Rod Bockenfeld has almost as much of a staple on the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners as women named Nancy in recent years. But after three terms on the commission, Bockenfeld — who serves Commissioners District 3 with Nancy Sharpe, Nancy Doty, Nancy Jackson and Bill Holen — is leaving office due to term limits. Battling to replace the Centennial businessman and budget wonk on the board are Democrat Janet Cook and Republican Jeff Baker. The district covers Centennial, parts of Aurora and all of eastern Arapahoe County. In terms of geography, it’s the county’s largest. In recent years the relationship between Aurora and the three counties it covers — Arapahoe, Adams and a small sliver of Douglas — has been at-times strained over issues pertaining to the county services provided inside Aurora’s borders. City officials seriously considered converting Aurora into a city and county but have largely scrapped that idea after deciding the plan was too costly.
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By BRANDON JOHANSSON, Staff writer
Next commish for Arapahoe County’s largest district faces tall order
Arapahoe County’s largest commissioner district has some big shoes to fill this fall.
After three terms representing District 3, Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld is leaving office due to term limits.
That means for the first time since 2005, someone other than Bockenfeld will represent the massive district that includes everything from the E-470 toll road to the county’s eastern border, as well as a swath of eastern Aurora. In addition to Aurora, the sprawling district also includes parts of Centennial and the towns of Foxfield, Bennett and Deer Trail.
Vying to replace the longtime commissioner are Democrat Janet Cook and Republican Jeff Baker.
The relationship between Arapahoe County and its largest municipality has been an interesting one over the years. Many at city hall have argued that Aurora should break with the three counties it covers and instead become a city and county.
That could have meant a huge loss of revenue for Arapahoe County, but city officials last year largely scrapped their efforts to convert Aurora into a city and county.
Still, the interactions between the two governments will likely be an important issue going forward.
Baker, who is from Centennial, said he understands the issue especially well, in part because he has been an employee of both the city of Aurora and Arapahoe County.
The relationship between the two is good right now, Baker said, but there is always room for improvement, especially in areas like transportation where there is shared interest.
“Increased regional projects are a great example of where we can work together. I look forward to the planned improvements for the intersection of Quincy Avenue and Gun Club Road, and the eventual widening of Quincy east of E-470,” he said.
Cook, who has worked in the aerospace industry, said she has experience forging alliances among groups, and that would help her as a commissioner.
“I would survey the landscape and working with the board of commissioners, help move forward with government relationships that need to be addressed,” she said.
And while Aurora has largely moved on from becoming a county for the time being, the issue has come and gone several times over the years, and it could pop up again.
Cook, who hails from Bennett, said that whether Aurora is its own county or part of Arapahoe doesn’t change the fact that Aurora and Arapahoe County will need to work together.
“Aurora’s decision to become a county is their right. Whether Aurora stays a city or becomes a county will not change the fact that there will be interaction with Arapahoe County,” Cook said. “My focus will be that commitments will be honored and Arapahoe County will be prepared for such a transition if and when the city of Aurora citizens approves of going to a county.”
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Cook moved to Arapahoe County almost a decade ago and currently resides in Bennet. This is her first run at elected office. Before coming to Aurora she lived in Wyoming and Mississippi and was active in her local community in both places. She works in the aerospace industry.
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A Denver native, Baker has worked for both the city of Aurora and Arapahoe County. With Aurora, he worked as a crime scene investigator for the police department. He worked for Arapahoe County for 18 years, including more than a decade with the Facilities and Fleet Management Department.
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What makes you the most-qualified candidate? By not being entrenched in the culture of county government, I am more open and willing to change what is not working in programs, services and departments. I don’t have a narrow or stovepipe view of how business is operated and I am no stranger to conflict when addressing what needs to be changed. I have a history of affecting change. In 2006, I moved here to replace a manager, who moved up the career ladder within the same aerospace facility, who built relationships within that organization, and was unable to move change and turn a poor performing facility around. My experience of quality control, restructuring organizations, cost accounting working with an $11 billion budget, turning around poor performing facilities and being exposed to various ways of doing business with a results-driven approach is why I am most-qualified candidate.
