Arvada Press 101322

CD7 candidates explore wide-ranging topics

Voters have a chance to hear views during LWV forum

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The three candidates for Colorado’s 7th U.S. congressional district answered a host of questions from stopping gun violence to the U.S. economy during an online candidate

forum on Sept. 28.

Republican Erik Aadland, Libertarian Ross Klopf and Democrat Brittany Pettersen, who answered 15 questions during the forum, hope to be elected to the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by Ed Perlmutter, who decided not to seek reelection. Members of the House serve two-year terms.

In addition, as part of redistricting, which takes place every 10 years, the far-reaching district now

includes part of Douglas county plus all of Broomfield, Jefferson, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Lake, Park, Chaffee, Teller, Fremont and Custer counties.

This is the first election bid for Aadland, who is a West Point graduate, and served in Iraq and Afghanistan before working in the energy sector all over the world. Aadland called addressing out-of-control inflation by reining in government spending, curtailing crime includ-

Inside Je co Kids First, and Ganahl’s furor over students

ing securing the country’s southern border and restoring sound energy policy that balances with protecting the environment his top three priorities.

Klopf, who unsuccessfully ran for election in Colorado House District 28 in 2018, is a civil engineer with experience in transportation and water resources engineering. Klopf emphasized throughout the forum

Arvada City Council to vote on 12.3% water rate increase

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada’s City Council will vote on a 12.3% rate increase for water and wastewater (sewer) customers at the Oct. 17 business meeting.

According to Arvada’s Director of Utilities Sharon Israel, the proposed increase would amount to a roughly $19 increase per bimonthly bill cycle, which would help fund improvements to aging water infrastructure in the city.

BY RYLEE DUNN

RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Over the summer, the members of a Facebook group called Jeffco Kids First began shifting their concern away from pandemic policies in schools to identities it deemed disruptive to learning. A leading voice in the group told parents to empower their children to find “furries,” kids who dress up in animal accessories, and to record them.

“If any of your kids would be willing to record anonymous audio of their experiences with furries hissing, barking, clawing, chasing, and how it affects their school day,

please send to me or let me know ASAP!” Jeffco Kids First creator Lindsay Datko, a parent in Jefferson County Public Schools, posted.

Details like these have not been widely publicized because the Facebook group is private, meaning only members can see what is posted.

After being denied entry to the group, Colorado Community Media gained access through a member who wanted the group’s content to be public.

School officials say the group’s activities can be disruptive and harmful to kids. But it has some strong backers, including Heidi Ganahl, the Republican Party’s nominee in

this fall’s Colorado gubernatorial race. She’s also a member of the group.

“Boy, Jeffco Kids First has been such an impactful and amazing community, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of you over the past couple of years,” Ganahl said in a post in Jeffco Kids First. “You are warriors fighting for our kids every day in the classroom and in school. I want to be a voice for all of you.”

Ganahl has used the issue to spark furor during press interviews.

“Not many people know that we have furries in Colorado schools,”

The existing tier system would remain in place if the rate increase is passed by council, meaning that per bi-monthly cycle, tier 1 customers would pay $5.03 more per 1,000 gallons, Tier 2 customers $6.29 more per 1,000 gallons, Tier 3 customers $7.56 per 1,000 gallons, Tier 4 customers $10.07 per 1,000 gallons.

The wastewater rate increase would be $5.82 per 1,000 gallons (a 9.8% increase). A $4 bi-monthly service fee increase, and a $2 bimonthly wastewater service fee increase is also included in the proposal.

Arvada’s water rates have increased by between 2-4% annually in recent years, Israel said. She also stated that Arvada has historically low water rates, and

Ganahl said in a Sept. 24 KNUS radio interview.“Have you heard about this? Yeah, kids identifying as cats. It sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it’s happening all over Colorado and schools are tolerating it. It’s insane.”

Ganahl pointed to Jefferson County Schools in the interview.

While principals can act to minimize distractions at schools, like placing restrictions on disruptive attire, the tactics of Jeffco Kids First amount to an attack on children, School Board President Stephanie Schooley told Colorado Community Media.

“What I want is for people to stop demonizing our kids,” Schooley said. “That’s what I feel like has been happening, that in objecting to and playing some of these identity politics, our kids hear this language … and they don’t understand why people hate them for who they are, for how they were born and who they’ve become. They don’t understand and that is, psychologically, so very damaging. It makes my heart hurt.”

Inside Je co Kids First

Neither Datko nor Ganahl responded to Colorado Community Media’s requests for interviews about the Facebook group’s activities.

Last month, Datko urged the nearly 6,000 members of Jeffco Kids First to have their kids secretly record their classmates.

“The media is trying to spin this,” Datko wrote in the post.

A member of the group posted an additional suggestion: “go on tiktok and use the keywords furries and Colorado school.”

A Colorado Community Media search of TikTok found numerous posts where purported students in the state recorded videos of classmates, who seemed unaware they were being filmed dressed in costumes and accessories. Some posts contained threats against the students being filmed.

One post of a student apparently filmed without their knowledge contained the hashtag “#killfurrys.” Other posts harshly mocked the students.

Other TikTok posts showed kids who described being bullied for wearing furry costumes or being associated with furries. Some of them complained that they were targeted.

Several middle-school-aged students at one Jefferson County school who were interviewed for this story said “between 10 and 20” students occasionally dressed up in animal accessories at their school. The students said kids were wearing animal-themed accessories, such as headbands or tails.

The students said the accessories were not disruptive to their learning, as the students who dress up were not allowed to wear the accessories in a classroom setting.

The students added that few students wear such items to school and do it only occasionally. Moreover, the frequency had declined dramatically after their principal cautioned students against it, the students interviewed said. The students also described feeling stressed and fearful of other bullying, especially online.

“I think we need to decipher between what is a furry and a kid wearing cat ears,” one Jeffco parent told Colorado Community Media. “Is a furry a kid wearing cat ears or what I see adults in Olde Town Arvada wearing sometimes? A (sports) mascot could be considered a furry by this group’s definition.”

Every student and parent interviewed for this story asked to be anonymous because they fear retaliation. They asked that their school not be identified in the story for the same reasons.

Even members of Jeffco Kids First seem caught in the crosshairs. One posted an account of their own

child’s experience of dressing up.

“So, my daughter wanted to be a furry,” the Oct. 7 post said. “I didn’t give my opinion and just observed. She is shy and quiet. Her and her friend liked the movie, ‘Wonder’ because of the ability to hide. Their choice of animal was a raptor … They decorated it with fur and made it girly.

“When the boy next door heard my daughter was a ‘furry,’ he was disgusted,” the post continued. “I asked him why, and he said he doesn’t have time for that nonsense with all his sports … Well, my daughter now is moving away from furries because of the bad rap … My current view is that furries are still on the low here. I could be wrong.”

In response, one Jeffco Kids First group member wrote: “I appreciate the courage it took to post this.”

Is Je co Kids First anti-LGBTQ+?

The controversy swirling around “furries” has at times been linked to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, particularly gender identity issues, like the pronouns students use to identify themselves.

But observers of Jeffco Kids First, like Schooley, who is not a member of the group, are hesitant to call the group anti-LGBTQ+.

“Their group is large,” Schooley said. “I am always hesitant to put blanket statements out about large groups of people. What they put out as an organization, there’s nothing objectionable when you look at their graphic that says what they’re for, what they’re against.”

The graphic Schooley points to says Jeffco Kids First advocates

Graphic shared by Datko in Je co Kids First.

for “parental consent, classroom transparency, parental choice and respect, greater communication with teachers and schools, consideration of sensitive topics and student backgrounds’’ and “unity.”

The graphic says the group opposes “hate, division, veering from state standards and approved curriculum, removal of rights, removal of diversity, removal of resources and supports for students.”

Yet the group has questioned practices pertaining to transgender students. Founder Lindsay Datko posted a graphic: “Ask my child their name, not their pronouns,” and has cited Jefferson County Schools’ policy on controversial/ sensitive issues, arguing that gender identity falls into that category,

claiming that students are being forced to share pronouns against their will.

“Let’s think about something: Is asking every child their pronouns productive to the transgender community?” Datko posted on Sept. 26. “Students are forced in nearly every (if not every) secondary school.”

Schooley doesn’t consider gender identity something that falls under the controversial topics policy, which was last updated in 2013. It allows for students or parents to request alternative programming if they take issue with parts of the curriculum that represent ‘differing underlying values, beliefs, and interests’ from those of a parent or student.

“For me, the controversial topics policy is really to provide parents with the opportunity to understand what their kids are learning and content, and if that content is not something that they appreciate for

their child, to provide a process to have an alternative,” Schooley said. “I do not support, in any way, shape or form, having the identities of our students, their families or our staff be anywhere near the controversial issues policy.”

Jeffco Schools Board Treasurer Danielle Varda agrees.

“Some people have invoked the controversial topics policy in regards to concerns about asking kids about their preferred pronouns,” Varda said. “However, the policy only covers sensitive topics that may be covered in instruction and by the curriculum.”

Schooley added that, to her knowledge, no child in the Jeffco district is mandated to share pronouns and explained how making pronoun disclosure optional also protects LGBTQ+ students.

“If a student didn’t feel comfortable — and it’s not just students who object, who think it’s silly to

use pronouns, because I know there are people that prefer not to even consider them — and we also have students who are struggling with their gender identity and don’t want to declare ‘I’m this or that,’ because they don’t know yet,” Schooley said. “We want to be able to honor all of that spectrum, and we do that by making it optional. There are teachers that will ask. Students have no obligation.”

Schooley said some of the messaging from Jeffco Kids First has sparked some anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments from group members.

“My experience has been people writing me letters who are representatives of that group, not at the very top, but members of that group, and it is pretty harsh rhetoric in a lot of those letters,” Schooley said. “I would say that with that, it’s pretty clearly uncomfortable with having

Homes That Survived the Marshall Fire Were Airtight and Had ‘Conditioned’ Attics

One of the free lectures associated with the Oct. 1st tour of “green” homes was a fascinating presentation by Paul Kriescher of Bowman Consulting based on a study of the few homes which survived the Dec. 31st Marshall Fire while those around them burned to the ground.

You’ll recall that it was the hurricane-force winds that were responsible for the fast spread of the Marshall Fire. Flying embers were what caused homes to catch fire in rapid succession. According to Paul, there’s a simple reason why those embers didn’t torch certain houses. It was because they didn’t get inside the homes or their attics.

The standard developer-built homes are “leaky” and built with ventilated attics. As I have explained previously, the standard procedure for finding and sealing the places where air can enter your home is to conduct a “blower-door test.” This involves installing a computerized fan in a doorway and sucking the air out of a house. The computer on that fan will tell you how leaky your house is — how many air changes per hour your home can expect during a certain wind speed. While that fan is operating, the technician can go through your house and determine all the places where air is coming into your home so that

they can be caulked or otherwise sealed.

Many of those places are going to be around windows or on the rim joist — where your floor joists rest on the concrete foundation.

The goal is to get your home to a degree of air tightness at which you achieve two air changes per hour or less. Once you achieve that degree of air tightness, you then install an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to bring filtered outside air into your home while expelling air from your home. Making your living quarters more air tight can keep burning embers from entering your home. Combine that with having noncombustible exterior siding, decks and landscaping, and you go a long way toward preventing burning embers from being sucked into your home — and to keeping ash and smoke from making your home unlivable if it doesn’t burn down.

