitizen.net
Brackney bids farewell to chamber Dozens turn out for former president’s presentation By Chris Rotar
crotar @coloradocommunitymedia.com
John Brackney used hats, including the one he is wearing here that he said represents “fun,” to make a variety of points during the “Farewell President’s Leadership Forum” at the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce in Centennial on March 28. Photo by Chris Rotar
As president of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, John Brackney wore many hats — literally and figuratively. During a farewell address of sorts, four days after announcing his resignation, Brackney used all manner of headwear to tell the story of what the chamber has meant to him. Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon and Littleton Mayor Phil Cernanec were among the dozens of public officials and chamber members gathered for the March 28 event at the chamber’s headquarters in Centennial. Brackney did not discuss why he
suddenly resigned March 24, nor did he talk about what his plans are. Neither was there any talk of the process for finding a replacement. This day was really about chamber members taking their hats off to Brackney. “If you’ve had a great leader, that leader has left you in dramatically better shape than when he came,” said Rick Whipple, CEO of WhippleWood CPAs and the chairman-elect of the chamber’s board of directors. “He has left the chamber in great shape.” The presentation began with Brackney unloading two large bags of hats, a motley assortment he had accumulated over the years, on a pair of tables. Over the next hour, he would wear them all. There was the multicolored hat that he said represents fun. There was the baseball cap with the City of
Centennial’s logo — a symbol that came to be after much hard work by Brackney and other chamber members helped secure the city’s incorporation in 2001. There was a hat with dreadlocks spilling out, one the former Arapahoe County Commissioner said represents diversity. “We should respect diversity,” Brackney said. “All these hats stand for different cultures and backgrounds.” Brackney shared symbolism in each hat. Some more examples: • A cowboy hat: “We’re straight shooters.” • A hard hat: “Please build something at the chamber.” • A winter cap: “When’s it’s cold, put on a hat and keep going.” • Swimming goggles: “Sometimes we don’t want to wear a hat.”
House passes budget Party divisions apparent when it comes to state spending plan By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Democrat-majority state House passed a $23 billion budget on March 28 that will increase funding for education, aid flood and wildfire victims, and will bolster reserves by stashing away millions in “rainy day” dollars. But only one Republican voted for the annual “long bill” as GOP members blasted DemoReport crats for not funding specific measures that are of importance to the minority party, including money for increased drunken driving penalties and what they are saying is not enough money for K-12 education. The passage of the 2014-15 fiscal year budget came on the heels of several hours of debate that spanned two days as lawmakers wrangled over a long bill that comes with more dollars than last year’s, thanks in part to a state economy that continues to gain steam. “We are in a better place, we can make investments, we can start putting back the pieces that were harmed in the great recession,” said House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
Capitol
Budget continues on Page 19
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As wildfire season approaches, several Colorado state lawmakers are pushing the state to secure its own aerial firefighting fleet. Republican state Sen. Steve King, Senate President Morgan Carroll and Senate Minority leader Bill Cadman are behind SB 14-164, a bipartisan effort that would give Colorado its own fleet. King and others hosted an open house on March 26 at Centennial Airport that featured a live water drop demonstration of the Martin Marietta C-130 Hercules Next Generation Airtanker, built by Coulson Aviation USA. Photo by Deborah Grigsby Smith/Centennial Airport
Legislators hope bill soars Special to CCM As wildfire season approaches, several Colorado state lawmakers are pushing the state to secure its own aerial firefighting fleet. Republican State Sen. Steve King, Senate President Morgan Carroll and Senate Minority leader Bill Cadman are behind SB
14-164, a bipartisan effort that would give Colorado its own firefighting fleet. King and others hosted an open house on March 26 at Centennial Airport that featured a live water drop demonstration of the Martin Marietta C-130 Hercules Next Generation Airtanker, built by Coulson Aviation USA. Last year, SB 13-245 created the Colorado Firefighting Air Corps, but the state
currently has no such aircraft. Should the new bill pass, it would permit the state, for the 2014 fire season, to purchase, lease, or contract for the use of up to three firefighting helicopters. For the 2015 fire season and beyond, the state could use up to four large aircraft from the federal government or other sources.
Eight vying for three SSPRD seats Election is May 6 By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com Stan Szabelak rounds out the ballot for the South Suburban Parks and Recreation Board of Directors election, to be held May 6. He joins Sally Daigle, Travis Nicks, John Watson and Tom Wood in challenging incumbents Michael Anderson, Pam Eller and John Ostermiller. SSPR maintains parks, open space, golf courses and recreation centers throughout the south-metro area, serving Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree, Centennial, Col-
POLLING CENTERS Littleton Golf & Tennis Center, 5800 S. Federal Blvd. Buck Community Recreation Center, 2004 W. Powers Ave. Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd. South Suburban Golf Course Clubhouse, 7900 S.
Colorado Blvd. Lone Tree Civic Center, 8527 Lone Tree Parkway Request a mail-in ballot any time before the election by calling 303-7985131 or at www.sspr.org. They must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, May 6.
umbine Valley and Bow Mar. Szabelak, an engineering manager with RTD who lives in the St. Mary’s neighborhood of Littleton, has resided in the district for 30 years. Like the other candi-
dates, he wants to keep the district safe, clean, aesthetically pleasing and financially sound. “My priority is to ensure that the elements that are part of our district are kept up and in a state of good repair,” he said. Whoever wins will join Sue Rosser and Scott LaBrash behind the dais. The fivemember nonpartisan board is elected at large to four-year terms, and members earn up to $1,600 a year. Regular meetings are held on the second Wednesday evening of the month, and study sessions on the fourth Wednesday. Meetings are in the Goodson Recreation Center Board Room, 6315 S. University Blvd., Centennial.