As commissioner, what steps would you take to improve the relationship between county administration and the various municipal governments in Arapahoe County? I have extensive experience in building networks and alliances, identifying the internal and external politics that impact the relationships, building consensus through give and take and gaining cooperation from others to achieve common goals. I would survey the landscape and work with the board of commissioners, help move forward with government relationships that need to be addressed.
Now that Aurora has largely scrapped it’s efforts to become a city and county, how do you see the relationship between Aurora and Arapahoe County changing in the coming years? Aurora’s decision to become a county is their right. Whether Aurora stays a city or becomes a county will not change the fact that there will be interaction with Arapahoe County. My focus will be that commitments will be honored and Arapahoe County will be prepared for such a transition if and when the city of Aurora citizens approves of going to a county. Until that time, the Aurora citizens in my district need a voice that represents them in Littleton. Eastern Arapahoe County, including all our communities and unincorporated areas, need representation for their various interests.
What should the county do to increase available water for development and reduce wells in the aquifer? The county needs to take a multi-faceted approach to our water resources, use and supply by encouraging partnerships and working together to increase efficiency, improved infrastructure and share resources. We need to constantly seek better results from Water and Wastewater Service Facilities, encourage developments having access to dual distribution system for clean potable water and return highly reclaimed water for outdoor use, such as Pure Cycle Corporation. Exploring landscape xeriscape design and supporting rain-barrel storage in urban areas. Additionally, we need to be working toward a long-term regional solution to address this critical need. Should the county consider increasing taxes to improve services to the unincorporated sections of the county not already served by a municipality? Unincorporated Arapahoe County has been neglected with few significant improved services for years. Citizens in this area pay their fair share of taxes to the county and the current situation signifies an imbalance of services and improvements going to other areas of the county. We need to question current programs, conventional approaches and services, and identify inequalities, weigh results, develop new insights and take a long-term view and build a shared vision on how to address the inequity that is evident in county services before ever considering a tax increase (which has been the typical easy way out).
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What makes you the most-qualified candidate? My extensive leadership experience in Arapahoe County and my long history of public service make me the most-qualified candidate. Whether it was during my years serving as a U.S. Army MP, including a tour in Desert Storm, five years performing crime scene investigations as a supervisor for the Aurora Police Department, or my 18 years working for Arapahoe County at both the Human Services Department and Facilities and Fleet Management, I have the leadership and management experience to get things done.
I know the county backward and forward. I know how the wheels of government work but, more importantly, I appreciate how they affect residents on a day-to-day basis. I understand that my neighbors in Arapahoe County want to know that they are safe, that they can get from point A to point B without insane traffic congestion, and that growth within the county will be handled responsibly. I am also very sensitive to the fact that government must be responsive to its citizens.
As commissioner, what steps would you take to improve the relationship between county administration and the various municipal governments in Arapahoe County? While there is always room for improvement, working relationships between cities and Arapahoe County are currently working well. For example, I have worked on numerous projects with city of Aurora staff and have established great relationships there with a lot of success.
Elected officials and staff in both the county and its cities should continue to meet regularly to look for opportunities to work together wherever we have common interests. Transportation projects that reduce congestion and improve traffic safety; economic development to recruit good jobs while emphasizing responsible growth; public safety/crime prevention; ensuring a long-term water supply as our county and cities grow; facilitating the availability of affordable housing; and open communication are several areas that are important to fostering ongoing, positive relationships.
Now that Aurora has largely scrapped its efforts to become a city and county, how do you see the relationship between Aurora and Arapahoe County changing in the coming years? Arapahoe County will continue to provide quality services to Aurora citizens and always work to improve the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of our services wherever possible. Technological progress will allow for streamlined application processes and faster responses from the county.