But the most critical area to seal is your attic. Your home probably has an attic which is vented. Blown-in insulation sits on your attic floor to keep your living quarters warm in the winter, while soffit vents combine with roof vents to draw outside air through your attic. This controls moisture buildup but is also ideal for draw-

Price Reduced on Downtown Denver Loft

If you're looking for loft living, this is as good as it gets! Walk to EVERYTHING in Downtown Denver from this 1,170-sq.ft. loft at 2000 Arapahoe St. #204 — Coors Field, the Performing Arts Complex, 16th Street Mall, Lodo, Union Station, shopping, restaurants, and light rail, including the A-line to DIA. The 12-foot ceilings and four massive pillars, plus HUGE windows to nearby skyscrapers -- this is the loft life you've been looking for! You could rent out two of the three garage spaces for $150-200 each, too! This is a rare opportunity, so act fast. More photos at www.DenverLoft.info. Call your agent or Jim Smith at 303-525-1851

Just

Ranch Home in

This beautifully updated 4-bedroom ranch at 11152 W. Crestline Drive is in the Sunrise Creek subdivision of unincorporated Jefferson County, east of Simms Street and south of Belleview Avenue. The updated eat-in kitchen (with breakfast bar, too) has gorgeous light colored slab granite countertops and is open to the family room. A sliding glass door from the dining area of the kitchen opens to a large pergola-covered patio overlooking the backyard, which is fully fenced and makes excellent use of the quarter-acre corner lot. The partial basement is fully finished, providing an extra bedroom, bathroom and second family room. The narrated video walk-through, narrated by Jim Smith, will give you a good understanding of just how excellent a home this could be for you! Find it and more photos and info at www. LittletonHome.online, then come to the open house this Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ing burning embers into your attic which can then light your entire house on fire.

Some builders have switched to building homes with “conditioned” attics, meaning that the underside of the roof is insulated and all vents eliminated. Thus, the attic itself is insulated like the rest of the house. With no vents in your attic, those flying embers blow past your house instead of entering it.

There’s a subdivision in Arvada built by Meritage Homes called Richards Farm. It’s on the north side of 72nd Avenue, across from the Apex Center. Our agents were invited to tour it while it was under construction, and the builder showed us their conditioned attics. The reason the attics were conditioned had nothing to do with fire prevention. They were running heat ducts through the attic, and by insulating the attic, it made the ducts more efficient.

But now we know the most important reason for conditioning an attic, and I bet we’ll see building codes changed to require conditioned attics.

I learned another disadvantage of vented attics from participating in the 1993 Jimmy Carter Work Project, which built 28 Habitat for Humanity homes on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Those one-story homes all had vented attics. Within months of completing those homes there was a blizzard which filled the attics of those homes with snow, which entered throught he soffit vents. The snow then melted, causing the drywall ceilings to fall, causing immense damage. The homes had to be vacated and rebuilt on the inside the very next summer. The reservation had no building codes to follow, but if it did it would probably not allow vented attics.

Volunteer Sought to Help With Styrofoam Corral

As you may know, we operates a “Styrofoam Corral” behind our former office building at 17695 S. Golden Rd. It is so popular that we take as many as three truckloads of the material to the recycling center every month, keeping over 300 cubic yards out of landfills.

Operating the corral requires daily attention, which I am happy to provide, but I could use some help,

especially when I go on vacation — and Rita and I have a vacation coming up in December.

If you are passionate, as we are, about keeping Styrofoam out of landfills, give me a call at 303-525-1851. I’d like to meet you at the corral some day and show you what’s involved in servicing the corral and take you with me to the recycling center.

Just Listed: Fabulous East Denver Home

He has replaced

front lawn with a fabulous array of annual and perennial flowers and bushes. A raised bed garden is on the east side of the house, and there’s a flagstone patio with firepit in the backyard. Inside, you’ll like the hardwood on both the 1st & 2nd floors and on the stairs. This is a 2002 Richmond American home built on the former grounds of Lowry Air Force Base. It’s a large home with four bedrooms, four baths, and 4,716 finished square feet. It has three gas fireplaces, including one in the master suite. Take a narrated video tour at www.DenverHome.info, then come to the open house this Sunday, October 16th, 11am to 1pm.

Congratulations to Chuck Brown,

Autumn achievers

and Bridgit Co man’s scarecrow

crows

Winners were announced Oct. 8 at Olde Town Arvada’s Festival of Squarecrows. Scarecrows

INCREASE

the increase would still put the city in the bottom third of Den-

winner

were placed around Olde Town, and attendees voted on their favorites.

ver metro area municipalities in terms of water bill cost.

Israel added that Arvada has two water treatment plants; the Ralston Water Treatment Plant, which was built in the 1960s, and the Arvada Water Treatment

Sixteen-month-old Cash Koch was announced as the winner of the giant vegetable contest during Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows Oct. 8. His pumpkin weighed in at 72 pounds.

plant, built in the 1980s.

Brad Wyant, the Ralston Water Treatment Plant’s water treatment manager, said the infrastructure in those two plants was only designed to last 50 years and needs reinvestment to continue to

function.

Editor’s note: A more detailed look at the proposed water increase will appear online the week of Oct. 10 at Arvadapress.com and in print in the Oct. 20 edition of the paper.

the letters

talked about with

“To me, is it anti-LGBTQ+? The letters I’ve received were,” Schooley continued. “I’m not calling the entire group that. That’s not fair at all, but the letters I’ve received, some of them were specifically very hard to read.”

Colorado Community Media intends to file a Colorado Open Records Act request for the letters.

Jeffco Schools Executive Director of Communications Kimberly Eloe said that the district did not promise to review or change any district policy after meeting with representatives of Jeffco Kids First, despite posts in the group claiming otherwise.

When Colorado Community Media asked Jeffco Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland for a comment on this story, a statement from the district’s communications department was issued without attribution to Dorland or the opportunity to interview her.

“Jeffco Public Schools has district policy around appropriate dress code,” it states. “If clothing is disruptive, district policy gives the principal power to place restrictions on it, this would include students dressing in costume. We do not have litter boxes in schools.”

Lindsay Datko, in her own words Datko did not respond to interview

requests from Colorado Community Media. However, in audio obtained from an Oct. 4 forum hosted by Datko for Republican political candidates, Datko explains the proliferation and evolution of Jeffco Kids First.

Datko said that the group began in 2020 in response to COVID-19 policies and lobbied the school district and the county health department to relax restrictions on students in the early months of the pandemic.

She claimed that other issues, including what she calls parental transparency, had come to her attention during this time, but she waited to shift the focus of Jeffco Kids First out of fear of losing members.

“We kept pushing it off and pushing it off because we had such a clear mission to fulfill at that time during the pandemic,” Datko said of parental transparency. She said she warned group members, “’We know we might lose you; we’re going to turn to these issues and that will be sad, but if you’ll stay, we’d love your perspective and you’ve been such a value.’”

Datko then called Jeffco’s curriculum “appalling” and defined parental choice in her own words.

“Books and literature that are presented, curriculum that’s used … it’s appalling,” Datko said. “It’s shocking. It’s very important that we push for parental choice in every regard. Parental choice consists of being able to move schools, to have a say in controversial topics and what’s asked of our students on survey, that policy is followed, that policy keeps order, that policy keeps families safe and secure. And it’s

being broken right and left.”

Varda, the school board treasurer and a Jeffco parent, said her experience differs from Datko’s.

“I’m proud to be a parent in a District that has overwhelming support for these values and beliefs, and although some groups will say otherwise and try to cast doubt, my experience has been one of transparency and support for the unique needs and identities of my kids,” Varda said.

Schooley said the district has a duty to be clear about its policies and practices, but the engagement from members of Jeffco Kids First isn’t always conducive to discussion.

“I think it’s regrettable that sometimes it feels like in this call for more transparency, greater parent engagement and their pillars, it does feel like there’s not a whole lot of room for conversation,” Schooley said. “That if the district is doing something that parents don’t like, it becomes a very immediate offensive act, a nefarious thing. There’s automatically an ill-intent that’s assigned to it, and I find that challenging because I don’t know where to go with that.”

Schooley also said she is open to conversations and has conversed with “anyone who has asked.”

On Oct. 4, Datko maintained that Jeffco Kids First is a bipartisan group and declared that she would continue to pursue her version of parental transparency.

“Hopefully they can see though that we don’t always agree, we are united behind choice, and we can honor the choices of everybody and fight for that,” Datko said. “And

that’s what we’re doing. That’s our new mission.”

‘All the crazy, weird, sometimes awkward and phenomenal experiences of being a kid’

Datko has this year been touted as one of the Ganahl Gals, a women’s group that aims to help Ganahl beat Democrat Jared Polis in the November election.

Ganahl’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Varda, a mother of three and a tenured professor at the University of Colorado-Denver, said the furry issue is much ado about nothing. She emphasized that students are young and exploring their lives in

Meet Mazy

Dog (#224076): Mazy is a 7-year-old, female American Pit Bull Terrier mix. With a twinkle in her amber eyes and an endearing smile, this adorable girl is eager to find an active family (with children aged 10 or older) that will indulge her strong desire to make new friends and to do so in a way that’s comfortable for her – a handsy, overly familiar or intrusive greeting can cause her

JEFFCO KIDS

and authentic, according to

research.

“I am certain that when we give kids not only the academic tools

need to achieve but also meet their social and economic barriers

resources, support, assurances of belonging and love, we will see accelerated learning, improved outcomes and long-term opportunities for success,” Varda said.

Schooley said that while the efforts of Jeffco Kids First have garnered significant media attention and sidetracked district employees, far more letters from the community came in to bolster support for students.

“Once there was an awareness that this group was initiating this letter-writing campaign, we did start getting a lot of letters from parents, community members, students — there were a lot of students that

wrote in — alums of Jeffco schools, very, very grateful and protective of things like Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in schools, over safe spaces and trusted adults in schools that students can talk to that are LGBTQ friendly, around policies that provide supports and some protections for students,” Schooley said.

“It was pretty overwhelming, that response,” Schooley continued. “It was significantly more emails (that)

came in in support of affirming practices than otherwise. Which was great, to me, that’s my value set. I think people mobilized around that out of concern that the district would only hear one perspective and it would be not good for kids.”

The board is in the process of reviewing legal advice pertaining to the policy on controversial topics. If enough board members feel it should be reworked, there could be public hearings.

Schooley said students need support to be themselves.

“There are a whole lot more people in their corner who are ready to provide support,” Schooley said. “It’s like Parasol Patrol, I will be your umbrella; there are lots of us who want to provide a barrier so you can be a kid and you can go through all the crazy, weird, sometimes awkward and phenomenal experiences of being a kid and umbrellas are open to protect you from those things because there is zero reason

why our children should be hearing that about themselves. To me, it’s pretty unconscionable.”

Editor’s note: Lindsay Datko contacted Colorado Community Media after online publication of this story to seek a retraction, stating that she sought “anonymous verbal statements from children.” Datko disagreed with the article’s sentence, “Datko urged the nearly 6,000 members of Jeffco Kids First to have their kids secretly record their classmates.” Screenshots from the group show she made that request. Datko confirmed to Colorado Community Media that she received pictures of students but indicated to the group that she has not used them.

