September 18, 2014 VOLU M E 9 1 | I S SUE 5
LakewoodSentinel.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
In the spirit of volunteerism Action Center growth leads to increased need for help By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com The Action Center runs on volunteers. The organization, which provides resources for those on the path to self-sufficiency, relies on more than 60 volunteers to run everything from the food pantry and clothing bank to day-to-day interactions with clients. With construction on the center’s new Program Services center well under way, the number of volunteers needed to keep things running has doubled, so The Action Center hosted its first volunteer fair on Sept. 10 to spread the word. “There are all kinds of new volunteer opportunities to bring people in, whether they want to work in the back on the food or clothing bank or work as a client advocate,” said Lorraine Alcott, volunteer coordinator. “We also have little odds and ends projects and things people can do from home to contribute.” Action Center staff and current volunteers were on hand at the fair to visit with individuals, organizations and church groups that stopped by to learn the best way they can help the center. “This is such an interesting time for our growth and what we’re looking to do is find ways that we can use people’s backgrounds in their volunteerism,” said Barbara Penning, director of volunteer programs. “We want to capitalize on what our volunteers have done for careers and use that in new ways.” Penning said with the baby boomer generation getting closer to retiring, the
VOLUNTEERING The Action Center needs at least 50 more volunteers to open its new building. Volunteer tours and orientations will be available on Oct. 7 and 10 at the Action Center, 8755 W. 14th Ave., Lakewood. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact: Lorraine Alcott Volunteer Manager lorrainea@theactioncenterco.org 303-237-7704, ext. 244
Action Center is seeing an increased number of recent retirees who want to stay active coming by to volunteer. “I ask people what they want to do and they say they can do anything and I tell them their flexibility is great but it doesn’t help me,” she said with a laugh. “It can be difficult for some to know how their work experience translates best into a way to help us, but I see such possibility in what everything brings to the table.” Penning has used teachers, engineers, graphic designers and everything in between to find new ways to get the most of out their volunteer hours. Chris Essig has been a volunteer at the center for 10 years with her husband. She works mostly in the clothing bank while he does front desk work. “I love being in the clothing area because I get the direct contact with the clients,” she said. “It’s wonderful when they’re shopping to see their eyes light up — if we weren’t here, how would they find the clothing they need?” The Action Center takes food and clothing donations year round. For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.theactioncenterco.org.
With the Action Center’s new Program Services building under construction, the center will need at least 50 more volunteers. Any eager to help should visit theactioncenterco.org. Photos by Clarke Reader
Individuals, organizations and church groups stopped by the Action Center’s first volunteer fair to learn about opportunities to help.
Treasurer’s race Sandstrom carries tax debt features big names Candidate for county assessor has owed IRS, state department of revenue By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Ron Sandstrom, the Republican candidate for Jeffco County assessor, has been saddled with back taxes, according to a trio of judgments brought against him by the Colorado Department of Revenue. The unpaid state income tax amounts show balances of about $1,000 to $6,000 listed during the years of 200611, court documents reveal. When contacted for comment, Sandstrom declined to be interviewed. While it is possible SandSandstrom strom paid off his balances but not yet filed that information, the statuses of the judgments filed at the civil district court in Jeffco remain “unsatisfied.” A separate judgment filed by Discover Bank in 2009 showed Sandstrom in arrears by $8,487.10 which include attorney’s fees, for failing to pay the liquidated balance from his credit card. In addition to the judgments placed against Sandstrom, two filings for tax liens were placed by the IRS for unpaid federal income taxes. Tax periods ending in December 2007 and 2008 show a total of $26,016.27 in
money owed. The second tax lien shows a total of $41,083.76 money owned for tax periods ending in December 2009-2010. During the 2014 Republican primaries, Sandstrom beat his opponent, Lou D’Aurio, who won the county assembly vote with 51.50 percent, receiving 3.22 percent more votes than Sandstrom. D’Aurio has been the deputy county assessor for the last 15 years. An assessor is responsible for assessing property values while compiling a list of all real and private properties, excluding schools, churches and charities. The assessor finds a fair market value that calculates a property owner’s fair share of taxes owed. Sandstrom will be on the November ballot against Democratic candidate Andrew Hassinger, and Libertarian candidate Patrick Sullivan. In 1989, Sandstrom opened F&S Tax consultants, a small business that assists in property tax disputes. In the last 34 years, Sandstrom has focused on handling disputes with the Jeffco Assessor’s Office as well as serving on a number of taxation legislative committees and writing tax bills for property. If elected, Sandstrom said he would like to mend problems at the assessor’s office that relate to record keeping and speeding up hearing process for disputes, which is part of his initiative to bring efficiency and fairness. “The assessor’s office needs fresh air,” Sandstrom said to the Transcript back in June. “I know the tax law on property very well,” he said. “I feel I know the taxpayer because having worked with the taxpayer I can understand where the tax payer is coming from.”
Markey aims to take Stapleton’s job By Vic Vela
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com Two candidates with good name recognition are seeking a job as part of a down-ticket ballot race that isn’t getting the same kind of attention as other statewide contests. “It doesn’t get talked about compared to the congressional races, but the state treasurer is an important job,” said former Congresswoman Betsy Markey, the Democratic candidate. To succeed, Markey will have to defeat current Treasurer Walker Stapleton. Stapleton is the great-grandson of former Denver Mayor Craig Roberts Stapleton and is related to the Bush dynasty that has produced two U.S. presidents. But Stapleton said what he’s accomplished as treasurer has little to do with his family ties. “I think I’ve proven that I have a track record of keeping my head down and working for Colorado,” he said. “My message has resonated with the people of Colorado and I’m glad that it has.” The state treasurer oversees billions of dollars in state investments and also sits on the board of the Public Employee Retirement Association, among other duties.
Markey
Stapleton
Stapleton has held the seat since 2010, after he defeated incumbent Democrat Cary Kennedy in a tight race. Stapleton believes voters will reward the accomplishments of his first term. He backed policies that consolidated debt and refinanced the state’s unemployment insurance system. Stapleton also touts treasurer’s office-backed legislation that carried with it overwhelming bipartisan support at the Legislature. “My perspective when I ran for office was when you get an opportunity to deal with economic policy issues, you have an opportunity to cross political alliances,” he said. Markey served in Congress from 2009-2011, representing the state’s 4th Congressional District before losing her re-election bid to current Rep. Cory Gardner. Following her loss to Gardner, Markey worked for the U.S. Department of Race continues on Page 22