Increased regional projects are a great example of where we can work together. I look forward to the planned improvements for the intersection of Quincy Avenue and Gun Club Road and the eventual widening of Quincy east of E-470. I am also hopeful for the development of a regional crime lab for Aurora, Arapahoe County and Douglas County, something near and dear to my heart since I continue to teach forensic science at the Community College of Aurora. As our population grows, it will be important for the city and the county to communicate and work together on issues of shared concern.
What should the county do to increase available water for development and reduce wells in the aquifer? Presently, Arapahoe County partners with Denver Water, Aurora Water, East Cherry Creek Valley, Pure Cycle and Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority. We are fortunate that our major suppliers all have renewable water available. New developments must demonstrate that adequate water will be available through these suppliers and will not have to rely on ground water over the long term. This is another example where the board of county commissioners and city councils need to work together to ensure that future growth can be accommodated responsibly.
Should the county consider increasing taxes to improve services to the unincorporated sections of the county not already served by a municipality? Any proposal to improve county provided services to unincorporated areas should be given every possible opportunity to be considered and evaluated by appropriate associations, community groups, commissions, boards and, ultimately, the board of county commissioners. My preference would be to consider all other methods to fund services before going back to the taxpayer. Increasing taxes should always be done in accordance with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) and should only be done in rare and prudent circumstances.
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What food do you hate most? Beets – never acquired the taste.
Do you indulge in recreational marijuana? No, never smoked or indulged in recreational marijuana.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? Téa Leoni, actress (from) “Madam Secretary.” She focuses on doing the right thing, direct and family-focused.
What Olympic Sport so you wish you could win gold at? Swimming, love swimming!
What was your favorite childhood candy? Anything chocolate.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? Be present when Charles Lindbergh speaks after his historic flight.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? Badger — physical and emotional strength and tenacious approach to life’s challenges.
If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. Does lip sync count? “I Want it That Way,” by Backstreet Boys.
What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone? Cremation urn, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
Is a hot dog a sandwich? Good question, never gave it much thought as I rarely eat a hot dog.
What is the last concert you attended? Garth Brooks in Casper, Wyoming.
What movie do you never tire of watching? “Twlight” series.
Dogs or cats? One dog and two barn cats.
What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? Overrated? From my perspective, I love Colorado and all that it has to offer living here!
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What food do you hate most? I don’t hate any food. I do hate latex balloons, but that doesn’t really answer the question. Possibly it raises more questions…
Do you indulge in recreational marijuana? No. I like my brownies plain. We are already at 5,280 feet — no need to go higher.
Who would play you in a movie about your life? I’d like to think Kevin Costner. Or Sean Connery.
What Olympic Sport do you wish you could win gold at? Beach volleyball. I’d love to be that healthy and in shape.
What was your favorite childhood candy? Wax coke bottles with the liquid inside.
If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be? The resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be? “Reacher” (reference to the Tom Cruise movie about a former CID Special Agent.) “Windmill” (reference to the windmills installed at the Arapahoe County 17-Mile House property.)
If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts. “Stairway to Heaven,” by Led Zeppelin.
What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone? “The best is yet to come!”
Is a hot dog a sandwich? At the risk of alienating the “Meat Between Two Pieces of Bread” lobby, no it is not.
What is the last concert you attended? My granddaughter Helena’s fifth-grade choir concert at Peakview Elementary School.
What movie do you never tire of watching? “Dances with Wolves”
Dogs or cats? Dogs. I have had both, but right now I have a border collie and a Maltipoo. I also have a bearded dragon. I am an equal opportunity animal lover.
What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado? Over 300 days of sunshine every year. My lawn needs rain and I spend a fortune on sunscreen every year! We can have rain barrels now too.
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Click here for Janet Cook’s Campaign Finance Reports
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Click here for Jeff Baker’s Campaign Finance Reports
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Not available.
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Not available.
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