Screenshot of Datko’s post in Je co Kids First asking parents to have their children record classmates.

FACEBOOK SCREENSHOT

MEET YOUR JEFFERSON COUNTY ELECTION CANDIDATES

Je co Assessor candidate profiles Libby Szabo, Republican

nies as IBM, Microsoft, GE, Oracle, Transamerica, Sun Microsystems and Ford.

Why are you running for Assessor?

I ran four years ago because I thought the office needed new leadership. In my first term, we have dramatically improved the website, and dramatically reduced the percentage of property owners who feel the need to file an appeal. We have embarked on an aggressive plan to improve technology and digitize the office. I am running again because the work isn’t finished. You don’t transition from decades of paper to digital files overnight. You can’t replace enterprise software quickly. Sometimes an office needs change, and sometimes it needs stability and continuity.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

I have four years of experience running the office, improving pro-

sis to streamline our work. We’ve developed better data analytics in order to work smarter and more accurately. My biggest strength is identifying leaders and ensuring they are in positions of leadership.

Why do you want to return to work for Je erson County government?

I don’t work for Jefferson County government. I work for the residents and taxpayers of the County. I consider myself a fiduciary of the taxpayers’ money. State law spells out the duties of the office. We need to do those things well, and do them at the lowest possible cost.

The office spends less today than it did four years ago under the prior administration. In spite of giving raises and investing in state-of-theart technology, we have returned $597,000 to the general fund under my watch. Working for the taxpayers is an honor and a sacred trust.

Libby served five years in the State Legislature and six years as County Commissioner.

Why are you running for Assessor?

I am running for assessor to bring a balance to county government. The average citizen needs someone to advocate for their hard-earned money. For too long, the concerns of average citizens have been ignored. We need to remember the County serves its citizens, which provides the tax base that funds the County budget.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

My biggest strength is that I am already very familiar with the County and State government structure. I know how things work and where to focus my work on day one. I can hit the ground running on your behalf.

Why do you want to return to work for Je erson County government?

I have deep roots in Jefferson County growing up here I have

ever position I hold and have always

has always been an honor to serve you, my neighbor.

How do you see the role of Assessor working with other departments and o ces in Je erson County?

It is important for county-elected officials to have a vision for the needs of our constituents. Citizens are who we work for. I will work diligently to make sure that the citizens of Jefferson County are of primary importance. Your team at the county will know that I hold the citizens of the county as my number one consideration in decision-making and will encourage them to do the same.

Anything else you want voters to know?

My background is in the mortgage lending and financial services industry, coupled with my knowledge of what it takes to run a small business, means I understand the big picture needs of the Assessor office in county government. I will advocate for reasonable financial policies that allow citizens to thrive.

Je co clerk & recorder candidate profiles

Amanda Gonzalez, Democrat

Bio: Amanda Gonzalez is an attorney and nationally recognized elections expert who lives in Arvada. She has served as a policy analyst, community organizer, staff attorney, professor, CEO and nonprofi t executive director – always with the goal of creating more inclusive, fair, and transparent governments, businesses and communities.

Why are you running for clerk and recorder?

Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder is one of the most important offi ces in the county. The Clerk conducts elections, directs the county’s DMVs, and issues marriage licenses in addition to a number of other important administrative tasks and records keeping. As Coloradans have seen on the national and local level, protecting our voting systems is more important than ever. All Jefferson County residents deserve elections and government processes that they can trust. I’m an attorney, elections expert, and former small business CEO; I want to use that expertise to serve the county where I’ve lived since 2012.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

For most of my career I have worked to build systems that protect the health of our democracy – a democracy where everyone is engaged, represented and heard. I’ve helped write and pass laws at the state level that expanded the number of ballot drop boxes in our state, increased the number of counties that offer translated ballots to voters, increase transparency so that voters can better understand who is spending money to infl uence their vote, and helped keep guns out of polling places. I’ll bring voting and elections policy expertise while prioritizing fairness and transparency.

What are your thoughts on recent controversies about election security in the country?

Protecting our voting systems from attacks shouldn’t be a partisan issue. For our democracy to work, voters must have confi dence in the system and I will work to protect the integrity of our elections. Colorado currently has some of the safest and most accessible elections in the county and we should be proud of our elections system while working for continual improvement. In 2020 I ran the state’s largest nonpartisan election protection effort – bringing together Democrats, Republicans, and unaffi liated voters to make sure that the right to vote was protected for every eligible voter.

Amanda Gonzalez

What would you do to encourage more voter participation, and why do you think that’s important?

Our democracy is strongest when we all participate. Every eligible voter should have a say in the people and policies that impact their lives. I would expand opportunities for community input, dedicate resources to community outreach and education, and ensure that Voter Service and Polling Centers and drop boxes are accessible to all voters – including people who live in more rural parts of Jeffco, people who live in parts of our community who are underserved by transit, and those who have been historically disenfranchised.

Anything else you want voters to know?

For the last four years I’ve focused exclusively on good government and protecting the right to vote – in a time when bad actors are trying to compromise our elections we need an expert with voting rights expertise and leadership experience. I’ve been recognized as a leader in my community, I was the 2015 Colorado Hispanic Bar Association’s Outstanding New Hispanic Lawyers and one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2019, and I want to use those leadership skills to bring our community together. I believe we all want a democracy that works for everyone.

Vicki Pyne, Republican

Bio: My husband and I moved to Colorado in 1986. We are the proud parents of 5 beautiful kids, and grandparents to 8.5 amazing grandkids. We have a small business, I work for a nonprofit, and am currently President of the Board of Directors for Apex Park and Recreation District.

Why are you running for Clerk & Recorder?

The Clerk and Recorder’s Office connects with every adult in the county through motor vehicles, licensing, recording documents, passports, or voting. I have lived in the county for 35 years, raised my family here, and volunteered in multiple capacities. This is an important office. I want to use my experience and expertise to improve processes, offer the best services possible, and improve the systems that are in place. That includes bringing back drop-in services to the DMV in addition to the appointment system, eliminating kiosk fees for users, and assuring a secure voting process for all registered voters.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

This position includes oversite of multiple processes. I am confident in my ability to oversee and improve these. Additionally, I have experience in budget oversight, program development, management, and policy creation and implementation. These are valuable qualities in a candidate. Most importantly in my mind, is a genuine love and appreciation of my community with a desire to make everyone feel accepted, valued, and heard. In taking this position, I want the opportunity to help people, to respond to their needs, and to improve the experience they have in the offices they pay for with their hard-earned tax dollars.

What are your thoughts on recent controversies about election security in the country?

I don’t think there is any question that every citizen wants a secure and legal election. I am not concerned by people asking questions and wanting answers. I think questioning systems is healthy because we are then motivated to improve processes. When we are in trouble, is when people stop asking or caring. I do know, as a county, we can be better at cleaning up the voter rolls. This would not only assure one vote per legal voter, but it would also be fiscally responsible, and that is not controversial.

Vicki Pyne

What would you do to encourage more voter participation, and why do you think that’s important?

I have five kids, and this is what I said to them: A lot of lives were lost to earn the freedoms and rights we have. A lot of sacrifices have preserved those freedoms and rights. It is the duty of every citizen to vote and have their voice involved in the work of our Republic. I also have been known to say if you don’t vote you don’t have the right to complain, which I say with a smile, but I am serious. Increasing community engagement and voter registration is a priority any Clerk and Recorder should have.

Anything else you want voters to know?

I have served six years on the Board of Directors for Apex PRD. The opportunity to provide programming to every member of our community, responding to their needs, has been a highlight. We are experiencing difficult economics which requires thoughtful consideration of each dollar spent. When I decided to run, I decided raising money for a lasting benefit would mean more than raising money for mailers and robocalls. I set up donations on my website, vickiforjeffco.com, to go straight to Apex PRD, earmarked specifically for an all-abilities playground. If I am elected, I will be honored to serve Jefferson County.

Je co commissioner candidate profiles

Lesley Dahlkemper, Democrat

Donald Rosier, Republican

Bio: Lesley has called Jeffco home for 27 years and lives in south Jeffco with her family. As your county commissioner, Lesley provides leadership statewide and locally on some of the most pressing issues facing our community including wildfi re risk reduction, opioid prevention, economic development, early childhood education and more.

Why are you running for county commissioner?

Our family has called Jefferson County home for 27 years. It’s a great place to raise a family, start a business, enjoy the outdoors, or retire. As the gateway to the Rockies, Jefferson County offers a quality of life that’s unparalleled. I’m running for re-election because I believe in improving lives and building opportunity across our county. I have a proven track record of successfully addressing wildfire risk reduction, attracting jobs, supporting local businesses, protecting our public lands, increasing trails and open space, fighting the opioid epidemic, and promoting safe, inclusive communities.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

For me, success in work and life hinges on integrity, trust, and relationships. It’s about asking questions, seeking different perspectives, listening, and finding common ground. Count on me to bring these skills to the table to find workable, lastingsolutions for our commu-

nity. I know how to build coalitions to tackle some our most pressing issues, including wildfire risk, the opioid epidemic, and COVID recovery. I’ve increased community involvement in the county’s budget decision-making process, too. My experience as a former business owner, journalist, and nonprofit leader has been devoted to improving outcomes in our community and statewide.

As a commissioner, what would you do to support economic development in Jefferson County?

As a former small business owner, I know a robust local economy depends on understanding businesses’ needs and workforce demands. My work with local Chambers of Commerce and on the Jeffco EDC Board ensures we’re attracting new companies to Jeffco, connecting employers and job seekers with the help of our Workforce Center, and leveraging federal COVID recovery dollars. Our online permitting process cuts red tape for businesses. I’m proud of our recent public-private partnership creating a renewable energy park to advance emerging technologies – bringing hundreds of new jobs to Jeffcoand an opportunity to serve as Colorado’s renewable energy hub.

Do you see the county taking a role in a Jefferson County homeless shelter?

Jefferson County alongside Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster and Wheat Ridge, in

Bio: As a 5th generation Coloradoan and Jeffco native (born and raised in Arvada), my roots run deep in our state and county. I have been married to the same wonderful woman for 32-years, father to 3 great kids, I am a registered professional civil engineer, and former 2-term county commissioner.

Why are you running for county commissioner?

I am very concerned with the direction of the county and the actions taken by the commissioners over the past few years. With the over regulation and everchanging rules stifling small business, their desire to raise taxes as the county and the nation suffers from the worst inflationary pressure in over40-years, to their decision to underfund the Sheriffs department, Jefferson County needs a leader who listens to them and represent their interests. I am that proven leader who listens to and engages with the community all while working to develop solutions to our critical needs.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

As a former 2-term (8-year) Jeffco commissioner, small business owner, and professional civil engineer, I know what the job entails and can immediately address the issues that need attention on day one. I have a proven track record of actions that streamlined county operations, reduced taxes, increased economic vitality and improved the health

safety and well being of residents across the county. I am a proven servant leader.

As a commissioner, what would you do to support economic development in Jefferson County?

From proposing and then implementing the Countywide Economic Development plan during my first year as commissioner and serving on the board of the Jeffco Economic Development Corporation, working with the many county-based companies to expand all while encouraging new industries to locate within Jeffco, I have the real-world experience and proven results needed to keep Jeffco competitive in today’s economic climate.

