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Jefferson County Commissioner Dist 1 / Junta de Comisionados del Condado

The county commissioners act as the governing body of the county. They enact policies such as the establishment of the property tax rate and the adoption of the budget. They adopt ordinances or local laws that affect citizens living in the unincorporated areas of the county. They are elected by all voters in the county to represent the district in which they live and serve a four year term. Watch the LWV sponsored Candidate Forum at HERE.Puede ver el Foro de Candidatos patrocinado por el LWV AQUÍ. (English)Junta de Comisionados del CondadoLos comisionados del condado actúan como órgano rector del condado. Son elegidos en general por períodos de cuatro años y promulgan políticas como el establecimiento de la tasa del impuesto a la propiedad y la adopción del presupuesto. Adoptan ordenanzas o leyes locales que afectan a los ciudadanos que viven en zonas no incorporadas del condado.

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    Eric Bodenstab
    (UPA)

  • Candidate picture

    Charlie Johnson
    (Rep)

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    Orion Schalhamer
    (Lib)

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    Rachel Zenzinger
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What are your top priorities for the office and how would you integrate them in your first 100 days?

What would you do to address environmental issues such as drought, wildfires and air quality, if anything?

What role should county government have in enforcing immigration laws? Please explain.

What steps would you take to ensure affordable housing is available?

Share your opinion on what level of impact the failure of the revenue retention ballot measure would have on residents. Please explain.

Submitted Biography Eric Bodenstab has lived in Colorado for 22 years and holds 2 advanced degrees from this state. He has lived in Arvada (Jeffco) since the birth of his younger son, who is now 6. He is also the father of a 9 year-old boy, who plays soccer or basketball 4 times a week. He is the husband of Jennifer Durio, a 25-year veteran of the Judicial Department. He also volunteers as a Cub Scout Den Leader and sits on the Colorado High School Water Polo Association Board.
Biografía Enviada Eric Bodenstab ha vivido en Colorado durante 22 años y tiene 2 títulos avanzados de este estado. Vive en Arvada (Jeffco) desde el nacimiento de su hijo menor, que ahora tiene 6 años. También es padre de un niño de 9 años, que juega fútbol o baloncesto 4 veces por semana. Es el marido de Jennifer Durio, una veterana de 25 años en el Departamento Judicial. También es voluntario como líder del den Cub Scout y forma parte de la Junta Directiva de la Asociación de Waterpolo de Escuelas Secundarias de Colorado.
Website / Sitio Web http://eric4jeffco.com
Campaign Phone 719-800-1604
Campaign Email ebodenstab@gmail.com
First priority is to expand the Commission Board to 5 members. If another commissioner can go along with that then there would be a ballot initiative for the voters in Jeffco. Next step, which also could be simultaneous - would be to put Home Rule on the ballot. With the ability to define Jeffco's system of government, the electoral system could be overhauled. The goal is Proportional Representation for our constituents. In short, Pro Rep would give 27% of the seats on the commission to 27% of the vote. There would be no wasted votes, and each party (>2 ) would have a say on the Board. An ideal number of commissioners may indeed be 10 or 11, but I don't have a preference on how large it should be, nor if it is an even number causing a standstill at times. Just that it should be more representative than one party with limited political vision.

Proportional Representation would then create multi-member districts, allowing for a threshold of 8-12% to secure a seat.
While it is a concern, I would not make any large alterations to our current policy - until the first priority is taken care of.

I would see if more Federal funds in the form of Payment in lieu of Taxes could be appropriated for firefighting.
Both the County and Feds should work together to enforce laws as necessary, bearing mind the delicate issue of family integration and how tough it is to immigrate to the US.
One problem that is unaddressed by state government and legislature is Metro District taxation. These districts can add $200-400 each month to a homeowner, that he or she may not see if they had chosen to buy outside one of these areas. If you are not familiar with these quasi-governmental districts, you should know that if you live in Jeffco and are assessed mill levy by this special tax district, then the County does not receive the money. It goes to the developer. It is a flawed system, and the majority of funds do not go to improvements (which in some cases have already been paid for with the initial sale of the home.)

I would put a moratorium on them in Jeffco, until audits can be done on a least 10 randomly selected Metro Districts. Bond rates need to be lower on the debt these tax districts incur - at the very least they need to be competitive, as these bonds are often not put on the open market.

