We urge a vote for Combs & Phelps

Stealth Democrats in this month's Centennial election are feeling the pushback from some of us who have won office as Republicans and know the difference party makes. Republican council candidates Ron Phelps and Cindy Combs have picked up strong endorsements this week from Spencer Swalm and me. Andrews Open Letter to The Villager & The Centennial Citizen:

Centennial city council races don't highlight party labels. Yet the party affiliation of candidates is important for predicting their approach to taxes, spending, and the role of government. I've learned this from a lifetime of studying political science and doing practical politics.

So it will be Republican Cindy Combs who gets my vote in Centennial Ward III over the incumbent Democrat, Rebecca McClellan. Likewise in Centennial Ward I, voters should prefer Republican Ron Phelps over the former Democrat councilman seeking a comeback, Vorry Moon.

Centennial is in danger of catching the big-government bug. Combs and Phelps will fight that by putting taxpayers first.

Rep. Spencer Swalm Press Release Today:

Ron Phelps is the best choice to represent the residents in Centennial Ward I. He is a fiscal conservative who will work to find a balance between individuals' rights and thoughtful policies that benefit our entire community. I encourage you to cast your vote for Ron Phelps."

Phelps introduces himself

Open Letter to Centennial Voters in District 1: My name is Ron Phelps, and I am running for Centennial City Council. This is my invitation for you to cast your October 13th mail-in ballot vote for me. If you attend the City Council meetings, you’ve probably seen me on some of the subcommittees or at neighborhood events. Based on my observations and all that I’ve learned, I think the city’s first priority should be to ensure that your tax dollars are spent wisely. After that, I think we have an obligation to honor the original vision for our city - small, citizen-focused government, low taxes and low government intrusion in our day-to-day lives.

SMALL, LIMITED GOVERNMENT - As our city continues to grow, we’re beginning to experience some growing pains as we find the balance between individuals’ rights and thoughtful policies that benefit our entire community. Keeping Centennial’s government small and limited in its authority is important. I will fight to protect against big government.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - We need new, creative ideas to entice small business into our city. For example, one businessman suggested that waiving some initial startup fees might be enough to entice more growth. More growth means more jobs and a broader tax base. More business-generated tax revenue will help all of us. I will work to bring new business to Centennial.

QUALITY OF LIFE - Maintaining our quality of life includes keeping us safe and protecting our property values. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department does a great job of protecting our kids, homes and neighborhoods. I will work to ensure that the city upholds its responsibility to work closely with the Sheriff to monitor the changing needs of our community.

THE BOTTOM LINE- I’m a small- and limited-government kind of guy, and a fiscal conservative. I look forward to continuing to work with residents and Centennial’s businesses to address these and other important issues (seniors’ issues, better transportation, open and transparent stewardship).

I have experience as a businessman, and am a United States Air Force veteran. I volunteer on two Centennial citizen committees: the Open Space and Parks committee, and the Land Use Southglenn Area Steering committee. Additionally, I am currently serving on the Arapahoe County Citizen Budget Committee, an appointed position, and I represent the Southglenn Civic Association at CenCON.. Together, all of my experience enables me to add value quickly in doing the business of City Council.

I am 50, a father and grandfather. I’ve enjoyed serving my country, city and neighborhood. I look forward to further serving you and the city of Centennial on City Council.

I'm Ron Phelps and I need your vote. Let’s work together to keep our government small and limited, fiscally conservative, and keep Centennial a great place to live.

Respectfully, Ron Phelps City Council Candidate Centennial – District 1 Website - www.ronphelps.com email - ron@ronphelps.com

Centennial nonpartisan charade

Local elections this fall for school boards and municipal offices (the ones that haven't been canceled for lack of interest) occur in a fog of nonpartisan obscurity. In my Denver Post column this week, I likened the voter's dilemma, absent Republican and Democratic tags to help identify the local candidates, to guessing on unlabeled canned goods at the food bank. The column cited Cherry Creek schools and the city of Centennial, where I reside, as typical cases -- but space didn't allow for specifics. So here are a few of them.

The other day in our neighborhood I noticed a block jammed with parked cars. They belonged to guests at a candidate coffee for John Flerlage, the Democrat hoping to unseat Congressman Mike Coffman next year. His banner adorned the home of Centennial Ward III councilman Patrick Anderson, an activist Democrat who was able to get elected in our heavily Republican area because the ballot allows for no party ID.

Anderson's wife is Jennifer Herrera, who ran for Cherry Creek school board in 2007. She was unhappy with me for distributing an email identifying her as a registered Democrat and Jim O'Brien, the eventual winner, as a Republican.