Do you see the county taking a role in a Jefferson County homeless shelter?

Over the past few years, Jeffco has seen a significant rise in the homeless population. Weather due to mental health issue, addiction, escaping an abusive situation or financial impacts, the homeless situation in Jeffco and the surrounding communities needs to be address. However, this should not be just a County Government centric activity. With all the great non-profits and faith-based organizations in the area, the county should work with these knowledgeable and experienced groups to encourage and promote an action plan. Non-profits

have a proven tract record of pro-

Je co sheri candidate profiles

Ed Brady, Republican

Bio: I am a Deputy Chief of Police with the Arvada Police Department where I have served for 28 years. I’ve received executive training through Northwestern University, Boston University and nationally assess other police agencies. My wife and I have four children and she is a principal in Jeffco Public Schools.

In light of the recent nationwide spike in crime, without talking about the state, federal government or anyone else, what would you do to bring crime numbers down in Je co if you were elected Sheri ?

Colorado has experienced a crime tsunami over the last 10 years. Over that time, crime increased by 28%; the murder rate doubled; there were record high fentanyl overdose deaths; and we have the highest motor vehicle theft rate in the nation. As the next Sheriff, I will work to make the County safer in a number of ways. I will insist that public safety be a priority in the Commissioners’ budget; implement data driven approaches to address crime; and keep highly trained SROs in schools. Through data and input from the community, we will spot and address emerging crime quickly.

In the wake of recent, highly-publicized mass shooting events and increased gun violence, what is your position on Colorado’s red flag law? Would you enforce it?

The Jeffco Sheriff’s office has a policy that carefully weighs the rights of people to be free from unreasonable search / seizure, with the rights of people to be free from acts of violence. Our U.S. Constitution provides for the right to bear arms. The Sheriff complies with statutory mandates to serve civil process, without qualifiers. The emergency order would be served, only if approved by a judge after evidence was reviewed in Court. My deputies will be present in Court to provide factual information about the responder’s conduct during the contact. I will continue the current policy of the Sheriff’s Office.

Outgoing Sheri Shrader was a vocal proponent of guns. He is in favor of both open and concealed carry in Je co’s parks and recreation areas. What is your position on allowing open and concealed carry of firearms in the county’s public parks?

Law-abiding citizens have a right to protect themselves and their families. These same law-abiding citizens should not have to worry about which side of the street they are on or which park they are in as to whether or not they can protect themselves and carry a firearm. Law-abiding citizens are not the problem and restrictions on their lawful and Constitutional rights do not make our community safer.

Additionally, the ban in the parks would have been a civil violation and Sheriff’s deputies should be spending their time enforcing criminal violations impacting the community.

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for both the Sheri ’s O ce and general law enforcement in the county right now, and in the years ahead?

(See next question)

How do you plan to address those challenges?

There are several challenges for law enforcement in the state to include record crime rates, budgetary issues, police morale, recruitment and retention issues. I will address crime through data driven approaches and insist that public safety is a priority in the County budget to support law enforcement operations and jail services. I will also advocate for legislation that enhances community safety. I believe in the mission of the men and women in blue and will support them by seeking competitive pay and benefits, training and an environment that advocates for their mission of community safety and protecting victims.

Following the recent tragedy in Uvalde, TX., disturbing reports of procedural errors in the tactical response were made public. What can the Sheri ’s O ce do to protect Je co students from experiencing a similar incident and outcome?

Many years ago, my department, Arvada PD, began training officers to respond to active shooter events. These trainings include Single Officer Response, Rapid and Immediate Deployment (RAID); and Rescue Task Force. These trainings teach officers to respond as a single officer, or with a team of officers to address a shooter who is actively

Regina Marinelli, Democrat

Bio: Reggie Marinelli is a 36year veteran with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offi ce. Reggie has written and overseen policy, contracts, and grants. She assisted in the development of the agencies’ accreditation process. Reggie teaches statewide. She’s a national consultant for The Moss Group, teaching cultural change in reference to the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

In light of the recent nationwide spike in crime, without talking about the state, federal government or anyone else, what would you do to bring crime numbers down in Jeffco if you were elected Sheriff?

It is my goal to centralize services within the county, allowing us to prioritize Deputies on the street. Using data, we will then deploy deputies into high-risk areas. We must also listen to our citizens to make sure that our areas of concern are in line with theirs.

We will utilize evidence-based programs throughout the Sheriff’s Offi ce, which will reduce the rates of repeat offenses.

We will use performance measurements to guide and ensure progress with any approaches we implement.

In the wake of recent, highly-publicized mass shooting events and increased gun violence, what is your position on Colorado’s red flag law? Would you enforce it?

If there is cause to request an extreme risk protection order, we will enforce it regardless of any personal opinions. Because families know their loved ones better than any offi cer, we should cooperate with the family whenever possible, but each case is unique and must be handled as such. We must do everything we can to keep our citizens safe, which is why I would like to see mental health services intertwined with this law.

Outgoing Sheriff Shrader was a vocal proponent of guns. He is in favor of both open and concealed carry in Jeffco’s parks and recreation areas. What is your position on allowing open and concealed carry of firearms in the county’s public parks?

My position is that the job of the Sheriff is to enforce the laws that are in place, not just those they like.

If JeffCo Open Space, or any other district, chooses to prohibit concealed weapons within their boundaries, we will respect their right to do so and enforce the law as it is written.

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for both the Sheriff’s Office and general law enforcement in the county right now, and in the years ahead?

support signifi cantly impact the retention of staff. The county is losing the expert knowledge that comes from having a seasoned work force. I will change that.

The biggest challenge in law enforcement right now is building trust and engagement with the community. I believe that the best way to improve that relationship is to cultivate and retain the best possible staff.

How do you plan to address those challenges?

I will put our recruiters to work attracting the best candidates available. We will then provide them with the most effective training possible. We will develop the tools and partnerships needed to meet the expectations of our citizens, and to allow our offi cers to serve with dignity and respect.

Following the recent tragedy in Uvalde, TX., disturbing reports of procedural errors in the tactical response were made public. What can the Sheriff’s Office do to protect Jeffco students from experiencing a similar incident and outcome?

While we should always learn from others’ experience, I have learned not to speculate on sensational headlines until all of the facts have been investigated.

The people of JeffCo have learned all too many times that our focus should be on honestly fi nding out how and why these events occur so that we can prevent them in the future, rather than rushing to fi nd someone to blame, possibly in error, only to suffer another incident that should have been prevented.

It is time that we partner with schools, mental health experts, and any other entity that can

Je co coroner candidate profile: Annette Cannon, Democrat

Bio: Dr. Cannon currently is the Jefferson County Coroner and is an RN with over 35 years of experience. Her education includes an MSN in Nursing, MA in Management, and a PhD in Healthcare Administration. She has experience as a Psychiatric nurse, Forensic nurse, and as a Nurse Educator and Leader, and was previously an NREMT. She is certified as a Medicolegal Death Investigator through ABMDI.

Why are you running for Coroner?

As your Jefferson County Coroner, I am running for re-election to continue serving the people of Jeffco and to continue with the great strides that have been made since I was elected in 2018. The people of Jeffco deserve to have a coroner’s office that is professional, competent, and compassionate. To me, there is also something very special about keeping commitments, along with being a custodian for the deceased, and a custodian of justice.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

My biggest strength as a candidate is my years of experience as your Coroner, my certification and experi-

ence as a death investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators and the Colorado Coroners Association, my medical background and training, my management experience, and my experience as an RN and as a forensic Nurse. I am very committed and dedicated to my role as Jeffco Coroner, and serving with professionalism, honesty, and compassion.

How do you plan to recruit enough qualified people to work for your office, and how do you plan to retain current employees?

I plan to recruit enough qualified people to work in my office by continuing to adhere to the standards and qualifications required by certifications through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators and the expectations for experience and education set by the office. I plan to retain current employees by continuing to provide them with a great working environment, addressing their needs, and by continuing to advocate for them on a personal and career level. I will continue a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion for all staff and have an expectation of respect for one another.

Do you think the Coroner’s office should have a role in informing/educating on public health trends?

I think the Coroner plays an important role in both informing and educating on public health trends. We provide statistics to other departments and reporting systems on a regular basis. We collaborate with Jeffco Public Health on many levels, but we also provide education and training to the public, schools, colleges, organizations, law enforcement, fire and EMS, businesses, and the district attorney’s office, along with any other requests we receive from the public. We provide statistics on our website for the public and we are available to answer any questions.

Anything else you want voters to know?

I take my role as Coroner very seriously. I have been active, engaged, and transparent in these very turbulent, unprecedented times, to reach a higher level of professionalism and to gain recognition in the community, and among other coroner offices. I have provided safety, stability, and a high level of ethics in a time of increasing mass fatality deaths, and increasing

demands and pressure from the public and media. I continue to advocate for the office and staff, and remain dedicated to my position as your Jeffco Coroner.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Republican coroner candidate Matt Archuleta did not respond to Colorado Community Media’s request for a Q&A.

Je co Treasurer candidate profiles

Jerry DiTullio, Democrat

Bio: https://www.jerryditullio.com/ about-jerry-ditullio/

Why are you running for Treasurer?

As you know, I was elected Jefferson County treasurer in the November 2018 election. Since taking office, my staff and I have been making great strides in improving several areas of the JeffCo Treasurer’s Office. Due to the 2020-22 pandemic, it has taken resiliency by me and the Treasurer’s Office to assist JeffCo taxpayers and to keep our County and special districts funded to provide vital services.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

In the 21st century, the public deserves accessible, experienced, engaged and transparent elected officials. I am that elected official – every day! I am always working for Jefferson County, JeffCo families, businesses and YOU! My commitment to you is that if I am re-elected this November, I will NOT run for another office mid-term. I am committed to serving as your Jefferson County Treasurer for the entire four-year term.

Why do you want to return to work for Jefferson County government?

I enjoy working with the public and working for win-win fiscal policy that benefits taxpayers and the County.

How do you see the role of Treasurer working with other departments and o ces in Je erson County?

In 2020, my department distributed CARES Act Funds and other COVID

grants to local businesses and nonprofits based on the criteria from the federal government and the Jefferson County Commissioners. I will continue to support and work with taxpayers and our special districts in 2022 and beyond. The Treasurer’s Office is the county banker and supports other county departments, such as the clerk and recorder, the sheriff and the assessor offices.

Anything else you want voters to know?

The virus has affected taxpayers

Faye Gri n, Republican

Why are you running for Treasurer?

I was asked by the Republican Party to consider running. My first thought was no. Then I got to thinking I am healthy and I could still share my knowledge and experience with the citizens of Jefferson County. This gave me something exciting to look forward to and a way to serve and give back.

What is your biggest strength as a candidate?

Knowledge and experience. I care deeply for the employees. Because I worked at the County for a number of years before being elected, I know firsthand of some the issues they deal with on a daily basis. I would like to be involved in getting back to “normal” after Covid. I have heard from citizens of some of the problems they have had to deal with. I am a very good communicator.

Why do you want to return to work for Je erson County government?

I really enjoy working with the public, employees, and other elected officials. I am very proud of my record of honesty and integrity in all the departments I have worked. I feel because I have been an employee and worked into management it gives me first-hand knowledge about making decisions that affects employees.

How do you see the role of Treasurer working with other departments and o ces in Je erson County?

