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December 12, 2013
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 6 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
BIG AND BRIGHT
Zenzinger prevails in state Senate race Arvada councilwoman takes over vacant seat By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Children play on the train during the Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 7 at Westminster City Hall. The event featured the lighting of all lights and decorations and performances from the Mesa Mustang Chorale, Crown Pointe Academy Choir, Betty Adams Elementary Choir and the city of Westminster Dance Company. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Holiday tradition lights up City Hall By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
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t was a cold and festive evening Saturday night during the Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Westminster City Hall. With temperatures hovering around just 7 degrees, people braved the weather to see the building come to life, illuminated by thousands of lights. “I love seeing all of the lights. It really is sight to see,” said Westminster resident Kathy Andrews, who attended with her two small children. “Although it’s really cold tonight, we never miss this event.”
Outdoors activities included a fire pit, hay rides and the arrival of Santa by fire truck, but it was the indoor performances that stole the show. The Mesa Mustang Chorale, Crown Pointe Academy Choir, Betty Adams Elementary Choir and the city of Westminster Dance Company all performed in the council chambers, filling the building with holiday spirit. In the lower level of city hall, children took photos with Santa and the Colorado Chorale performed. Mayor Herb Atchison thanked residents for attending and mentioned the hard work of city employees in making the evening possible.
“This is the 26th year of this event; thank you to all of you who came out,” he said. “It was the hard work of our parks and recreation employees who got all of the lights ready for this event to happen. “ A couple performances were cancelled due to the cold temperatures, including a performance by the Standley Lake High School marching band, which normally leads the arrival of Santa in the fire truck; and music from carillonneur Robert Gift, who plays the bells in the city’s bell tower. The holiday lights will be on display in the evenings at city hall, 4800 West 92nd Ave., throughout December.
An Arvada City Councilwoman is on her way to the statehouse after winning a special vote to succeed a lawmaker who recently resigned in the face of a recall election. Rachel Zenzinger defeated former state Rep. Sara Gagliardi during a Senate District 19 Democratic vacancy committee gathering in Westminster on Dec. 10, by a 39-27 vote. Zenzinger will replace fellow Democrat Evie Hudak in the state Senate, just weeks after she stepped down from office, rather than face the possibility of losing a Democratic seat in the General Assembly’s upper chamber. “I thank the members of the vacancy committee for their investment in this difficult process to select a successor to Sen. Evie Hudak and I look forward to justifying their faith in me,” she said. Zenzinger, a program coordinator and instructor at Regis University, said she looks forward to getting to work on issues like job creation, education and health care when she enters the Senate next month. But she also said that will regret having to leave the Arvada City Council, a body that she has served on for the last five years. Gagliardi was unsuccessful in touting her experience as a former lawmaker to woo vacancy committee members to support her candidacy. She served in the state House of Representatives from 2006 until she lost a close race for a third term to current Rep. Libby Szabo, an Arvada Republican. Gagliardi told committee voters that she has the “experience, tenacity and grit to unite our district” and that she possesses the campaign prowess to hold on to the
Senate continues on Page 14
Seitz appointed to Westminster city council By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com After a unanimous vote Monday night, Anita Seitz was chosen by Westminster council as the newest member to represent the city for the next two years, filling the vacant seat created by Herb Atchison’s election to mayor. The vote was part of a City Charter apPOSTAL ADDRESS
pointment process requiring the council to fill the vacancy within 30 days by a majority vote of the remaining members of city council to avoid a special election. Seitz was up against 13 other people who applied for the seat, each person interviewed by city council a week before the official vote. During a Dec. 2 study session, council discussed the candidates and took an unofficial poll to gain a consensus on the top two candidates council was lean-
ing towards. Seitz and David Aragoni were unofficially polled as the top two candidates. Another poll was taken between Seitz and Aragoni and although Seitz name was not said, it was clear who the council chose as their top candidate in the unofficial vote. “I think she is a very promising young lady and I think she’ll be an asset and will work well with the group,” Atchison said during the study session. “And although I think we had 14 viable candidates, I think some were better than others and I think the best rose to the occasion.” During Monday night’s meeting, no disPrinted on recycled cussion was done before or after the offinewsprint. Please cial vote. After Seitz was sworn in by Westrecycle this copy. minster Municipal Judge John Stipech, she immediately took her seat, the meeting was adjourned and council reconvened as the Westminster Economic Development Authority. Seitz, who recently graduated with her
MBA from Regis University and serves on the Board of the Colorado Association of Healthcare Executives, moved to Colorado in 1987, growing up in the Boulder area. She moved to Westminster in May of 2011 and said she fell in love with the city. She said it was her love of the amenities and quality of life that inspired her to apply for city council. “I want to work with the city to promote everything it has to offer,” she said. “I’m excited to serve the city I love and I have every confidence I will be able to do that.” Seitz said due to her busy schedule this year finishing up her MBA, she chose not to run in the November election. Now that she’s graduated, the timing is right to serve on the council, she added. And although she has a short history in Westminster, Seitz believes that will be a benefit to council. Council continues on Page 14