Be safe. Stay Strong.
July 9, 2020 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 3
Arapahoe County Republican Breakfast Club meets again BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the spring, the Arapahoe County Republican Breakfast Club (ACRBC) resumed its early morning monthly meetings at Maggiano’s DTC. Instead of the usual crowd numbering between 100 and 150, attendance was limited to 50 people and no one sat next to anyone else at the round tables provided by Maggiano’s. Servers were all masked. Attendees were required to wear masks until they were seated and upon leaving their tables. Instead of the usual buffet service, family-style platters were used for the breakfast food. Speaking to the smaller-than-usual crowd, who were generally grateful to be out of their houses and seeing old friends, were Republican State Reps. Rod Bockenfeld (HD56) and Richard Champion (HD38), both running for re-election on November 3. Bockenfeld is a former 12year Arapahoe County Commissioner who is running for his second term against Democrat Dr. Maria-Vittoria “Giugi” Carminati, JD, LLM, JSD, who, among her other legal degrees, holds a law doctorate in space law. Champion is running for his first full term. He was appointed by a Republican vacancy committee on February 8 to fill the remainder of the term of Susan Beckman, who resigned in January to accept the position of regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Champion previously served for four years as mayor of the Town of Columbine Valley, population 1,488, in western Arapahoe County. In the November election, Champion is opposed by Democrat David Ortiz, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a helicopter crash while serving in the United States Army. Champion told the crowd that he has “served in the legislature for 41 days (excluding time off due to the pandemic) pressing the “no” button. He said, “Right now, it’s the difference between freedom and tyranny because the Democrats have a super-majority in the (state) House, plus the senate and the governor’s office. I believe we have government overreach and wealth distribution—doesn’t that sound Communist?” Explaining the scene at the general assembly when the 2020 session was suspended effective March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Champion said, “When we went into recess the Democrats all wore masks. Republicans with other health issues wore the masks; the rest of us Republicans stood up because we believe in herd immunity.” Champion brought up SB181 of 2019, Protect Public Welfare Oil and Gas Operations, which he described as having “absolutely eviscerated the oil and gas business in Colorado.”
Richard Kellner is running for the open position of 18th Judicial District Attorney against Democrat Amy Padden. Steve House hopes to unseat one-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow.
Champion explained that he has worked in oil and gas all his life. As evidence of his statement, Champion pointed to severance tax revenue, which was, according to the Colorado Office of the State Controller, $126 million in FY 2018 and $236 million in
FY 2019. As of June 2020, the staff of the Colorado Legislative Council pegs the estimated FY2020 severance tax income at $162 million and the FY 2021 severance tax income at $31 million, a decrease of 81 percent. Expressing frustration at the
Bob Roth is running for SD26 against incumbent Sen. Jeff Bridges, appointed by a vacancy committee in January 2019. Richard Champion, appointed by a vacancy committee in February, is running in HD 38 against David Ortiz. Photos by Freda Miklin
level of detail legislators were required to look at in reviewing the FY 2021 state budget, a/k/a the long bill, before it passed, Champion said, “These people have never had a job where you have to sign the front of a pay-
check, not the back.” Bockenfeld explained that Republicans were able to keep the Democratic majority from removing the funding for the Continued on page 6
COVID community testing event STRIDE Community Health Center will be providing COVID-19 testing each Wednesday in July at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora. Visit stridechc.org
OPEN SPACES MASTER PLAN SURVEY:
IMPACT YOUR SPACE
Help us plan for the future of Arapahoe County’s parks, trails and open spaces for the next decade and beyond. Take our online survey between July 8-24, 2020. Available in English and Spanish here: arapahoegov.com/osmasterplan Get monthly updates from your County Commissioners about recent news and upcoming events in your district and throughout the County. Sign up now. arapahoegov.com/commissionernews
COVID-related assistance for residents and businesses Arapahoe County and its communities have received $114.5 million in federal funding to provide a wide variety of economic relief from the COVID public health crisis. Visit arapahoegov.com/arapahoecares
arapahoegov.com