The Treasurer’s office is the

county banker and supports other departments. We may need some revisions in the policy due to the hours changing because of Covid. I would like to see about opening the offices more to the public.

Anything else you want voters to know?

I am a native of Colorado, born and raised in Golden. I have been married to Walter since October

VOICES

Thinking more about names and character

So, if, as I wrote last week, our oldest daughter’s name should have been “Grace,” there is no question that our second child should be named “Crash.” As in, “Crash Test.”

It’s hard to tell that now, actually. See, as she grew up, she became much better aware of her surroundings, so crashing into stuff became a much less frequent occurrence.

And, for the record, yes — she totally got that from my side of the family.

Even as she grew older, though, there was a still a wonderful, bold, forward quality to how she approached life. Like, when she made a mistake, there was a Cassie-shaped hole in the wall, not unlike Wile E. Coyote. The beauty part was that she didn’t make many mistakes, and that boldness made her an outstanding student leader, and, I believe, will make her a really good teacher.

Boldness is an increasingly rare quality, I think. Well, except for online. Online everybody has the boldness of two tequilas, because the anonymity of the ether makes it possible to believe you’re safe. That’s not really true, of course, as old posts and picts and twits have started to cost people opportunities in the present. But, still, people say things online that they would never say in person.

Which seems like a real indictment of the cowardice of the age.

We’re so used to the creature comforts of the modern era that we’ve forgotten what it is to act We think, we plan, we have committee meetings,

we fall back on platitudes and, when things don’t go how we hoped, we comfort ourselves with our good intentions and give bonus points for trying. We even actively discourage the sort of activities that breed boldness, dismissing as “dangerous” and “toxic” those —admittedly, sometimes foolish — acts that foster decisiveness and courage under fire. And then we sit on our high horses and condemn (after the fact, of course) those who have the courage to act when they, sometimes, get it wrong.

Michael Alcorn

But any cursory glance at the front page of a newspaper tells you that we’re coming up on a time when boldness will be required, when the mentality to act in the face of the encroaching darkness will be necessary.

That is why I have always taken a sort of perverse pride in my daughter’s mindset. Of course, I pray every day that she will never be required to take action of the sort for which we fete our police, our SEAL Teams, or our Zelensky’s. But, going into education, someday she may be required to stand up and defend what is right and what is proper in the face of loud and sustained efforts to force her silence. At least I know she can take it.

She has the bruises to prove it.

Our third child, 15, is a completely different sort

of character. He is quiet, he is reserved, usually shunning the spotlight. But, from a very early age, we could see the wheels spinning on the soccer pitch. His is a strategic mind that thinks in big picture terms and understands how systems work. Which is why, now that he has stopped playing soccer, he has found a new niche in the world of gaming. And, I know — so many dismiss it as a distraction. But, I tried to watch some of his games last year — I couldn’t follow all the activity, all the moving parts, and all the little nuances going on at any given time in an arena with four teammates and five opponents operating in cyberspace. Maybe we should have called him “Spock.”

And then we could spend our lives explaining to him who Spock is.

Thinking of that nature isn’t taught in schools, and there’s not many opportunities for it to flourish in the world of rubrics and test scores. But the real world is run by systemic thinkers, in every arena from cyber-security to drone warfare. He’ll find his place, in time.

And, luckily, he won’t be saddled with the name “Spock” at the top of his resume.

Michael Alcorn is a former teacher and current writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and three children. His new novel, “Valkyrie’s Kiss,” a finalist in the ScreenCraft Book Competition, is available now at mjalcorn@comcast.net. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media.

Wildfires aren’t going anywhere & communities need our help – we’re delivering

We all remember that frightening day nearly a year ago. In late December – far removed from our usual wildfire season – when a fire blazed in the suburbs outside of Boulder, spreading from neighborhood to neighborhood and forcing 30,000 people to flee their homes while destroying over 1,000 homes and businesses.

Coloradans panicked as they gathered their belongings, tried to keep their kids and pets calm, and rushed to safety without knowing what would come next. We were safely watching from afar, but shared your fears. When will the fires go out? How do we know when to evacuate? Will we ever be able to recover from this?

The Marshall Fire – a catastrophic event that heightened stress and anxiety for Coloradans across the state – caused significant destruction to the communities it touched. We know how painful and scary that evening must have been for those in the fire’s path, causing trauma that lasted for many months after. We also know that wildfires are natural and part of our environment. Unfortunately, due to climate change, they are becoming more intense, more unpredictable, and far more destructive.

These days in Colorado, wildfire season lasts year round, which means we have to be prepared to respond at any moment – even in the winter. That’s why this year, we made major investments in wild-

LINDA

REP. LISA CUTTER

D-Littleton

SEN. TAMMY STORY D-Conifer

SEN. JESSIE DANIELSON

als, businesses, and governments rebuild after disaster emergencies and created the Office of Climate Preparedness, which is tasked with coordinating disaster recovery efforts to better respond to natural disaster emergencies and developing a climate preparedness roadmap to ensure Colorado is better prepared for future climate-induced disasters. We also passed legislation to ensure that homeowners displaced by declared wildfire disasters receive a fair payout from their insurance companies.

fire prevention and mitigation to help communities rebuild and recover from disastrous wildfires, improve Colorado’s ability to respond to blazes, and better prepare for future disasters.

Our work this session focused on measures to support rebuilding efforts after disaster emergencies, improve insurance claims processes following wildfire disasters, and reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires. We also provided unprecedented financial relief to survivors of wildfires like the Marshall Fire, bolstered wildfire education, awareness and outreach efforts, and invested $20 million to preserve our healthy watersheds and clean drinking water sources threatened by droughts and wildfires.

We further invested $35 million to help individu-

MINDY

AUDREY

ERIN

LINDSAY

Columnists

Local governments must be equipped with the tools necessary to conduct wildfire mitigation in their own communities, which is why we created a matching grant program to help local governments develop and fund sustainable forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts. We also made sure local volunteer fire departments have the resources to purchase the equipment they need, provide training and mental health services to firefighters, and respond safely to fires.

As climate change worsens and drought conditions persist, so will wildfires in the West. This is our new reality, and we have doubled down on our commitment to implementing long term solutions to address this critical issue. If we want to protect and conserve our Colorado way of life, we need to continue to take urgent action to invest in wildfire

POSTMASTER:

Arvada

D-Wheat Ridge

Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides preventive screening reminder

BY DR. MARIA CANNAROZZI, INTERNAL MEDICINE,

PHYSICIANS,

According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. Each year in the U.S., about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,400 in men. Although deaths from breast cancer have declined over time, breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death among women overall. In addition, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women and Black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women.

The month of October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a health observance that reminds us to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors for breast cancer as well as steps we can take to improve our health and possibly help lower the risk of getting breast cancer or finding it early when it may be easier to treat. Mammograms, x-rays of the breast, are especially important because they may detect breast cancer when there

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Support for Bird

To move Colorado forward, we need to move past partisan politics and demand results over politics. Elected officials like Colorado State House Representative Shannon Bird are an example of using common sense to work towards solutions on the issues impacting us all.

One issue for the State of Colorado has been to fully fund PERA. Rep. Shannon Bird was the prime sponsor to pay down the state’s unfunded public pension liability by $380 million, helping to keep the public pension fund (PERA) on the road to being fully funded.

Rep. Bird was also the prime sponsor of legislation to secure and maintain full funding of the pension for firefighters and police officers. Rep. Bird also did important work in the area of public safety to prevent crime and give law enforcement the resources and support to effectively do their job. She sponsored legislation to crack down on catalytic converter thefts, cosponsored legislation to get fentanyl off our streets, increased funding for crime prevention and the funds to support crime victims earning her the endorsements of both the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police and Colorado Professional Firefighters.

As a small business owner in Jef-

WILDFIRES

mitigation and prevention – because this issue is not going away. Moving forward, we will continue to make it a top priority to build our fire resiliency and help our Jeffco communities prepare for future wildfires so we can keep our residents safe, protect our air and water, and conserve the beautiful natural resources that make

are no apparent symptoms. When symptoms of breast cancer develop they may include:

New lump in breast or underarm (armpit)

Changes in size or shape of breast

Thickening or swelling in parts of the breast

Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area

Pain in any area of the breast

Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood Irritation or dimpling of breast skin

Redness or flakiness in nipple area or breast

Screening recommendations vary between experts, but for women at average risk for breast cancer the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)recommends biennial screening mammography from age 50 to 74 years. Before age 50, the USPSTF states the decision to start screening mammography should be an individual one. Women who place a higher value on the potential benefits of screening over potential harm may choose to start biennial screening between 40 to 49 years of age. Women with certain risk factors for breast cancer may

ferson County, I’m also impressed that Shannon Bird has the endorsement of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and earned the praise of Loren Furman, President and CEO of the Colorado Chamber, for a “common-sense approach to expanding the use of alternative transportation without creating onerous new mandates.” Equally as important is Rep. Bird’s work on affordable housing and being awarded the 2022 Legislator of the Year award from the Colorado Association of Realtors.

As a mother of school age children, I’m happy to see that Rep. Bird put in place legislation to look at the mandated statewide testing that we do on kids in our public schools.

Rep. Bird’s bill, signed by Governor Polis into law, will be the first ever state-wide audit of this testing to see if these tests are helping to improve public education. I am glad this bill had the bi-partisan support needed to be put into effect. I am not surprised to see that Rep. Bird has received the Colorado Education Association Champion of Education Award two years in a row.

Look for Rep. Shannon Bird on your ballot if you live in House District 29 and be sure to vote before 7 p.m. Nov. 8.

Katie Winner, Arvada

living in Colorado so special.

Representative Lisa Cutter D-Littleton lisa.cutter.house@state.co.us 303-866-2582

Senator Tammy Story D-Conifer tammy.story.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4873

Senator Jessie Danielson D-Wheat Ridge jessie.danielson.senate@state.co.us 303-866-4856

need to start screening at an earlier age and may need more frequent screening.

Screenings can find cancer before symptoms begin. Therefore, getting screened is important even for those who feel fine. It is a good idea to talk with a doctor about potential risk factors and various types of screenings including mammograms.

There are two types of mammograms: a standard two-dimensional (2-D) image where each breast is compressed from two different angles (top to bottom and side to side), and a three-dimensional (3-D) image, where the machine takes several low-dose x-rays, moving in an arc direction around the breast.While 3-D mammograms are increasing in popularity, it may not be available in all areas.

The American Cancer Society provides several steps to prepare for a mammogram, such as avoiding deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams and perfumes under the arm or breasts on exam day. Some of these products can show up as white spots on the x-rays.

Find a Health Center is a helpful tool for finding local mammography centers. Check to see that the imag-

and accepts your insurance. Many organizations offer free mammograms and breast screenings.

The health and medical professionals at Optum Colorado advise talking with your doctor to discuss health history, any symptoms you may be experiencing, or preventive screenings. Let Breast Cancer Awareness Month be a reminder to follow the suggestions here for health and wellbeing.

Dr. Maria Cannarozzi

FARMING GROUP HELPS AFGHAN REFUGEES FEEL MORE AT HOME IN DENVER

BY DANA KNOWLES, LINDSEY FORD ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

We don’t have cars. We don’t have transportation. This is our only outing,” explained Mahmude, one of three Afghan refugee women who spoke with Rocky Mountain PBS about their new lives in Colorado.

