With the November election just six weeks away, last week the two candidates in the District 2 county commission race shared similar views about the challenges facing the county, including sensible economic development, ensuring county employee wages remain competitive, and addressing population growth without sacrificing open space.
Looking ahead, Tighe said he would like to remain focused on some of the projects he’s already been involved with during his first term, such as working with the Sustainability Committee. That committee was launched about two years ago to establish a partnership with Xcel Energy to explore ways residents, businesses and government agencies can take advantage of energy conservation opportunities.
Another major issue at the top of Tighe’s mind is the anticipated rate of population growth for Jeffco over the next five, 10 and 20 years. “People are not only coming to Jeffco from all over the Front Range, but also all over the country,” Tighe said. “How are we going to accommodate that growth without losing open space?
Teunissen was born in Germany and raised by his mother. About the time he was 12 years old, Teunissen’s mom met a U.S. Army serviceman who was stationed overseas. The two decided to marry, and in 1977 Teunissen, who didn’t know a lick of English, and his mother moved to Morrison, where his new dad adopted him, and began the citizenship process. He’s been a self-proclaimed patriot ever since.
Like Tighe, Teunissen ranks economic development high on his list of priorities, adding that it’s important for the county to work with the business community to eliminate the red tape that can sometimes stymie potential job growth in Jeffco.
Teunissen also cited a statistic predicting Jeffco’s population is expected to grow by 120,000 in the next 20 years. A big part of addressing those needs includes expanding programs for senior citizens. Jefferson County has the highest population of seniors of any other county in the state, Teunissen said.
Read more here:
www.canyoncourier.com/content/candidates...issues-facing-jeffco
By Joe Moylan
Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 2:05 pm
