November 5, 2015
ENTER TO WIN
VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 12
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A ‘clean slate’ for Jeffco schools Voters recall incumbents, vote five new faces in By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Jefferson County School Board majority of Ken Witt, Julie Williams and John Newkirk are out, recalled by an overwhelming majority of voters. The results usher in an entirely new five-member board. “I don’t have a word for it — it was breathtaking to see the results come in so fast,” said John Ford, president of the Jeffco teachers union, before hugging his family on election night with tears in his eyes. Newkirk expressed his disappointment. “I’m feeling good that I got two good years in,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be able to have another two years to finish the job that I was elected to do. But you do what you can.” Slightly more than 45 percent of Jefferson County’s 399,918 registered voters turned out for the election. About 64 percent of those who cast ballots voted to recall the incumbents. “Of course, I’m disappointed in the results, but I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in Jeffco the last couple of years,” said board president Witt, who conceded soon after polling closed at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. “Sometimes, it’s difficult to be the reformer even when the reforms are embraced.”
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The recalled board majority was elected to office in November 2013 by approximately 39 percent of voters who cast ballots. Voter turnout then was 43.17 percent. Over the past two years, the majority has championed charter school funding and tying teacher pay-for-performance with a controversial evaluation system. Critics, including the teachers’ union, have criticized a lack of transparency, the hiring of Superintendent Dan McMinimee and board attorney Brad A. Miller. Other contested issues revolved around the review of the district’s Advanced Placement U.S. History curriculum, increased teacher turnover and a 10-month contract with the teachers’ union. The recall effort, spearheaded by parents Tina Gurdikian and Wendy McCord, garnered more than twice the number of signatures needed in a matter of weeks. The group gathered more than 33,000 signatures from Jeffco voters. McMinimee released a statement Tuesday night following election results. Schools continues on Page 5
Former Jeffco students Ashlyn Maher and Dylon Robinson-Ruet excitedly hug after hearing the news that the Jeffco school board majority of Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams were recalled. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Paul leads neck-and-neck race for Lakewood mayor Close count follows months of campaigning By Clarke Reader creader@colorado communitymedia.com
Mayoral race candidate Adam Paul, who as of Wednesday morning, had a narrow lead over Ramey Johnson, updates his supporters on results at a watch party at Baldoria on the Water on Nov. 3. Photo by Clarke Reader
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As of Wednesday morning, Adam Paul was eking out a 398vote lead over Ramey Johnson for the Lakewood mayor’s seat. Given the close vote count, Johnson said she was not yet ready to concede. “We ran a very hard campaign,” Johnson said, “and I’m proud of all the grassroots work we did.” Both candidates sit on council now — Paul in Ward 4 and Johnson in Ward 1.
Anti-establishment candidates come out ahead, taking four of the five Lakewood City Council seats. See story on Page 5 “It’s been a tight, tight race,” Paul said, “but we ran a clean, positive campaign for the future of Lakewood.” More than 45 percent of Jeffco voters cast ballots this year. In Lakewood, 20,320 voted for Paul, and 19,922 for Johnson. Numbers for turnout in Lakewood, specifically, were unavailable. According to the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office, that margin of victory would not currently trigger a mandatory vote recount. But
‘WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU’
Beth Clippinger, assistant to the Clerk and Recorder, cautioned that countywide between 5,000 to 7,000 ballots remain to be counted. “At this point, I wouldn’t see anything changing, but you never know,” Clippinger said. The mayoral battle was the most hotly contested race in the crowded city election, which drew 12 candidates for council seats. Mayor continues on Page 5
The West Metro firefighters of station no. 7, gather with Tessa, the daughter of Molly Meurer, last week. The firefighters helped Meurer through her delivery on Oct. 13. Meurer brought her daughter by the fire station to meet the crew that helped her come into this world. “I’m so grateful to them for the safety of myself and my daughter,” Meurer said. “They will always have a special place in my heart.” Said the baby’s father, Joe Maurer: “We just wanted to tell you guys thank you. It was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.” The firefighters, from left, are Chris McCullen, Kyle Loupee, Patrick Berry, Matt Araki and Charlie Heid. Photo by Clarke Reader