The women left Afghanistan when the United States completed its military withdrawal last year. None of them wanted to use their last names and all of them spoke

with the help of an interpreter who translated Dari, an Afghan dialect of Farsi, into English.

Mahmude has been in the U.S. for eight months and says Monday is now her favorite day of the week. “This is the highlight of my life, coming here every Monday.

I’m happy to be here in the United States as my home country isn’t safe.”

The women come to Ekar Farm, an urban farm next to Denver Academy of Torah that started 14 years ago mainly serving the Jewish community.

In 2020, the pandemic forced

Ekar Farm shift toward doing outreach across the city by collaborating with various nonprofits like Denver’s Metro Caring, an anti-hunger organization. All the produce that Ekar grows is donated to people in the metro area who are experiencing food insecurity, including these Afghan women and their children. Metro Caring and Ekar are partnering with Denver’s International Rescue Committee to transport them back and forth to the farm.

“What seems like a simple opportunity to grow food carries a lot of dimensions. The program

allows the women to be around other people from their home country,” said Mireille Bakhos, who works with International Rescue Committee in Denver. “The media often highlights the war and challenges in Afghanistan but [these] programs are about resilience and the endless possibilities of human connections. It is about the power of people to heal and nurture positive change from the ground up, literally.”

The program runs from May through October due to weather.

COURTESY

REFUGEES

The women cultivate a small section of land and use the produce to cook fresh meals for their families at home in Denver.

Razye came from Afghanistan to the United States more than three years ago and says she grew up farming in her home country.

“I was a rancher. I had my own animals and I had big farm back in Afghanistan, so when I come to this farm, I feel so excited,” she said, explaining how the tomatoes and potatoes are her favorites to take home and cook. “We make food that reminds me of my country back home, and that’s the

happiest I’ve been.”

Anywhere from 70,000 to 80,000 Afghan refugees are now living in the United States. According to the Colorado Refugee Program, Colorado has welcomed around 2,500 refugees since July of 2022.

The United Nations Refugee Agency says that Afghans are one of the largest refugee populations in the world with an estimated 2.6 million registered across the globe in countries like Pakistan and Iran.

For Monira, who has been in Colorado for almost a year, the opportunity to connect and socialize with other women from her country is just as important as bringing home fruit and vegetables.

“First, we come here and we say ‘hello’ and we have a quick

chat, and talk, and after that we harvest” she said, adding that being around people come from the same country make it easier to live in a new and unfamiliar place. “This is a country that’s unknown and new for us, so coming here to see people who speak the same language, and we became fast friends, and we talk.”

Monira hopes her work on the farm can help her life evolve into something new.

“My wish is to be able to start working and repay what people in Colorado have done for us, and find a job to contribute to this country, and this state,” she said.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

‘MY WISH IS TO BE ABLE TO START WORKING AND REPAY WHAT PEOPLE IN COLORADO HAVE DONE FOR US, AND FIND A JOB TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY, AND THIS STATE.’ Monira, Afghan refugee

that his focus was to empower the Congressional District 7 voters by asking for their input on issues before he voted. He wanted to end any voter fraud by implementing a system to give power back to voters.

Pettersen represents District 22 in the Colorado Senate, and she served in the Colorado House from 2013-2019. Pettersen called her top three priorities protecting the country’s democracy, helping the country recover from the pandemic and continuing to invest in the transition toward sustainable energy.

The forum, which was online to allow as many people as possible to attend virtually, was sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Chaffee and Jefferson counties. Watch the entire 90-minute forum at lwvchaffeecounty.org.

Accurate, fair elections

“There is the greatest level of distrust in our election system than ever before, and that must be rectifi ed,” Aadland said. “I don’t believe this is a federal issue; it’s a state issue to manage. We need a system where it is impossible to cheat, and it is accessible to all.”

Klopf called election integrity the bedrock of his campaign platform, saying elections should be about the candidate, not the political party.

“If you elect the party, then you agree to an outside entity meddling into elections,” he said. “That opens the door for corruption and fraud because of out-ofstate people getting involved in our elections. I don’t trust (the Democratic and Republican) parties. Both parties have questionable ethics.”

Pettersen explained that the public needed to elect representatives who would follow national rules for a free and fair presidential election, certifying the vote no matter who the winner is.

Gun violence

Aadland said taking guns away from good citizens while crimi-

the gun-violence problem.

Klopf explained that gun violence was not a political issue.

Instead, it’s an issue the community must work together to solve, and he wants to form a coalition of advocates from all political parties, and from civic, religious, education and community organization to create solutions.

Pettersen advocated for common-sense gun-safety legislation nationally similar to what Colorado has such as the red-fl ag laws that allow guns to be taken from those who family or law enforcement feel are at risk to themselves or to others, closing backgroundcheck loopholes to purchase a gun and more.

Climate change

Aadland said Congress should lead the effort to move toward more sustainable energy sources, including balancing nuclear energy with oil and natural gas.

To protect the environment and address climate change, Klopf advocated for a multifaceted approach including using cleaner forms of energy and electric cars.

Pettersen added: “What keeps

me inspired is we can solve this with the right policies. What we need immediately is making sure we’re updating the energy grid, so we are preparing for when we have storage for solar- and windgenerated electricity.”

Women’s reproductive rights

Aadland called Colorado’s laws on women’s reproductive rights extreme, saying the state should fi nd a middle ground. He said the topic should be states’ decisions and noted he would not support federal legislation on the issue.

Klopf said some abortions should be allowed and protected, and Congress should work on legislation that would not be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Pettersen noted: “If elected, I will fi ght for women across the country who don’t have a legislature like Colorado’s. I will fi ght to protect rights on individual choice, so women can decide when they would like to have a family.”

Representing urban, rural areas

Aadland said he hoped to spend less time in Washington D.C. and more time in his district, so he can talk to and help constituents. He noted that in the more rural areas of the district, agricultural interests must be protected.

Klopf said he would represent everyone in the congressional

district, both rural and urban, hoping voters in all parts of the district would provide him with information about the issues they face and how he can help.

Pettersen noted that while voters throughout the district experience some of the same issues, for those in rural areas, the issues are more acute. She said she wanted to better understand the issues those in rural areas face and represent them in Congress.

Immigration on the southern border

Aadland advocated for fi nishing the border wall with border control agents to help stop people from sneaking in the United States. He said he didn’t want to stop the fl ow of immigrants but to control it, including clarifying the process for immigrants to become U.S. citizens.

Klopf said that since Colorado is not a state that borders another country, he would want others directly involved to come to a resolution. He said constituents should provide input into how the immigration issues should be solved.

Pettersen said having humane immigration policies and processes for immigrants to get into the United States and obtain work permits could help solve businesses’ problems with not fi nding enough workers.

Brittany Pettersen

Ross Klopf

Erik Aadland

Thu 10/20

Soup @ 10pm Larimer Beer Hall, 2012 Larimer St, Denver

Fri 10/21

Clementine Was Right, Vicky Burp, Elnuh @ D3 Arts

7pm

Arts,

Morrison Rd, Denver

Sun

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Mountain Toad Brew‐ing, 900 Washington Ave, Golden

River Spell

@ 8pm

The Woodcellar Bar & Grill, 1552 Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen

Denise Rosier: Mile

Hi ChurchLakewood, CO [8AM & 10AM] @ 10am

Mile Hi Church, 9077 W Alameda Ave, Lakewood Battle of the Bands @ 3pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver Tokischa @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Mon 10/24

Unwed Sailor @ 7pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver Adam Newman @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Dayglow

@ 8pm

Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Den‐

Wed 10/26

Master P @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Margo Cilker @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Big Richard Band: Denver Shed Sessions

@ 6:30pm

Shed Sessions, Den‐ver

LADY CAM FANS ( iloveladycam.com

@ 7pm

Indi Tour

The Venue, 1451 Cortez St,

Live @The RoseCitizen Dan @ 8pm / $24 Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden.

falorose.net

LANCO @ 8pm /

Grizzly Rose, 5450 North Valley Highway, Denver

Paranoid Image Halloween Party Show

9pm

Roxy,

Sat 10/22

Mystikal Market Denver

2pm

The Polish Ambassador Two Day

@ 9pm

Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St, Denver O'Flynn

E Colfax

enue, Denver.

gmail.com,

Live

IC3PEAK @ 8pm

Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver

Banda Carnaval

Denver

Glitterfox: Sofar Sounds Denver @ 8:30pm

Sofar Sounds Denver, Denver Keith Hicks @ 4pm

Tue 10/25

Renaissance Downtown City Center, Den‐ver

Minuit Machine @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

The Black Lips @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver

Patrick Dethlefs

8pm

Globe Hall, 4483 Lo‐gan St, Denver

Ic3peak

8pm

Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave, Den‐

by

partnership with Heading Home, launched the homeless navigator program. Through these partner ships, we recognize that homeless ness is a countywide and regional issue. The Jefferson County Homelessness Action Plan and an analysis for sheltering options fur ther underscored the need. We’re focusing on the Housing Navigation Center as a model that can most effectively connect people with pathways to housing. As Jefferson County and our partners work through the details of this project, community involvement and feed back are critical.

Your seat incorporates sections of west Je erson County (Conifer, Pine, etc.) where the wildland urban interface is a major discussion point. What issues specific to that area would you address?

More than two-thirds of Jeffco is in the WUI where development meets forested areas. Fire risk is exceptionally high, water supply is low, and population is grow ing. These issues are especially urgent for my constituents. Jef ferson County ranks number one in the state for property loss due to wildfire risk. I led efforts to harden homes, expand defensible space, and increase mitigation. Wildfires don’t distinguish between county

lines. My work on the Colorado Fire Commission also focuses on lowering fire risk statewide in the WUI. We expect fast-moving wildfires will burn hotter and longer in increasingly dry conditions.

What role would you play in wildfire mitigation?

Appointed by Governor to Colorado Fire Commission, which successfully passed groundbreaking legislation and secured more funding in 2021-22 to reduce risk. Created and chaired Jeffco’s firstever Wildfire Risk Reduction Task Force to increase mitigation, community education, and funding. Allocated $2.8M in ARPA funding to reduce wildfire risk based, in part, on the task force’s recommendations. Doubled slash collection days for homeowners in 2022. Approved a seven-fold increase in thinning dense forests on 1,000 acres of Jeffco Open Space. Updated the county’s building and residential codes to harden new and existing homes by increasing defensible space and ignition-resistant building materials.

What are the two most significant issues facing the county today and how would you propose to address them?

In addition to wildfire risk, housing costs are soaring. With our partners, we increased affordable senior housing in south Jefferson County and broke ground on new affordable housing in Golden, Arvada, and Lakewood. We must

continue to invest HUD dollars that helped us leverage $163 million in private funding and an additional $138 million in other public fund ing, preserving nearly 1,500 af fordable units since 2012. Jeffco’s also facing a backlog of transpor tation projects, exacerbated by the labor shortage and skyrocketing costs of materials. We’re pursuing funding, strategically identifying projects, and using innovative ap proaches to recruit talent.

What one part of county government would receive more attention if you were elected?

