1
November 7, 2014 VOLU M E 1 3 | I SS UE 50
CentennialCitizen.net A publication of
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Voters OK tax hike for South Suburban Arapahoe residents put ballot measure over top By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@colorado communitymedia.com
Paula and Don Feight stand next to the couple’s favorite painting titled ‘Beaver Tales,” which was inspired when the couple vacationed in Alaska. Don Feight’s artwork is featured for this quarter’s Picture Centennial event. Photos by Christy Steadman
Local art takes flight Aviation-inspired artist featured as part of Picture Centennial By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com
A lot of people don’t know there are nationally recognized artists living amongst them in the local community. One of these artists is Don Feight, whose art has won both national and local awards. Feight is this quarter’s featured artist for Picture Centennial. “(Picture Centennial) is a community initiative to bring something new,” said organizer Jonah Schneider, with the City of Centennial. “It’s to expose citizens to something they haven’t seen before.” The featured artist’s work is displayed for three months in the Centennial Civic
“Stratojets” is one of Don Feight’s paintings hanging in the Centennial Civic Center for this quarter’s Picture Centennial event. Center building, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road. When the public comes to the building
to conduct business, positive comments are made on the artwork on a daily basis, Schneider said. Picture Centennial was initiated by Centennial City Manager John Danielson about a year and a half ago to promote local artists, Schneider said. Feight is the seventh artist to be featured for the event. An artist can have artwork displayed if one of three criteria is met, she said. Artists must either be a citizen of Centennial, work in the city or the art must be about Centennial. “We want there to be some sort of connection,” Schneider said. The initiative does not limit submissions by the format of art, but one requirement is that it must be able to be displayed. Generally, an artist will bring somewhere between 25 to 30 pieces of art, Schneider said. “Any time there is an opportunity to Art continues on Page 9
Voters in western Centennial and Littleton propelled to victory a tax measure to support the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, though residents in Douglas and Jefferson counties were less enthusiastic. South Suburban asked voters to approve a tax hike of 2 mills. It passed by a tally of 32,921 to 29,694, or about 53 percent in favor, as of results released the morning of Nov. 5. The measure lost in both Douglas and Jefferson counties, but won by more than 4,000 votes in Arapahoe, which is the largest portion of the district. The Douglas part of the district is primarily made up of Lone Tree. “We are very pleased with the results of the election, and we thank the voters of the district for their continuing support of South Suburban,” said John Ostermiller, chairman of the SSPRD board of directors. Ballot Issue 4C asked for a propertytax hike for 10 years — about $16 per $100,000 of a home’s value per year — resulting in about $4.5 million annually in additional revenues for the district to be used for general operating expenses. Priorities include protecting the trails, Voters continues on Page 4
Coffman retains seat in U.S. House Incumbent defeats challenger Romanoff By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, emerged the victor in the battle over Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, with the numbers coming in not as close as many expected. “My thanks to the voters allowing me to continue to serve in the United States House of Representatives,” he said to a packed room of ecstatic Republicans gathered at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center the night of Nov. 4. “I pledge to serve with the same honor and integrity that I served with as an officer in the United States Army.” Figures the morning of Nov. 5 showed Coffman earning about 52.9 percent of the vote to Democrat Andrew Romanoff’s 42.3 percent. Romanoff’s slight lead in total contributions as of Oct. 15 didn’t seem to help him. Romanoff had raised a total of $4.8 million, and Coffman had raised $4.2 million.
“This has been a very tough race, and I am a better candidate for it,” Coffman said. Moments after his acceptance speech, more cheers arose as Fox News declared Coffman’s party had retained control of the U.S. House, with Coffman’s win contributing to that victory. “Let us now move forward past this election, past the debate and past those horrible 30-second ads,” said Coffman. His acceptance speech echoed his constant themes on the campaign trail, stressing his military background and longevity in the newly realigned district, much more diverse than the last time he was elected. “To the African-American and Hispanic communities who welcomed me into their homes, their businesses, their places of worship, I look forward to continuing to working with you on your journey to fulfilling the American dream.” Coffman has touted his 17 years as an Aurora business owner and a military career that started in 1972. In 2005, he resigned his post as Colorado’s secretary of state to serve a tour with the U.S. Marines House continues on Page 4
Republican incumbent Mike Coffman waves to the crowd after giving a victory speech at a GOP watch party Nov. 4 at the Hyatt hotel ballroom at the Denver Tech Center. Coffman was re-elected to U.S. House District 6 after defeating Democratic opponent Andrew Romanoff. The race, projected to be close, was one of the first ones called of the evening. Photo by Christy Steadman