Elections Heat Up as Weather Cools
The fall leaves are spectacular with the trees enjoying a great summer season and are now shedding those crisp yellow leaves for the coming frosts and winter snows.
With the fall season comes election time with increased interest in local elections to be held on Nov. 4 for many municipal cities. This week The Villager is featuring Greenwood Village’s spirited election with 12 candidates on the ballot. Two unopposed incumbents and 10 candidates in three contested districts.
The Villager and The League of Women Voters held a forum on Sept. 19 at the new Junior Achievement building, welcomed by CEO Robin Wise in the new second floor conference facility; an excellent location complete with an adjacent kitchen facility. About 75 GV residents attended the forum to hear the 12 candidates introduce themselves, make short speeches on why they seek office, and answer written questions. The entire forum was recorded and is now on The Villager website along with Freda’s excellent summation in this week’s edition; she has written a brilliant synopsis of the session.
A few of my tidbits about the forum: first what an excellent facility with a good sound system. The candidates in this election are very well qualified for the positions with unique backgrounds. GV voters cannot go wrong with this motivated and talented field of candidates eager to serve the city for the next two years. In two years GV will seek a new mayor to replace term limited George Lantz. My take on the 12 candidates is I could easily endorse Paul Wiesner for that honored mayor position. Over 43 years of covering the city on a professional and friendly basis, I have known seven past mayors, going back to Harold Patton, and some great mayors like Nancy Sharpe, Freda Poundstone, and Ron Rakowsky, et al. The city has prospered under strong councils and good leadership with a very strong financial statement with over $50 million in a reserve fund. How to perhaps spend some of this money was a key question in the forum questioning. What I would like to know, and will find out soon, where is this money and what yield does it provide for the city financial coffers? There is an old wise rule, “Follow the money.”
Serving out their last few weeks being term-limited as council members, are stoic members Dave Kerber, Judith Hilton, and Anne Ingebretsen. Two years ago, council bid farewell to eight-year board member Dave Bullock who was a key council member sharing a seat with our now award-winning governmental reporter Freda Miklin. Voters may, or may not, recall the ugly recall of council members from the “Save Our Village” incident over the Alberta development fracas involving the 13-acre development that has been vacant the last eight-years. Now, under future consideration is a 90-unit luxury home development on the 13-acre site directly south of the Landmark towers. Another challenge for the new GV council will be the fate of the Club Greenwood facility that is to be turned over to GV in 2030 from a supposed napkin agreement with the city. The agreement made with club developer John Madden years ago to keep GV from building a city-owned recreation facility. Should the city take ownership of Club Greenwood or sell it back to the Madden family? In the meantime, how much maintenance should be spent on a facility to be relinquished to the city? This is a great facility with a beehive of activity and very well-managed by the free enterprise Madden team. Should the city be in the health club business? Another question that has emerged is the trash collection for apartment buildings; should the Landmark condos be part of the free city services? Another suggestion by some of the new candidates was to open the study sessions to brief public comments. This would be a good step for all incumbents to hear short comments from local citizens with good ideas and not be intimidated by the formal council chambers. Wise men and women listen to their constituents. Good free advice!
Overall, Greenwood Village is in good hands, Mayor Lantz keeping a firm handle on the meetings and money in the bank. Law enforcement and safety have been very successful and GV is a safe place to live, work and play… just don’t drive around the DTC at 5 p.m. Traffic indicates business which brings in the revenue that flows into city sales tax and promotes business success. Sparse traffic means failing business; many rural Colorado cities would welcome more traffic.
Watch the video and read Freda’s pages, excellent educational summary of the event. Also, support the candidates of your choice financially. They are giving their time and talents to keep GV a special place. Public service, this day and age is a tough business.
COMING NEXT: More forums; a review of Centennial spirited mayoral and council races, recap of Littleton contests, and a very important Cherry Creek School Board election with four candidates seeking two-seats, bound to be hotly contested. Keep up with busy October elections by reading the 43-year-old Villager, the only news media still owned and operated by local residents including two Cherry Creek school graduates. We’ll also follow Aurora activities as they unfold. We can only do so much. We need your subscriptions to continue to publish print and flow digital news coverage of a great county and leading Colorado cities.