Jennifer Herrera's brother is Justin Herrera, another Democrat who resides at the same address and ran last year for RTD Board -- nonpartisan again, do you start to see a pattern? The union-backed Herrera lost to Republican Jack O'Boyle, and I again did my bit for open government by noting their respective party identities in a mass email.

My popularity with those good folks no doubt sank lower as a result, and it may go lower still with this blog post. But come on, people, what do you have against sunshine? Are you ashamed of your political party? You want an informed electorate, don't you?

The other council seat here in Ward III is held by the ostensibly nonpartisan Rebecca McClellan. She too is an avid Democrat, having been Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman for Arapahoe County in 2008. As McClellan runs for another term this fall, incumbency will be on her side. Republican challenger Cindy Combs will have the handicap of no party labels on the ballot to guide a GOP-heavy electorate in her direction.

One more example from my idealistic little suburb, where "politics were going to be different" according to the civic founders who incorporated us in 2000, and where I once got in hot water even with fellow Republicans (naive souls) for "soiling" the process with one of my who's-who partisan email slates during campaign season...

This example is Centennial Ward I -- a midterm vacancy contest now occurring between Ron Phelps and Vorry Moon. The nonpartisan gag rule under state law prevents voters from readily knowing that Phelps is with the GOP while Moon is a leading Democrat, chairman of his party's organization in House District 37 where Dems are targeting state Rep. Spencer Swalm.

All that voters will know about Vorry Moon is his previous council service in Centennial, prior to losing a second-term bid to Betty Ann Habig in 2007, and that resume' entry with its accompanying name identification gives him an advantage when the low-profile mail ballot comes out next month.

An unfair advantage in the larger scheme of things, it seems to me -- if we really care about the competitive, accountable elections and governance that two-party politics excels at providing.

Treasurer endorses Phelps

Ron Phelps is by far the best candidate in the race for council in Centennial District 1. In these times when everyone is having to tighten their belts, do without pay raises and deal with possible layoff, Centennial needs a fiscal conservative like Ron Phelps on the city council. Ron is for limited government and low taxes. He wants to do what he can to keep from burdening his District 1 neighbors with higher taxes and out of control government. As a member of the Arapahoe County Citizen Budget Committee appointed by the Commissioners, Ron brings experience with government finance. He has long been active in his community serving on many boards such as CenCON, the Centennial Land Use Board, the Centennial Open Space Trails and Parks Committee (vice-chair), and the Southglenn Area Steering Committee.

Ron is active in the Republican Party as a District Captain and Precinct Leader and a state delegate in 2008.

I hope you will join me in supporting Ron Phelps for Centennial Council in District 1.

Phelps for Centennial Council, again

I have a favor to ask and it’s political in nature. I need your help to get elected to the Centennial City Council. I am running in a special election to fill a vacant seat. Editor: I was very impressed with Republican businessman Ron Phelps when he ran for this same seat in 2007. At that time he stepped aside late in the race to prevent splitting the vote with GOP veteran Betty Ann Habig and missing a chance to oust Democrat incumbent Vorry Moon. She won but has now had to resign in midterm for personal reasons. It's now Ron's turn, and I am pleased to be supporting him - JA

Centennial has only been around less than 10 years – and our new city is having some growing pains. Did you know that the decisions made by our city council have more of a direct impact on the way we live than any other form of government? Many of these issues I’ll address in future emails.

During the past several years, I have been active serving on the County budget committee, the city land use planning and city park & trails committees, and the neighborhood civic organization. I have worked to preserve our individual rights and balance those with the greater needs of our growing community.

I realize that not all of you receiving this live in Centennial or in my neighborhood. Even so, I hope you might be willing to help me.

First and foremost for my neighbors, I need to know I can count on your vote.

Second, I need your financial help. I hope to raise $3,000 by Labor Day.

Finally, below is a list of other ways you can help me win this election:

- Support me by endorsing me with your friends who live in District 1

- Place a yard sign in your yard

- Support me by hosting a meet & greet “coffee” to help me raise campaign funds

- Wear an ‘elect Ron Phelps’ t-shirt at public meetings or a neighborhood function

- Walk a neighborhood area

If you can help me out financially by sending $50, $100 or $200 to Citizens for Ron Phelps, I would be very grateful. Mail checks to 1156 E Davies CT, Centennial, CO 80122.

I will be providing updates over the coming weeks and months on how we’re doing and the issues facing the City of Centennial. Drop me an email at phelps4citycouncil@gmail.com if you'd like to be on my list.

Thanks again, and if you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 303-809-9230.