Elk Creek Fire Candidate Forum 2025 Video

This is the video of the Elk Creek Fire Protection District Board of Directors Candidate Forum for the May 2025 election hosted by Canyon Courier on April 15, 2025.
62 in attendance

ELK CREEK FIRE FORUM

1. Welcome and Introduction by Eric Heinz, Editor, Colorado Community Media

"We are intent on fostering a respectful, informative and inclusive environment where candidates and community members feel heard and valued. To accomplish this, here are some codes of conduct we will hold as standard:

No interruptions: Candidates and audience members must allow speakers to finish.
Respectful language only: No name-calling, personal attacks or inflammatory statements.
Equal treatment: All candidates get the same time and are asked the same or comparable questions.
We will of course ask for the audience to not cheer, jeer or applaud until the end.

Director of Editorial Linda Shapley will be our official timekeeper. She will put up a sign at 30 seconds and at 10 seconds before giving you the dreaded bell. ding When the bell goes off, we’ll give our candidates the opportunity to finish their sentence, but no more than 5 seconds.

@1:30 minute mark
Candidate introductions
—--
Michael Bartlett
He has been a Conifer resident since 2000 and works in tech support for Radiant Underflow Heating. He is a retired Elk Creek and North Fork firefighter for more than 20 years and a Rocky Mountain chapter of Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club board member. Please welcome Michael Bartlett.

Al Leo
He has been a Conifer resident since 2019. A retired telecom sales and business development professional, and a community fire ambassador for Conifer Wildland Division. Please welcome Al Leo.

Kathleen Noonan
She has been a Conifer resident since 2018 and is a geotechnical engineer as well as a Colorado Professional Firefighter Foundation board member, former Ken Caryl HOA board member and is married to a retired West Metro firefighter. Please welcome Kathleen Noonan.

Thomas Seymour
He has been a Conifer resident since 2011 and is a semi-retired energy control manager for Mile High Theatrical. Please welcome Thomas Seymour.

Todd Wagner
He has been a Conifer resident since 1992 and is the owner of Altitude Electric, and he is a former Elk Creek Fire volunteer firefighter. Please welcome Todd Wagner.

@3:15 minute mark
2. Opening Statements
· 1 minute per candidate

@8:40 minute mark
3. Question Round 1 – Key questions from us
· 90 seconds to answer per candidate

a. With the recent decision by Jefferson County Commissioners and the possibility of further litigation in court, how confident are you in the future of the unification with Conifer Fire? Are you in favor of unification or not?

@17:00 minute mark
b. We’ve heard that volunteer firefighters have been difficult to recruit recently and that overall volunteer numbers are down. What do you believe are the best ways to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters?

@25:10 minute mark
c. What do you perceive as ECFPD’s greatest challenges, and what specific solution do you propose for each problem?

@34:00 minute mark
4. Question Round 2 – Audience/Community Questions
· 90 seconds per answer

a. In addition to emergency response (fire, rescue, and medical), ECFPD currently offers, among others, services in mitigation, chipping, ‘home hardening’, ‘defensible space’, and public education.

@42:32 minute mark
b. With continued growth in our community and the potential for increased demand on emergency services, how do you view the role of diversifying the fire department’s funding sources?

@50:58 minute mark
c. Elk Creek Fire is a unionized department, and collective bargaining plays a role in decisions that affect staffing, compensation and working conditions. How do you view the role of labor unions in the fire service, and how would you approach working with union leadership to ensure both firefighter well-being and the delivery of high-quality service to the public?

@57:57 minute mark
5. Final question
· One thoughtful question for each candidate to reflect on their vision or leadership style
· 1 minute per candidate

a. What is your highest priority for Elk Creek Fire Protection District and how would you accomplish your goals as a board member?

@1:03:28 minute mark
6. Closing Statements
· 2 minutes per candidate

@1:13:15 minute mark
7. Wrap-up and Thank You

“Thank you, candidates, for attending tonight’s Elk Creek Fire Protection District Board of Directors election forum. Please remember, election day is May 6, and polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on that day. A list of drop-off locations for ballots is available at elkcreekfpd.colorado.gov/transparency/elections . Thank you once again and goodnight.”

Elk Creek Fire candidates weigh in on unification, other district issues
Canyon Courier, March 14, 2025

Michael Bartlett
Website: michaelsbartlett.com/
No social media

Al Leo
Website: www.alleoforelkcreekfpd.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572625738357

Kathleen Noonan
Website: www.noonanforelkcreek.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573520624092

Tom Seymour
Website: tom4elkcreekfire.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574165212810
Instagram
X

Todd Wagner
Website: toddforelkcreek.com/
No social media