Who I am and why I am running for Mayor

I am currently employed by RTD. Prior to April 1995, I served as a manager in several cities for twenty-five plus years throughout the Central and Western United States. I have resided in Northglenn since 1994.

I am currently a member of the Northglenn Board of Adjustment. I previously served as a member of the Northglenn Urban Renewal Authority (NURA) until relieved by the Mayor in April of this year. I authored two initiated ordinances: The restriction on the use of our Water fund monies and the calling of the election on the Recreation Center Expansion Project over the objections of the Mayor and Council majority.

I also wrote the amendment to the Charter, which you will vote on this fall. The amendment creates a Water and Sewer Fund and prohibits the City from using the money for any other purpose. Only you, the voters, can allow the money to be used for other reasons by adopting a second amendment repealing the restrictions if you choose. I believe that should the fund ever accumulate excess funds; they should cut the rates and the sales tax. Don’t deceive the public! Unbelievably, the council had a resolution on the agenda that would have cancelled our ballot and allow them to resume using the water money in 2009 for any purpose they choose.

Since the January election others and I, independently, have been observing activities at City Hall. You have probably seen or heard of decisions and activities that are not in your best interests financially. Of particular interest to me is the fact that the year end fund balance in the General fund has been overspent every year since 2001 when it approached 85%. According to the City’s 2005 budget, the balance was reduced to 54% in 2003 and 28% in 2004. It also projects that during 2005 the City will improve the balance by one percent. All of this deficit spending has occurred despite the Marketplace sales taxes. I will reverse this direction.

Other decisions by the Mayor, Council and Manager of interest:
- A $75,000/year economic development director with no prior experience in the area has been propped up by consultants to the tune of $55,000 thus far.
- A $62,000/year plumbing inspector with no building inspection experience or certifications was promoted to chief building inspector. You have no certified building inspector.
- The City used a consultant to conduct a windshield survey-housing inventory, which included pictures of our homes, for $15,500.
- The Council’s refused to reduce the city manager’s unilateral spending authority from $50,000 per item. The Council majority does not believe it needs to approve or review these minor expenditures.
- At the Manager’s request, the Council paid a consultant $100,000 to advise him how to reorganize the city staff rather than rely on his own expertise. Since then, he hired the consultant as his Deputy for $110,782 per year with increases of $2,500 every three months for the first year.
-In 2004, the Council spent $44,580 for travel and conferences of which only $2,300 was for activities within the State. Of the total spent out-of-state, $4,400 was spent at a winter conference in Florida named Guarding the Public Checkbook.