8 The Transcript
June 14, 2018J
Republican candidates for county assessor Q&A with Brian Cassidy
Q&A with Ron Sandstrom
Residence: Unincorporated Jefferson County (Littleton) I have lived in Jefferson County for nearly 30 years. Profession: Real Estate Appraiser and REALTOR© Related experience: I have been in the real estate industry for 24 years, with a wide background of experience, starting with development projects to property management, to leasing and sales. As a real estate appraiser, I hold a Colorado Certified General Appraiser license, and I have 12 years property valuation experience, and have provided my expertise in Colorado and many other states.
Residence: Arvada, CO since 1976 Profession: Thirty five years private practice as a tax representative representing taxpayers with valuation issues. Related experience: I am the current Jefferson County Assessor.
My first priority will be to proWhy are you seeking this office? vide accuracy in property values. Jefferson County has seen property In the past several years property values skyrocket in the recent few values have seen increases of years, with some business property more than 300 percent. An inacvalues up by more than 300%. I am curate property value can place a running for Assessor because Jeffergreat deal of stress on a property son County needs someone who will owner, especially a business propapply property values both accurateCassidy erty owner, because their taxes ly and equally. must be paid in two halves or all What makes you the most qualified at once. My second priority will be to person for the position? actively and genuinely listen to propI am the only candidate in this race with a real estate appraiser’s license. I also have erty owners when they file an appeal of their valuation. Mass appraisal models 24 years in the real estate industry. It is are by no means perfect. As the Assesfrom this wide-ranging experience that I sor, if we see that a mistake is made, we will draw upon on a daily basis when I am will correct it. the Jefferson County Assessor. Half of my What else should the voters know about you? 24 years in real estate has been invested I have been married to a wonderful in property appraisal. In addition, I have worked in the Jefferson County Assessor’s woman for 26 years. We have a daughter entering high school this fall. We Office as a Commercial Appraiser, and I am currently employed with the Arapahoe are blessed to call Jefferson County “home.” I served in US Navy submaCounty Assessor’s Office as a Commercial rines for 10 years, and I served with Appraiser. honor. I will serve my county in the What would your top two priorities same manner. be if elected?
I intend to continue mainWhy are you seeking this office? I am seeking re-election to taining the current staff of truly dedicated people. I will the office of County Assessor to continue representing continue to do our due diligence and effectively comJefferson County property owners to provide the valumunicate with the residents of Jefferson County. ation of their property in a fair and equitable manner. What else should the voters What makes you the most Sandstrom know about you? I have also served as qualified person for the position? the taxation council chairman I have 26 years in management for the Colorado Association and staff positions with three of Commerce and Industry. fortune five hundred companies Board member of the Northwest where I was supervising and Metro Chamber of Commerce directing staffs of from five to 23 (Arvada), Licensed Appraiser in professionals. From 1989 to 2014 Colorado having passed the certiI owned my own company F & fied general appraisal exam. S Tax Consultants representing property owners and taxpayers Prior to my election as Jefferson throughout Colorado who have County Assessor I made several had valuation issues with county promises to the people of Jefassessors across the state. Since ferson County and I have kept all January 2015 I have been reprethese promises. Much of this was senting all of the property taxpay- due to my frustration with the ers in Jefferson County with a failures of the office to represent staff of 57 tax professionals. I the people of Jefferson County am the current elected Jefferson properly. I am making these County Assessor. changes and will continue to imWhat would your top two priorities prove the office to better serve the be if elected? people of Jefferson County.
Democratic candidates for county coroner Q&A with Annette Cannon
Residence: Westminster, 38 years Profession: Registered Nurse and Professor of Nursing, Faculty at School of Nursing Related experience: Registered Nurse, Forensic Nurse, PhD, Medical Records Director, Crisis Management, Psychiatric Nurse. Why are you seeking this office? I have lived in Jeffco for over 38 years and want to serve the county, community and the individuals who call it their home too. I understand the importance of this job and am mindful of the needs to those it serves. I can offer experience, education, com- Cannon passion and professionalism. What makes you the most qualified person for the position? I am an RN, for over 35 years. I have a wide range of experience from Forensic and Psychiatric nursing to Medical/Surgical Nursing and a Nurse Educator. I have also been a Medical Records Director. My education ranks up to a Doctorate degree. I have worked at the County Jail and had connections with Law Enforcement through my DOC patients also. I bring many years of leadership and have a high level of ethics, accountability and responsibility, along with the skills needed to manage an office and the knowledge to investigate, critically think and problem solve in many situations. What would your top two priorities be if elected?
Top priorities: Suicide Prevention and Public Safety. In general, these issues are directly related to reducing the number of deaths and should be brought to the forefront, and addressed as a priority within our families, community and county. Suicide prevention also includes intervention and postvention. I believe in working upstream to tackle this issue. This means providing health care that works, addressing social issues, and assisting those in rural areas too. Public safety is a huge net that covers accidents, crime, juveniles, services provided and violence rates. It also includes gun safety. Our sustainability requires that we address these issues. What else should the voters know about you? I am a dedicated, ethical and compassionate person in whatever I do. In addition, I do volunteer work in my community, whether with the Jefferson County Nurses, PEO, Sigma Theta Tau, the homeless or with children. I am certified in Critical Stress Incident Management and can handle various crisis situations.
Q&A with Dana Hutcheson
Residence: Lakewood, 7 years Profession: Medical professional currently tracking and trending the opioid epidemic Related experience: Worked profeesionally with medical experts. Information Transparency: Why are you seeking this office? I will ensure detailed inforI am running because the mation is made available to Coroner’s office could better the community regarding serve the people of Jefferson deaths in Jefferson County. County. The Coroner must In addition to reporting and make better information availanalyzing data surrounding able so that public health priall deaths in the area, I will orities can be determined and preventable deaths avoided. Hutcheson specifically monitor trends in The Coroner must also endeaths caused by gun violence sure all decedents are treated with and opioid overdose to help shine the dignity they deserve. a light on how prevalent these danWhat makes you the most qualified gers are. person for the position? Also Dignity in Recognition of My professional background in is- Gender Diversity: I will create a sues related to death and dying have policy that specifically recognizes prepared me to deal with the day to transgendered members of our day realities of performing the job community as their gender identity and have made me distinctly aware in death. All those that must go of what the full scope of the Corothrough the Coroner’s Office will ner’s Office is. I feel that I am the be shown the compassion that they only candidate who has a flushed deserve. out vision of how to make changes What else should the voters to the way the Coroner’s office operknow about you? ates to truly serve the community. I I am truly passionate about the believe that it is imperative for the Coroner role and its importance to Coroner’s office to strike greater the community. For me, running for balance between serving its law this office is not a vanity project or enforcement function and serving a phase in my career advancement its public health function. – I sincerely believe that Jefferson What would your top two priorities County needs someone in that office be if elected? that sees the potential that I see.