Jeffco has faced major budget cuts over several years, especially the general fund which supports every department and elected office in the county, except Jeffco Public Library. We look across all operations for greater efficiencies and innovative approaches to bal ance the budget. We think strate gically about what’s an essential county service, such as public safety. The Jeffco Sheriff’s Office remains the second-best funded Sheriff’s office in Colorado. It’s a priority for me, including sup porting school resource officers and mental health co-responders. I’ve also led efforts to increase your voice in the budget decisionmaking process to ensure your priorities are heard.

What is your vision for the future of Jefferson County?

Our community has seen sig

nificant challenges over the last two years, including addressing mental health issues, financial stability, COVID response and recovery, racial equity, and more. With challenges come oppor tunities. In response, we have remained nimble, adapted to con stant change, and more deeply connected with our community. Core to this work was updating our strategic plan so people in our community feel engaged and heard as we plan for the future. Our collective vision is to be a county government that provides equitable, innovative, efficient, and quality service to a thriving and safe community.

Anything else you want voters to know?

The person you elect to lead matters because your vote has a direct impact on our quality of life. We’re a community that val ues partnerships over protecting turf. We advocate for workable solutions over win-lose politics. We must give equal importance to tackling inequality as we do economic development. Thank you for trusting me to work with you and for you.Our work to improve lives and build oppor tunity is far from over. That’s why I’m running for re-election as your county commissioner and I’m asking for your vote. With your help, we’ll move Jeffco forward together! Visit www. dahlkemperforjeffco.com.

Ginger

Marlena

KERSGAARD

FROM PAGE 7

How do you see the role of Assessor working with other departments and o ces in Je erson County?

We work closely with the treasurer’s office to ensure they have the data they need to produce correct and timely tax bills. We work with more than 200 taxing authorities in the county to ensure that their boundaries are correct and their leadership has the infor mation they need to set their mill levies. We pay for aerial photography to help us identify and value properties, and we share that imagery with every department that wants it and with every city, fire district etc.

within the county that wants it — at no charge.

Anything else you want voters to know?

The ballot will show the party affiliation of the candidates. The job, though, is nonpar tisan. There is nothing I can do to raise or lower taxes. We are charged by State law with valuing property accurately and fairly, based on the market. Every Assessor in Colorado is audited by the state to ensure that we do our jobs correctly. I am not a politician, but a tech nocrat. The job is highly techni cal, and must be done correctly. The Assessor’s office should not be politicized. We strive to treat each taxpayer equally whether their property is worth $100,000 or $100,000,000.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE

The Colorado Sun is a journal ist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better under stand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything

from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Com munity Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opin ions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun. com.

Your seat incorporates sections of west Jefferson County (Conifer, Pine, etc.) where the wildland urban interface is a major discussion point.

What issues specific to that area would you address?

I am very familiar with the Wildland Urban Interface (“WUI”) and the associated health and safety issues that impact residents and business alike. We have studied and talked about the numerous concerns, and it is time to act and address these health and safety issues. Over 8-years ago, I worked with county staff, community stakeholders, residents and business throughout the county to implement the very successful and hugely beneficial slash program. This is a public private partnership that has led to the elimination of hundreds

GRIFFIN

FROM PAGE 11

17, 1959, have three children, nine grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren. I enjoy bowling, Denver Broncos, the Avalanche, attending (or

of thousands of yards of combustible material from our mountain communities.

What role would you play in wildfire mitigation?

I will take an active role. We need a leader who fully understands the issues, listens to the community, and who can bring together a collaborative approach to wildfire mitigation. I have been and will be that commissioner again who engages with the community, industry professionals, and stakeholders to develop and execute on a comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan with stated metrics and deliverables. Our county is looking for someone to champion actionable solutions with measurable results and I am that individual.

What are the two most significant issues facing the county today and how would you propose to address them?

Crime and the county budget. The crime tsunami that has taken over Jeffco is in direct response to the underfunding of the Sheriffs

hearing) grandkid’s sporting events and reading books. (My favorite author is James Patterson.) I am dedicated to serving Jefferson County and will bring my knowledge, experience, honesty and common sense to the Office of the Treasurer. I would appreciate your support. Thank you.

Department along with a soft on crime approach taken by the county. This coupled with the confusing and ever-changing business regulations during the COVID pandemic imposed by the commissioners led to a devastating financial situation for many businesses in the county and adversely affected the county budget. In 2011 I led the county out of the economic crisis of the great recession without cutting services or raising taxes, and I can do it again.

What one part of county government would receive more attention if you were elected?

It is time our county commissioners work with our sheriff’s department and not against the brave men and women of the law enforcement community. This defund the police policy, publicly supported and acted upon by a few County elected officials, has proven to be a failed policy that not only has seen a rise in crime but puts the lives of county residents at risk every day.

DiTULLIO

FROM PAGE 11

physically, mentally, and financially. Many citizens have lost their jobs, their businesses and/or have been furloughed causing a financial strain on personal budgets. Thanks to House Bill 201421 (https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb20-1421) and Senate Bill 21-279 (https://leg.colorado.gov/

What is your vision for the future of Jefferson County?

Jeffco is a wonderful place to live, work, play and learn. However, with the rising crime rate, increased cost of living, strangling and ever-changing regulations on business, and the aggressive approach taken towards our children and families for remote learning during the pandemic, this positive opinion has changed for many. Jeffco needs a commissioner who doesn’t hide behind video calls, who is not afraid to engage in constructive discourse, who takes action on items that are of concern for residents, and who represents the constituents who elected them. I am that proven leader who is ready to serve.

Anything else you want voters to know?

I am here to listen, to take action, and to earn your vote. I encourage you to visit my website at www. DonaldRosier.com and send me any questions that you may have to Donald@DonaldRosier.com.

bills/sb21-279), which I supported and testified on, my department and I worked with taxpayers in 2020 and 2021 on waiving interest on late payments and accepting payment plans on property taxes for residential and commercial properties. We made every effort to assist property owners in paying their property taxes in JeffCo and will continue in 2022 and beyond. We are all in this together. Let’s do our best to protect each other and each other’s mental and financial health in 2022 and beyond – shop local and live local.

Experts say vaccines, behavior changes worked

A poster from the United Kingdom shows monkeypox symptoms.

Monkeypox cases decline

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

After more than two years of turmoil and stress during the COVID pandemic, here’s a bit of good news for the state’s public health system: Cases of monkeypox have plummeted in recent weeks.

The state is now seeing just a handful of reported new infections per week, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. At the peak in mid-August, the state was recording

NHS

more than 40 new cases per week.

There have been a little more than 300 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Colorado this year, no deaths, nine hospitalizations and no cases of infection in children.

Herlihy called the trend, “a really nice steady decline.”

“That trend we’re seeing in Colorado is really mirroring what we’re seeing nationally,” she said.

The cause of the decline is not a mystery, Herlihy and another local expert say. Instead, it is a win for the state’s public health system, as well as

MONKEY

a testament to the resolve of the state’s LGBTQ community to proactively take steps to minimize the risk of spread.

The most recent outbreak of monkeypox around the globe has been concentrated in the LGBTQ community, and Colorado is no exception.

According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 94% of Colorado’s cases have been among cisgender men, and 77% of cases have been among people who identify as gay or lesbian.

But there was no good reason why the outbreak wouldn’t spread more widely. The monkeypox virus — sometimes now referred to as MPV or MPXV, to avoid the stigma that comes with an association to monkeys — can be transmitted in a variety of ways, including some that do not require direct contact with an infected person. The primary transmission route in the current outbreak appears, so far, to have been through close contact during sex.

If the virus were to have jumped into a different social network — say, a prison or a child care center — there could have been a new surge in infections, said Dr. Daniel Pastula, an associate professor of neurology, infectious diseases and epidemiology at the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Public Health. That made it vitally important to stop the virus early.

Pastula said it’s a credit to the state’s public health system that it set up a vaccination campaign so quickly and a credit to the LGBTQ community that it

came together to educate its members on the virus.

“The LGBTQ community, particularly men who have sex with men, really stepped up to protect their health and work with public health authorities to get the word out about monkeypox,” Pastula said. “I think this would have been way worse without any intervention.”

A vaccine success story

Both Herlihy and Pastula said vaccination efforts likely had a huge impact in slowing the spread of monkeypox.

The state has administered roughly 18,000 doses of the vaccine to more than 12,000 people identified as being currently at highest risk of exposure. While initially limited, vaccine supplies have now improved, so much so that the state — along with health systems across the country — is able to use it proactively instead of reactively.

Early doses were only available for people with known or likely monkeypox exposures. (The vaccine, which is named Jynneos, can prevent someone from developing monkeypox if given after exposure.)

But as supplies have improved, CDPHE has expanded the eligibility criteria several times with an aim of vaccinating more people before they are exposed to the virus.

Vaccination is now available to anyone who has had multiple or anonymous sexual partners, has had close physical contact with someone in a venue where anonymous or group sex may occur, has been diagnosed with gonorrhea or syphilis in the past six months, is living with HIV or who is eligible for HIV preventative

Phone and Internet Discounts Available to CenturyLink Customers

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $28.50 per month and business services are $41.00 per month.

Speci c rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible lowincome individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal bene ts if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify. CenturyLink also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service. The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

For both programs, a household is de ned as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by ne or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www.centurylink.com/ aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.

Ralston Valley gets late score to defeat No. 2 Columbine

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — A late gamewinning touchdown drive catapulted Ralston Valley into the driver’s seat of the Class 5A Jeffco League on Oct. 7.

The Mustangs — No. 5 in the CHSAANow.com 5A rankings last week — used a 70-yard, 12play drive in the final five minutes to defeat No. 2 Columbine 16-13 at Jeffco Stadium.

“That final drive the guys just came together,” Ralston Valley coach Jared Yannacito said after the win gave the Mustangs (5-2, 2-0 in 5A Jeffco) the inside favorite to the conference title. “We executed the plays. It was awesome. The kids put together an amazing drive to close out that game.”

The drive was similar to what the Rebels (6-1, 1-1) normally does to teams late in games. The Mustangs had nine rushes with senior Diano Benallo carrying the load with seven carries for 35 yards. Junior quarterback Logan Madden also had two carries for 14 yards on the drive.

“We have been a pretty clutch team in the past,” said Madden, who had a 52-yard touchdown pass to junior Jackson Hansen on the Mustangs’ other touchdown that came late in the first half giving Ralston Valley a 7-6 halftime lead. “We had all the confidence in the world in our big guys up front and Diano did an amazing job getting us down the field. We kind of did what Columbine does and ran it down their throats.”

Madden connected with Hansen for a big 14-yard reception that put Ralston Valley in Columbine territory. The dive started from the Mustangs’ 30-yard line with 4:39 left in the game and the Rebels leading 13-9.

“There wasn’t any panic,” Yannacito said of Ralston Valley going down 4 points with less than five minutes to play. “We knew the plays were there. We just had to execute. Until the clock reads 0:00 you have a chance.”

Benallo finished off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown with 53 seconds left on the clock.

“Our offensive linemen down blocked and I make a cutback off of them,” Benallo said of his game-winning scoring run. “They made a huge hole for me to get into the end zone.”

Columbine had under a minute to try to get into field goal range, but senior quarterback Brayden Harvey was intercepted by Ralston Valley senior Jason Thome to seal the win for the Mustangs.

