September 27: Candidate Forum hosted by Evergreen Newspapers, Chambers

The Jeffco Public Schools and Evergreen Fire Rescue Mill Levy presentations are up first.

Jefferson County Commissioner Candidates
From right to left:
District 1
Marti Smith
Libby Szabo

District 2
Casey Tighe
Frank Teunissen

House Representative District 23 Candidates
Tammy Story
Tim Leonard

The video of the Candidate Forum is now uploaded to our YouTube Channel! You can watch it below, all time stamps are listed along with the questions that each candidate was asked.



Jefferson County Candidates Forum
Organized by Evergreen Newspapers, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce and Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce. Hosted at Center Stage, Evergreen.

2016 Election
County Commissioners, District 1 & 2
Colorado House of Representatives House District 25 Candidates
Jeffco Public Schools Ballot Issue 3A/3B - Mill Levy & Bond
Evergreen Fire Rescue Ballot Issue 4A - Mill Levy

Introduction - Betsy Hays, President, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce

@4:20 Doug Bell, Moderator
Editor, Evergreen Newspapers

Mill Levy Issues:
Jeffco Public Schools 3A/3B Mill Levy
Evergreen Fire Rescue 4A Mill Levy

@6:15 For: Dan McMinimee, Superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools

@11:01 Against: Laura Boggs, former Jeffco Public Schools Board Member

@16:45 Question: What's the difference between 3A and 3B?

@20:45 Question: Who is funding your respective campaigns?

@21:40 Question: Why are we being asked yet again for funding? Is the board not able to adequately determine needs?

@24:48 Closing statements. 1 minute each

@27:10 Evergreen Fire Rescue 4A
Against: John Putt, Evergreen resident, former paramedic & firefighter. Organization: Save Evergreen's Emergency Services

@32:27 For: Mark Davidson, Evergreen resident, former EFR firefighter & Chief of the department

@37:25 Question: Does the district make an effort to collect unpaid Medicare payments?

@38:42 Question: Does TABOR restrict this kind of taxation? Residents cannot afford to pay more.

@40:57 Question: Will the district not benefit from the increase in home values?

@43:28 Candidate Introductions, 3 minutes
Marti Smith, District 1 Candidate
Libby Szabo, District 1 Candidate
Casey Tighe, District 2 Candidate
Frank Teunissen, District 2 Candidate
Tammy Story, House Representative District 25 Candidate
Tim Leonard, House Representative District 25 Candidate

@1:00:49 Question for Jeffco Commissioner Candidates: How do you balance the rights of landowners to develop their properties with the rights of neighborhoods and nearby property owners to maintain quality of life? Examples include building affordable housing or to expand businesses.

@1:09:22 Question for HD25 representatives: Given the TABOR amendment which limits state revenues and Amendment 23 which mandates annual increases in education funding, how do we continue to balance the state budget?

@1:13:55 Question for Jeffco Commissioner Candidates: As one of Jeffco's largest employers how does the county retain quality employees amid rising housing costs and wage pressure that can come with possible increase in the minimum wage?

@1:21:42 Question for HD25 Representatives: Given the rapid increase in the state's population across all age groups how does the state meet future needs in the following areas: roads and transportation, schools, senior services, prisons, and healthcare?

@1:26:32 Audience Question for Jeffco Commissioners - What is your position on getting Jefferson County to 100% Renewable Energy and the policy required to make that happen?

@1:31:13 Audience Question for HD25 Representative Candidates: What principles will you use to guide you as you vote on legislation?

@1:32:24 Audience Question for Jeffco Commissioners: Why can't we limit growth? I see nearly every tract of land being built on and ruining the beauty of this county.

@1:36:45 Audience Question for HD25 Representative Candidates:
How do you justify specifically the bond issue when enrollment is flat and there are empty seats in Jeffco Schools? Perhaps discuss state funding in regards to schools.

@1:39:55 Audience Question for Jeffco Commissioners: Relates to JeffCom, consolidated emergency dispatch center. Is this going to save money for the local districts or ultimately is this going to cost everybody more somehow?

@1:43:30 HD25 Representative Candidates: There are a mess of things on the ballot, including one thing that makes it harder to make amendments to the state constitution. Pick one State Constitutional Amendment Proposed and tell us where you stand on it?

Video recorded by, and property of, My Mountain Town.
All Rights Reserved.