KNIGHTS OF THE BLIND
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
ANTISOCIAL MEDIA
Denver Lions roar for a century
Planning your season for celebration
Denver Film Festival entry logs into dark side of Facebook
COMMUNITY | PG 2
SPECIAL SECTION | PG 15-20
ENTERTAINMENT | PG 31
S O U T H
M E T R O
VOLUME 35 • NUMBER 50 • NOVEMBER 2, 2017
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TheVillagerNewspaper
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Local businessman rides into Republican Watson treasurer’s race pledges to not accept Greenwood Village businessman Brian Watson is undeterred by the competition as he emerges as the latest hopeful to seek the Republican nomination for Colorado treasurer. “I didn’t see anybody running who truly understands financial matters and has truly learned from others over many, many, many years,” he said. “In essence, the people of Colorado are investors in the State of Colorado and I saw these individuals who seemed to be running for their next political job. I wish them the best, but when you’re looking at a $6.5 billion budget, we need people who really understand these matters.” The commercial real estate investor and organizer of statewide business networking hopes to replace term-limited Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton, a Cherry Hills Villager who is now seeking the Republican nomination for governor. Watson, 46, is the only treasurer candidate on the Republican side who has never held public office, though he unsuccessfully ran for statehouse in 2012. He joins state Rep. Polly Lawrence of Douglas County, state Sen. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud, state Rep. Justin Everett of Jefferson County, prosecutor Brett Barkey and Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn. In the Democratic primary, state Rep. Steve Lebsock of Thornton and Denver businessman Bernard Douthit are the two announced candidates so far. A self-described would-be “public servant,” Watson, CEO of Denver’s Northstar Commercial Partners and founder of the nonprofit Opportunity Coalition, says his greatest asset as the state’s chief financial officer would be his financial acumen and boots-on-the-ground business experience, traits he says are lacking in the other choices primary voters will consider. “When you have somebody who understands internal rates of return and complex financial matters and how to go in and restructure debt and can save millions and millions of dollars for the people of Colorado—this is what I do every
state salary
Olathe native Brian Watson, now a Greenwood Village businessman, is the latest to enter the crowded Republican primary for Colorado treasurer. Courtesy of Watson for Colorado Treasurer
single day,” he said. Other than investment responsibilities, the treasurer’s other high-profile duties include returning unclaimed property to Colorado residents and sitting on the board of directors for the often-be-
leaguered $44 billion Public Employees Retirement Association, which has faced financial-insolvency issues and reform efforts for years. Continued on page 7
Investigation underway in wake of fatal deputy-involved shooting A fatal shooting involving several Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies and a now-deceased former deputy has prompted an external investigation by the 18th Judicial District Critical Response Team and the removal of all
involved current personnel from their regular duties. The incident occurred Oct. 29 at about 9:45 p.m. at the employee parking-lot entrance of the county sheriff’s headquarters. When an on-duty deputy saw a vehicle backing into the exit-gate area, the deputy contacted the driver and noticed he had a gun, according to an announcement by the sheriff’s office. Two other deputies arrived almost immediately, and when the man turned the gun toward one of them, deputies shot him. CPR was administered at the scene unsuccessfully. No deputies were injured. The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Mark Bidon, a deputy at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office
from 2000 to 2010, the year he resigned. The county coroner’s office concluded this week in an autopsy that Bidon died from multiple gunshot wounds. His death was classified as a homicide. “This is a difficult day for our entire agency,” Sheriff Dave Walcher said in a statement. “Not only are we needing to support our deputies who have been involved in this critical incident, we also want to provide support to those employees who previously worked with the suspect and may be affected by these events.” In accordance with sheriff’s policy, the deputies involved were placed on administrative leave or temporarily assigned to other duties pending the outcome of an administrative review. “Due to the ongoing nature of the case, there will be no additional information available at this time and there will be no interviews with our staff,” the sheriff’s office said in its press announcement.