C NVERSATIONS

tax increase since 1995.

He continued, “TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) restrictions limit our ability to do what we need to do on a daily basis--much less address a growing backlog of infrastructure repairs (which are) historically underfunded by $15 million annually…The BOCC has used emergency, one-time federal funds to provide critical services over the past few years (which is) not sustainable… We will evaluate all our options, including the potential to ask voters to remove the revenue cap of TABOR, commonly known as ‘de-brucing.’ Of Colorado’s 64 counties, 51 of them have debruced, including our neighbors to the north and south in Adams and Douglas Counties.”

Commissioner Leslie Summey focused on the work of the county’s human services staff, pointing out that, “The Community and Child Support Services division met 100% of the state’s timeliness measures for public

Continued on page 5

The Villager publishers spent a large portion of Friday and Saturday attending the Western Conservative Summit with this year’s theme, “WESTERN STRONG.” a large group of CCU students.

And strong it was at the sparkling clean and friendly staffed Colorado Convention Center with the large blue bear peeking in the window at visitors coming to the event hosted by the Centennial Institute, a non-profit public policy think tank at Colorado Christian University.

BY BOB SWEENEY

Throughout both days educational and informative workshops were conducted by conservative leaders on education, public land policy, parental rights, electric grid challenges, second amendment court issues, school board elections, biblical values, faith, and technology. No political advocacy was conducted for the election or defeat of any candidates for public office.

The Western Conservative Summit is one of the largest gatherings of conservatives in the western United States. Average attendance over the past 14 years has been 2,300 with this year breaking records of attendance, teaming with Wyoming Family Alliance patriots and many Western States attendees.

The Summit was founded by Cherry Hills resident and U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong and former State Senator John Andrews in 2010. During the two-day period over 50 state and national leaders spoke about challenges facing the state and nation. After leaving the U.S. Senate, Armstrong served several decades as Colorado Christian University President. CCU becoming one of the top Christian Universities in the nation, founded on support of “Faith, Family, and Freedom” under his leadership.

The Conservative Summit is managed by Cherry Creek high school alumnus and CSU graduate, Jeff Hunt, Centennial Institute Director, and co-chair, Dr. Donald Sweeting, now Chancellor at CCU.

The two-day session focused on common sense, not “nonsense” playing out daily in Washington D.C. Many speakers are prominent leaders in Colorado and the nation. Among the lengthy list of speakers were Governor Asa Hutchinson, announced candidate for U.S. President; U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, Missouri; Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman, Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, Congressmen Ken Buck, and Doug Lamborn. Coffey Anderson, an acclaimed country music star, performed for a very receptive audience and

Three of the speakers have recently received national attention in the media, including former Congresswoman and presidential candidate, Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard is a combat veteran with deployment in the Middle East and Africa. She currently serves as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. She served eight years in the U.S. Congress and served on the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Committees. She was a major speaker at the Saturday night event, expressing her fears about America’s future.

Lightening up the serious speakers Saturday evening was Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, advocate of political satire that has placed him on the front lines of the battle for freedom of speech. He displayed some very funny satire on a screen including U-Haul trailers leaving California as a leading state industry.

The new President of Colorado Christian University Eric Hogue briefly welcomed the packed Bellco Theatre audience as he takes over the presidency of CCU following in the footsteps of Armstrong and Dr. Donald Sweeting. Hogue has served as vice-president of University Advancement since 2018 and his wife Tammy is an award-winning educator in Christ-centered higher education. Hogue moved into the presidency of CCU ten-days prior to the Western Summit.

The highlight of the evening was the lead-off event with Wil Armstrong, son of the late Senator and CCU President, presenting the annual Willian L. Armstrong Award to recipient Kristen Waggoner.

The Western Summit’s highest honor was presented to Waggoner for her leadership as CEO, president, and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, one of America’s most successful advocates for life, liberty, and family. ADF, under Waggoner’s leadership and participation has won 15 U.S. Supreme Court victories.

One of the victories was Colorado based Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. (A cake was presented after the award by the bakery owners with samples for all).

Waggoneer oversees the efforts of more than 400 ADF team members in seven global offices as well 4,500 network attorneys engaged in litigation, legislation, training, funding, and public advocacy. ADF also provides legal resources to nearly 4,000 churches and ministries through the Ministry Alliance program and defends prosecuted churches in dozens of countries.

Arapahoe County State Representative and former County Commissioner, Rod Bockenfeld, was honored for his work in the legislature this session and presented a Western Summit Freedom Award along with other outstanding state legislators.

To see and hear session events and view programs visit CCU websites/#WCS23 Colorado is on the map and no longer a fly-over state.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

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The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.

Reverend Martin Niemoller

“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and didn’t speak up because wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

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