My hope is to increase supply of housing by proper development.
This is related to the last question, because probably the majority of residents feel they are already being taxed plenty (even if they are a member of the Democratic Party). Nearly all constituents want to make sure their money is well spent, regardless of party. At the same time a revenue shortfall is worrisome, and cutting of services a risk.
Submitted Biography My wife Meagan and I are 30-year residents of Jefferson County and have raised our Family here. After 20 years as a law enforcement officer I am now a vocational education tractor trailer instructor, teaching veterans and local residents skills to enter the workforce. I have a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. I attended Catholic school. and my son graduated from Shrine of Saint Anne in Arvada and Mullen High School in Denver. I was a youth football coach for eight years, including one year as a volunteer high school coach at Golden High School.
Biografía Enviada Mi esposa Meagan y yo somos residentes de Jefferson County por los ultimos 30 años y tuvimos nuestra familia aqui. Despues de 20 años trabajando como oficial correccional, ahora soy un profesor vocacional de camiones, enseñando veteranos y residentes los habilidades para entrar al mercado laboral. Tengo un licenciatura en Gestión Hotelera del Universidad de Stroudsburg Oeste en Pennsylvania. Estudié en escuelas Catolicas, y mi hijo se graduó de Shrine de Santa Ana en Arvada, y Mullen por escuela secondaria en Denver. Era un entrenador de fútbol juvenil por ocho años, incluyendo un año como un entrenador voluntario en la escuela secondaria de Golden.
Website / Sitio Web http://www.cjforjeffco.com/
Campaign Phone (720)360-9922
Campaign Email charlie@cjforjeffco.com
Campaign Twitter Handle @CJ_ForJeffco
Ending spending policies in the county that contribute to inflation, including the high cost of illegal immigration, county spending on programs that do not have majority support and unnecessary regulation that slows development. We must review county budgets in detail to identify what is required to support essential county services and demand budget reviews focused on spending, requiring future budgets reflect a minimum 1-2% reduction in spending per department, excluding the Sheriff's Office and Road and Bridge returning savings to residential and commercial property owners as refunds or caps. Reducing crime by fully supporting all law enforcement in the county, including the Sheriff's office, and enabling them to enforce laws. Fully fund law enforcement, collaborate with other law enforcement entities where appropriate, follow existing laws regarding crime, and follow through on prosecutions. Eliminate policies or practices that obstruct immigration enforcement. Defend our TABOR.
The devastating Marshall Fire taught us that fire mitigation is not limited to our mountain communities. We must incentivize both residential and commercial property owners to reduce their fire risk in trade for tax rebates for qualifying properties. A wildfire property improvement plan in addition to the fire overlay plan should be the first step for property owners. Creation of defensible space and building improvements also could qualify for a rebate or grant. Preventing wildfires also supports better air quality by not introducing smoke and soot.
My opponent voted yes on HB 19-1124 and HB 23-1100, which defunded and limited local law enforcement's ability to work with Federal immigration officers. Jefferson County must first eliminate sanctuary policies, laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement. The county must stand up to state interference to protect county tax payers and residents. In collaboration with Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, I intend to ensure enforcement of existing ordinances pertaining to aggressive panhandling, destruction of public property, open drug use and any other disruptions by illegal immigrants.
There are three important approaches to making housing more affordable: 1. Provide tax and inflation relief for taxpayers. Bringing spending and taxes down will enable current homeowners to downsize and new buyers to afford starter homes. 2. Reduce complicated and unnecessary regulations that stall or completely stop development. We need to make it easier to develop affordable housing by streamlining the process. 3. Avoid coopting resources for non-citizen illegal immigrants. Taxpayers need to come first.

