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F LEURISH

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14

NEWS

Advocates Red Wagon Ball a touching, financial gold mine

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Littleton Superintendent Murphy to retire

19

LOCAL

New South Metro fire chief takes the ‘colors’

Volume 32 • Number 48 • October 23, 2014

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With Chief Dan Qualman’s official retirement several weeks away, the ceremony was held to celebrate his career and the promotion of Chief Bob Baker.

Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Scott Murphy will retire at the end of the school year, he announced Oct. 9 during a LPS Board of Education meeting.

This year, about 350 guests attended the Advocates Red Wagon Ball fundraiser and the energy throughout the evening was electric.

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Index

Page 4........................................ Opinion Pages 6-13.................................Election Pages 14-20...............................Fleurish Pages 26-29.................................Legals Page 29................................. Classifieds TheVillagerNewspaper

Honor bestowed By Tom Barry On Oct. 17, Cherry Hills Village resident and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was honored in a special ceremony on the south end of Sports Authority Field at Mile High. About 60 invited guests attended the unveiling of a statue sculptured in Bowlen’s honor. Attendees included Broncos personnel, community leaders and members of the Bowlen family, according to Erich Schubert, a spokesman for the NFL team. “The statue, which was commissioned and financed through a group of community leaders with sponsorship ties to the team, captures Mr. Bowlen is his customary pose on the sideline during Broncos games,” Schubert said. Work on the project began in January by Brian Hanlon, who also sculpted the 27 Ring of Fame tributes at Sports Authority Field, Schubert added. Bowlen’s nine-foot statue is in the center in the Ring of Fame Plaza in front of the team’s massive wildhorses sculpture. The team’s owner, whose battle with Alzheimer’s disease was announced in July, has the distinct honor of being the first NFL owner to attain 300 victories in 30 years. Such accomplishments are inscribed in massive bronze plaques affixed to a curved wall adjacent the sculptures. “Pat has never sought the spotlight and never asked for the accolades during his 31 years as owner of the Broncos,” said his wife Annabel. “It’s very humbling for our family to have Pat receive this recognition for what he has and continues to mean to the Denver Broncos.” Under Bowlen’s ownership and leadership, the team has scored 312

Statue unveiled at Sports Authority Field

@VillagerDenver

on Pat Bowlen The Bowlen family stands beside the Pat Bowlen statue that was unveiled at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Oct. 17. The revered owner of the Denver Broncos was honored in a ceremony that included Broncos personnel, community leaders and members of the Bowlen family in attendance. Photo courtesy of Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos

victories, 18 winning seasons, 16 playoff games, 11 division titles and eight conference championships. The Broncos have participated in two World Championships and won two Super Bowls with quarterback John Elway at the helm. “[The statue is] a testament to

the winning culture and first-class standards established by Mr. Bowlen throughout his tenure in Denver,” Schubert said. Last week, the Broncos were recognized as America’s favorite team by the Harris Poll. “Mr. Bowlen,” as the staff and

players fondly refer to him, resigned his day-to-day executive position due to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as was announced by his wife in July. Elway, who now serves as the team’s executive vice president of football operations, had his own tribute to Bowlen.

“Pat is a friend and a mentor and is somebody that has clearly made a profound impact not only on the Denver Broncos but the NFL,” he said. “I’m very pleased that tonight he is getting the kind of recognition that he so deserves, but has never sought out.”

Office politics at the Clerk and Recorder

Challenger says her boss has retaliated, clerk denies

By Peter Jones In an election that has taken office politics to a new level, a staffer in the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder’s Office claims her opponent has retaliated against her in ways few political rivals could – the opponent is also her boss. Joan Lopez, a 12-year office employee and the Democratic nominee for clerk and recorder, is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Matt Crane, the office’s former deputy of elections who was appointed to the elected position last year. Although Lopez had earlier

Matt Crane

Joan Lopez

painted a more sanguine picture of the inner-office rivalry, she has more recently complained – including during public forums with Crane – that she has been effectively punished for her candidacy. “It hadn’t been an issue before, but apparently it’s huge,”

she said. “In the end, I’m trying to take my boss’s job. I can understand the hostility.” According to Lopez, that enmity has included pulling her out of her longtime public-service role in favor of paperwork in a back office and a series of recent reprimands after a dozen

years of exemplary feedback for her work. “In 12 years, I’ve had outstanding reviews and ever since I filed for public office I’ve been pulled into the [supervisor’s] office probably every two weeks and written up and talked to about something,” she said. Lopez says the array of complaints against her – all of which she denies – range from campaigning while on the job to showing disrespect to her coworkers. “I was told in one meeting that I rolled my eyes at someone and giggled,” Lopez said. “I was pulled into the office for having a pop can on my desk. Are you kidding me? I love my Continued on page 6


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