----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Angela Engel" <angela_engel@msn.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:42:47 AM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain
Subject: Ballots due Tues - Vote Vorry
Dear friends and neighbors in Centennial,
Monday evening I hosted a small coffee and conversation with city council candidates Vorry Moon and Bruce Stahlman. National politics seem to get the most attention but it is city and county government decisions that closely impact our everyday lives. I think it is important for us to know our representatives and how we can be most influential in our communities. Thanks to the neighbors who stopped by Monday night's impromptu meeting with city council candidates Vorry Moon (Centennial) and Bruce Stahlman (Littleton). It was a rare and wonderful event to sit opposite neighboring council members. I only wished I would have had more chairs, and perhaps a larger living room. Below is a brief summary of the comments and insights that were shared.
Re-Cap of Mon. night's meeting
Topics of discussion:
- Code enforcement - some concern was expressed over areas in Centennial where fences had fallen down or weeds had become overgrown along public roadways. Centennial has four code enforcers who patrol and first offer warnings and then give citations for code violations. One neighbor shared how positive her experience had been with a code enforcement representative and how her street drainage problem had been addressed within a couple of weeks of being reported. If you have questions or would like to report a code violation contact 303-325-8000. Reports can be made anonymously.
- A great deal of the conversation was devoted to the question of increasing revenues through economic development. The challenge that cities are currently facing in this economic recession is that sales tax revenues are declining. Property taxes in Colorado rank in the lowest in the nation. With the continued need for services in the areas of public safety, (fire and police) and public works (snow removal, weed control, road maintenance, etc.). The question was how to fill empty retail space and attract revenue and jobs to our cities. Vorry discussed the use of tax increment financing incentives for businesses. Bruce Stahlman highlighted Littleton's Economic Gardening Program. If you are a small business owner in Littleton you have access to data bases and resources that can assist you in consumer targeting and business development. Contact Chris Gibbons at 303.795.3749 for more information. Both candidates agreed that supporting local businesses and spending locally directly benefit us the citizens in terms of returns in both thriving business districts and availability of quality services.
- Part of our discussion focused on ways to improve our communities. Concern was expressed over feeling a lack of sense of community in Centennial. Given that Centennial is still fairly new as a city and that while large, over 100,000, our borders are not well known. There is currently a city-wide initiative to develop and place sign markers on the entry points in an effort to build greater identity. The city council has also worked to create community wide events. For a list of Centennial's services and community events visit: http://www.centennialcolorado.com/index.aspx. For Littleton visit: http://www.littletongov.org/. Community building doesn't just happen at our city council meetings. Community building begins in our neighborhoods. Sometimes it starts with a wave or a hand-shake and later develops into a neighborhood watch program. There is no question that as citizens we feel safer and happier in communities that are friendly, connected, and inclusive. I recently heard a story of a cul-de-sac struggling over what to do with a neighbor's unruly yard. Several attempts to contact the residents had failed and eventually the decision was made not to contact code enforcement but to simply mow the front lawn. The kindness of those was met with deep embarrassment from the home owner. Her husband had recently suffered a stroke and she'd been spending all of her time at the hospital.
- An active participant in our public schools expressed a wish that Centennial become more involved in Littleton Public School Initiatives. Both Bruce Stahlman and Vorry Moon shared a desire to build greater partnership between city government, schools and special districts such as South Suburban. Partnerships require fewer dollars but greater leadership. It was clear that these were two candidates who are committed to collaboration and increased savings through resource sharing and improved services resulting from communication and coordination. As citizen's, this is an area where we can hold our elected representatives accountable. Watch for new partnerships to grow between cities, recreation districts, schools, and libraries. Share your ideas, ask questions, and check on the development of these new partnerships.
- When asked the question about how citizens can be better informed and more influential in local government. Both candidates stressed the importance of showing up. I would encourage everyone to attend at least one city council or school board meeting a year. I have included the dates, times, and locations below. In addition, please contact both candidates to get on their e-mail lists. Both Bruce and Vorry provide regular updates and once re-elected will hold district meetings to promote community participation and further solicit your input.
Vorry Moon
1757 E Jamison Ave
Centennial, CO 80122-3008
(303) 347-2364
vcmoon@comcast.net
Centennial City Council meetings are held the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Monday of the month in council chambers at Centennial City Offices, 13133 E. Arapahoe Rd, Centennial, 80122 (303)825-8000
Cherry Creek School Board meetings:
2nd Monday of the month at 7 pm
Full calendar: http://www.ccsd.k12.co.us/Superintendent/BOESchedule/
Littleton School Board meetings:
5776 S. Crocker St.
Littleton, CO 80120
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 7 pm
Full calendar: http://www.littletonpublicschools.net/DISTRICTINFORMATION/BoardofEducation/BoardMeetings/tabid/282/Default.aspx
- Additionally Julie Godfrey and daughter Sheridan came by. Brett Godfrey is running for HD 37 in Centennial. Everyone is invited to his official campaign kick-off:
Please join Brett Godfrey on Saturday, November 14th from 4:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel located at 7801 Orchard Rd in
Greenwood Village. Brett Godfrey will be running for the State House
of Representatives - District 37 in the November 2010 election. Light
snacks and beverages will be provided. Please check out his campaign
website at www.brettgodfrey.com
We hope to see you there!
I want to thank everyone who gave up a couple of hours of their evening to stop by, especially on such short notice, for some dessert and conversation. It was so refreshing to sit comfortably with neighbors from different political ideologies and openly discuss our values and hopes for the community we all share. Democracy is derived from two Greek words: demo and kratos. Demo refers to people, and krato refers to their power or rule. Demo-kratos literally means rule by power of the people as citizens. I believe that the picture Monday night was what they had in mind when our forefathers chose Democracy as America's governing political structure.
Ballots are due by 7pm, Tuesday, November 3rd.
Thank you Bruce and Vorry for your willingness to serve us in local government and for your informed and gracious presence in our community. It was so wonderful to see neighboring future council members looking for ways to collaborate and build on each other's good work - that is leadership. So, if you have not sent in your ballot, please select Vorry Moon for Centennial District 1 and mail your ballots today. Off season elections are often determined by very small margins and your vote will count.
Warmest regards on this snowy afternoon,
Angela Engel