Ralston Valley’s defense forced two turnover on downs in the first half to keep the Rebels from scoring. The Mustangs also got a

Columbine senior Marquane Taylor, far left, gets a block from junior Carlos Mendoza (58) during the top-5 showdown between the Rebels and Ralston Valley on Oct. 7 at Je co Stadium. Taylor scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Ralston Valley answered with a touchdown in the final minute to take a 16-13 victory to hand Columbine its first loss of the season.

Ralston Valley junior quarterback Logan Madden (5) finds some running room during the first half Oct. 7 at Je co Stadium. The Mustangs defeated Columbine 16-13 to grab the driver’s seat in the Class 5A Je co League.

key special team score when senior Josh Rillos blocked a punt and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety for the only score in the third quarter.

Columbine’s two touchdowns came on runs by junior Josh Snyder and senior Marquane Taylor.

“Anytime you play Columbine you don’t know how many times you’ll get the football,” Yannacito said. “Our defense played incredible and gave us a ton of stops that allowed us to get the ball back.”

Taylor’s touchdown capped off a 47-yard, 10-play drive that chewed up nearly six minutes of the fourth quarter before Ralston Valley answered with the drive of the night.

“After playing Regis and getting the win after being down a few scores with so little time left we knew we had this in us,” Benallo said. “We trusted each other and dug deep. I’m proud of everyone.”

Ralston Valley has played the best-of-the-best in 5A so far this year. The Mustangs’ schedule has included Cherry Creek, Grandview, Regis, Valor and Columbine. All those team are currently ranked in the top-6.

“I think it’s fair to say it’s the toughest schedule in the state of Colorado,” Yannacito said. “Our kids bought in from this summer that you fight every play.”

Both Columbine and Ralston Valley will be playing up at the North Area Athletic Complex next week. The Rebels face Arvada West (3-4, 1-1) on Thursday night.

The Mustangs face Pomona (1-6, 0-2) on Friday, Oct. 14, at the NAAC. The young Panthers will be hungry for a victory after dropping their last six games.

“We are going to take everyone serious. We know we are going to be a top target in the state from here on out,” Madden said. “We just have to keep giving it a good week of practice to come out on Friday nights to be successful.”

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

CROWSS

ELZZ

new businesses and state-of-the art tools that support new products that produce superior ROIs for clients. We believe that a creative, learning environment staffed with talented people who want to grow and utilize the newest and best tools will result in a dynamic and successful culture that has a positive impact on our clients business and our community. Our brand is one of the most trusted in our community. We’ve built this reputation by providing award-winning news coverage and by being engaged in our community at all levels. As a true marketer, we want you to bring your experience and expertise to develop the best advertising and audience programs for local advertisers needing to engage with the community to grow their business. We value teamwork. We embrace opinions, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds that energizes the company and fuels our passion to do what’s right for our readers, our advertisers and our employees. If you’ve got the drive and the passion, together we can take your career farther than you’ve ever imagined. We are building a sales team that will be the face of the changing media landscape. We are looking for people who are excited to represent our emerging brands and our trusted, traditional ones too. Join our team, working from our Englewood offices and remote. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission to grow and engage our community, please apply. This position offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and paid holiday, vacation, sick and personal time. As an added bonus, you’ll office less than 60 minutes from the best Colorado has to offer in outdoor recreation.

letter

interest

Erin Addenbrooke eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Classifieds

Bids

Request for Subcontractor and Supplier Proposals

B.C. Builders LLC requests subcontractor and supplier proposals for 72 unit, wood framed, 3 story building in Ft. Lupton, CO. Section 3, MBE/WBE/DBE businesses strongly encouraged to submit. Please contact Jon Bannister at info@bc-builders.com for information.

Instruction GUITAR LESSONS

Beginner – advanced acoustic and electric I can teach you what you want to learn!

Songs – music theory etc. Lessons are taught in my home. 30 years teaching experience. Any day, any time flexible scheduling. Call Leon 303-427-1953

Misc. Notices

Firewood

Miscellaneous

Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available

Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS!

50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCE - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Put on your TV Ears & hear TV w/ unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original - originally $129.95 - now w/this special offer only $59.95 w/code MCB59! 1-888-805-0840

DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516.

FOR SALE

Victor 9, 3 Wheel Mobility Scooter. Only two months old. Retail Cost $1886, Sale Price $900. Telephone 303-503-8000 or e-mail greg3141951@gmail.com

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-6101936

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Miscellaneous

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time!

Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Wanted to Buy

LOOKING TO BUY THE FOLLOWING

300- 8inch by 16inch cement blocks 34-bags mortar mix 60 pound bags

feet #4... 1/2inch rebar

2x8x20’ floor joists

2x6x16’ treated

sheets 4’x8’x3/4” plywood

3/8 inch x 2 feet rebar pins 24- TJI joists ( I joist ) engineered to span 20ft 30- 9 foot 2x4s 80- 8foot 2x4s

8foot 2x6s

sheets 4’x8’x1/2” sheathing

roll tyvex house wrap Shop Cabinets

Like New Appliances and Like New Kitchen Cabinets for a smaller deluxe kitchen

303-378-7537

SAFE STEP - WALK-IN TUB

Pets Dogs

taking lives. Additionally, we work with Fire personnel to respond during an active shooter incident to save lives. I will continue this training at the Sheriff’s office and ensure that we have highly trained deputies who respond appropri ately in these types of incidents.

What do you consider the biggest criminal issue in Jefferson County, and what would you do to deter it?

Everyday, deputies deal with five intertwined factors that create most of the crimes. These include

MARINELLI

help keep our community safe. We must also be fully prepared to respond swiftly and appropriately when necessary.

What do you consider the biggest criminal issue in Jefferson County, and what would you do to deter it?

Although we have recently experienced several harrowing situations, I recognize that we are currently facing increasing numbers of auto and catalytic converter thefts. Property crime patterns and trends change based

drugs, stolen cars (105 per day in Colorado), property/violent crime, criminals with guns and extensive criminal histories. As Sheriff, I will implement data driven approaches to address emerging crime before it grows and keep highly trained school resource officers in schools. I will also advocate for resources that provide back-end mental health/ drug treatment to help those in jail reintegrate back into society and common sense legislation that increases penalties for criminals who steal cars and have guns.

What is your philosophy of policing?

The role of policing is to serve and protect our community. The

on many different factors. Those factors need to be evaluated, so we can deploy the necessary staff to high-risk areas, while edu cating citizens in how they can secure their property and pre vent themselves from becoming victims.

What is your philosophy of policing? Community Oriented Policing. I will form partnerships to col laborate with the citizens, other law enforcement agencies and organizations that are working toward the development of solu tions to the problems within our community. I intend to build trust within the agency and all those we serve, working to protect our

first duty of a Sheriff is to protect citizens’ individual rights. Sir Robert Peel said, “The police are the public, and the public are the police.” Deputies serve the com munity to protect our safety and individual rights. The Sheriff also has the role through data driven approaches to detect emerging crime and address it before it grows. Ultimately, the goal is to build trust in the community whom we serve by effectively addressing crime and protecting people in a professional, ethical, and constitutional manner.

Anything else you’d like voters to know?

I believe people deserve to live,

citizens, businesses and visitors from crime and disorder.

Opioid abuse is a national epidemic and Jefferson County is not immune from this problem. What can the sheriff’s office do to address this issue?

There are two aspects of opioid abuse that must be addressed. First is the education of our citi zens to prevent substance abuse and the second is, access to treat ment for those addicted.

I will re-introduce behavioral health and evidence-based thera pies for those in custody. I will support services to help people successfully re-enter society, and

work, worship and play in a community without fear of be ing victimized. I’m running for Sheriff to protect our commu nity, schools, churches, busi nesses and families. I’ve served the Arvada community for the last 28 years where I’ve built strong community relationships and have helped keep Arvada one of the safest cities in the metro area. I have the execu tive level experience to become the Sheriff and will implement data driven approaches to ad dress crime. I’m humbled by the endorsements of so many leaders in public safety, includ ing Sheriff Shrader. Please visit bradyforsheriff.com.

I will enhance programs already in place, where mental health experts collaborate with our deputies to provide support and de-escalation for those in crisis.

Anything else you’d like voters to know?

I have worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 36 years in every major division. I am ready on day one to take charge and lead this agency.

Learn more about me on social media and on my website at www. MarinelliForSheriff.com

If you would like to contribute to my campaign, please refer to my site, or send contributions to 601 16th St C-336, Golden, CO 80401

Your Local News Source

MONKEY

medication known as PrEP. People who engage in commercial or trans actional sex are also eligible, along with people who have had high-risk contact with someone who has mon keypox.

Data released last week by the Cen ters for Disease Control and Preven tion found that men who were not vaccinated against monkeypox were 14 times more likely to contract the disease than those who were.

“Even after one dose, this looks like it’s a pretty good vaccine,” Pastula said.

Herlihy said most of the doses the state is administering now are second doses, aimed at providing longerlasting protection, though first doses are still available.

Prepare

A community response

Also important in reducing infec tions has been the actions of people in the LGBTQ community, Pastula said.

Another CDC study found that nationwide an estimated half of men who have sex with men reported reducing their number of sexual partners, new sexual partners and use of dating apps in response to the monkeypox outbreak.

Those changes followed sustained work by LGBTQ community organi zations, working with public health agencies, to inform community mem bers about the virus. Pastula said it represents a model for how to conduct a public health campaign — engaging with the community most affected without creating stigma or judgment.

“Getting the community that’s high est risk and getting them involved very much is limiting the spread of this,” he said. “I’m hopeful that the outbreak is now waning and it does

power

Hance

not hop into new communities or social networks.”

The end of monkeypox … for now?

Herlihy also expressed optimism that the virus may be on its way out the door in Colorado. But she also warned against overconfidence.

“It’s tough to know where things are going to go from here,” she said. “It’s tough to know if we’re going to continue to see low levels of transmis sion.”

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed between animals and people through close contact. And it is endemic in parts of Africa, where it circulates among small mammals until another oppor tunity to infect people comes along. (A previous outbreak of monkeypox in North America involved pet prairie dogs.)

That means it’s unlikely monkey pox can be eradicated globally. But

Pastual said there’s no evidence so far that the virus has found an animal reservoir in North America. That doesn’t mean it can’t continue spreading at low levels among people in Colorado before surging anew, though.

For that reason, Pastula said he rec ommends people at risk for exposure keep up their prevention strategies and continue getting vaccinated, if they haven’t already.

“It shows the importance of invest ing in our public health systems so we can detect outbreaks and respond to them quickly,” he said.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colo rado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

2 ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sec tions 29-1-108 and 109, C.R.S., that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Hometown Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2023. The necessity may also arise for the amendment of the 2022 budget of the District. Copies of the proposed 2023 budget and 2022 amended bud get (if appropriate) are on file in the office of the District’s Accountant, Simmons and Wheeler, P.C., 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, Colorado, where same are available for public inspection. Such proposed 2023 budget and 2022 amended budget will be considered at a regular meeting to be held on October 24, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. via video/teleconference. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 budget or the 2022 amended budget, inspect the 2023 budget and the 2022 amended budget and file or register any objections thereto.

You can attend the meetings in any of the fol lowing ways:

1.To attend via video conference, email ljacoby@ specialdistrictlaw.com to obtain a link to the video conference.

2.To attend via telephone, dial 1-346-248-7799

HOMETOWN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Show