In addition, County Commissioners must study high-density housing that is dominating our development market. This is altering the landscape of our county, but it's unclear if this is a positive move. Such high-density rental housing certainly does not encourage reasonable home ownership.
I have challenged the current County Commissioners to pull the measure off the ballot. The fact that it has no end date means future voters have no say in how TABOR refunds are managed. Failure of the measure would be a win for Jefferson County taxpayers. The inflation we are experiencing in Jefferson County can be attributed to numerous factors including too much government spending. Jefferson County already collects increased revenue due to higher property taxes, driven by increases in home values. Families struggle with the price of groceries, fuel and housing costs so it makes sense to reduce the tax burden on Jefferson County residents. Letting people keep their TABOR refunds isn't a reduction in revenue for Jefferson County, it's a reduction in taxes for the taxpayer. Jefferson County needs to learn to live within its means
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Submitted Biography I grew up on the Western Slope in a working-class family. I moved to the Front Range to earn my teaching degree at Regis University. I am a social studies teacher with an extensive background in school finance. I was twice elected to the Arvada City Council, including serving as Mayor Pro Tem. I served nine years in the Colorado Senate, where I chaired the state’s Joint Budget Committee, Senate Appropriations and Education Committees. I live in Arvada with my husband and two college-aged children, where I enjoy volunteering with my Kiwanis Club and playing mahjong with friends.
Website / Sitio Web http://www.rachelforcolorado.com
Campaign Phone 303-748-0770
First, responsibly balance the county budget to live within the fiscal constraints of TABOR while also meeting the needs of our large, geographically diverse and highly populated county. Second, address aging roads and infrastructure, including expanding multimodal options and improving driver safety. Third, focus on increasing affordable housing by exploring strategic actions, establishing community partnerships, and implementing innovative county-wide programs. The outcome of the 1A measure will influence the urgency of all three priorities. If the measure is unsuccessful, the county must cut $20 million (approximately 10%) from the General Fund, which will affect our ability to address our aging infrastructure and affordable housing options. Conversely, if the measure passes, we must start the prioritization process for those funds. Regardless of 1A's outcome, I will draw from my experience as the state's budget chair to exercise sound judgment in these decisions.
Addressing environmental issues in Jeffco requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. That’s why the county already developed and approved the Jefferson County Climate Action Plan. Some of the strategies outlined in the plan include water conservation, wildfire mitigation, air quality monitoring, and renewable energy. One area in which we could improve at the county level would be to increase community engagement on the plan. I only learned about the plan recently, and we could do a better job of educating the public about the importance of environmental stewardship and our plan and the steps we are taking to address the negative impacts of climate change. We must increase resident involvement in the decision-making processes related to environmental policies and initiatives for the plan to be effective.
None. County governments have a limited role in enforcing immigration laws, as the federal government is responsible for immigration enforcement. Conversely, if the county were to get involved, there could be negative consequences. For example, if the county were to detain illegal immigrants, we could be liable for violating the Fourth Amendment. However, while counties do not have a direct role in enforcing immigration laws, counties are still important stakeholders in discussions about the impact of immigration policies. That’s why The National Association of Counties formed an Immigration Reform Task Force. County officials from across the nation came together to discuss the impact of federal immigration policy on local governments and have developed a series of consensus principles on the subject. My views align closely with these principles.
Jeffco does not have a direct role regarding housing beyond administering state and federal funds for a variety of homeless, housing, economic development and infrastructure improvement initiatives. However, the availability and cost of housing has a major impact on the community, and I believe the county should do more to address housing. Jeffco should strengthen its partnership with Foothills Regional Housing. FRH is a collective effort between the Jefferson County Commissioners and a housing task force focused on the housing needs of low- and moderate-income households. Second, we should continue working with the Jeffco Housing Advocacy Steering Committee, a group tasked with developing and implementing strategies to increase affordable housing in Jeffco. We have already developed a “Blueprint” that will serve as a regional plan for increasing affordable middle-income housing. Lastly, Jeffco can be more aggressive in taking advantage of several new state affordable housing programs.
If the revenue retention ballot measure does not pass, the county will be forced to cut $20 million (or 10%) from the General Fund. Not all county departments are supported by the General Fund, but the ones that are--the Sheriff, District Attorney, and the Business, Information and Technology—seem important to me. Recently, the Colorado Health Foundation conducted a poll to better understand the priorities and attitudes of Coloradans on a range of important issues. Homelessness and affordable housing were top concerns, followed by drug overdoses and crime, then wildfires and natural disasters. If we had to cut 10% from the three departments above, the county would be hard pressed to make progress on the top concerns of Jeffco residents. Conversely, we could make huge positive progress toward improving public safety and protecting their homes from wildfire if we had the proper resources to do so.