Welcome to Rebecca McClellan for Arapahoe County Commissioner

District 2 Hopefuls Trade Barbs

By Peter Jones
Published: 09.23.10

A recent forum showcasing Arapahoe County’s 2010 political candidates was often heated with some opponents differing strongly on ethics, qualifications and financial accountability.

The race for District 2’s county commissioner saw one challenger questioning the integrity of her opponent — later prompting countercharges — in an increasingly contentious race to represent the district.

The forum, held Sept. 16 at Smoky Hill Library in Centennial, was organized by the League of Women Voters.

Last year, the District 2 candidates, Rebecca McClellan and Nancy Sharpe, served together — and often sparred — on an intergovernmental coalition that was established to facilitate the redesign of the intersection of Arapahoe Road and I-25.

“You need to have a local government that’s free of conflict of interest,” Democrat McClellan argued, questioning Republican Sharpe’s ties to business interests.

McClellan, a Centennial City Council member, accused Sharpe of hosting “secret [coalition] meetings” about the redesign. Because the coalition includes only one representative from each of three different elected bodies, the group is not subject to open-meeting laws.

In January, the Centennial City Council had voted McClellan out as its representative on the coalition after she publicly broke ranks with the council’s consensus on some aspects of the far-reaching redesign project.

McClellan had staunchly opposed a proposal to divert some Arapahoe Road congestion into nearby residential neighborhoods. While the idea is not popular on the council, most officials have favored completion of a federal study before taking a definitive position.

Sharpe, mayor of Greenwood Village and a longtime activist in south metro government and economic-development circles, has been more in line with the majority of Centennial’s council, her Greenwood Village colleagues and the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners, the third partner in the coalition.

At the forum, McClellan questioned Sharpe’s interests in the issue, and in particular, her onetime financial connection to the quasi-governmental Transportation Management Association. Sharpe had received a stipend for briefly serving in a management position with the organization.

“My opponent has accepted a $15,000 payment from [the association] with development interests on its board. These boards are the funding partners for the Arapahoe/I-25 underpass,” McClellan told the audience.

The Democrat said many of her Centennial constituents were misled about the controversial proposal to construct an underpass on Alton Way or Costilla Avenue. She cited a city flier that did not reach some affected neighborhoods.

McClellan accused Sharpe of actively supporting the proposal in the coalition’s request for federal funding, despite a supposed lack of public “buy-in.”

“Many of you will be told that no decisions have been made. In fact, my opponent has already requested $25 million from members of Congress,” McClellan said.

In a letter last year to Rep. Mike Coffman, Sharpe had requested the funding for the completion of “the Costilla connection associated with the project.” At the forum, Sharpe said the local community would come first as the project moves forward.

“I am committed to protecting property rights and neighborhoods and I would not support [an underpass] if they were impacted negatively. I —100-percent — support the Arapahoe I-25 interchange, however,” Sharpe said.

McClellan’s most contentious charges came during her closing remarks after Sharpe had already made her final statement. In an e-mail sent to Colorado Community Newspapers, the mayor defended her integrity.

“Voters should know that I was compensated for a six-month professional job [with the Transportation Management Association], and the City of Greenwood Village attorney provided an opinion that the project and payment for services rendered was appropriate and transparent,” Sharpe wrote.

The mayor denied that any “secret meetings” had taken place on the issue.

“What [McClellan] doesn’t mention is she regularly attended meetings ... regarding coalition efforts at I-25 and Arapahoe Road,” Sharpe wrote.

There is generally no legal requirement that such intergovernmental meetings be made public unless a plurality of elected officials from one or more entity is present.

District 2 includes parts of Centennial, Greenwood Village and unincorporated Arapahoe County.

Opposing the I-25 Costilla underpass

Rebecca McClellan opposes the I-25 "Costilla Connection" underpass near Arapahoe Road. Eminent domain should not be used to force thousands of vehicles a day into residential areas.

Greenwood Village Mayor Nancy Sharpe tells voters that "no decision has been made" to build the underpass, but in 2009 she signed a letter to Congressman Coffman requesting $25 million in federal funds for construction. An excerpt:

See the full letter

Let's keep Rebecca working for:

PROPERTY VALUES: Rebecca led the fight to protect family neighborhoods from adult businesses. She'll fight against back room deals. As our Commissioner, Rebecca's undivided commitment will be to citizens. A former REALTOR® and small business owner, Rebecca works to protect our neighborhoods. Her commitment to homeowners is reflected in her support for traffic calming and mitigation measures to protect your home values, safety, and quality of life.
 
TRANSPORTATION: Rebecca McClellan favors improving the Arapahoe & I-25 Interchange without damaging home values.

"Let's avoid using eminent domain property takings and save the $55 million underpass cost by putting our money to work on the I-25 & Arapahoe interchange itself, where it is truly needed.  We shouldn't force 18,000 cars a day toward homes and an elementary school.  It's still your money and you should have a say in how it is spent."
-Centennial Councilwoman Rebecca McClellan

Rebecca favors multi-modal solutions to our transportation challenges. She worked with Bicycle Colorado to bring us our first Safe Routes to Schools program, cutting traffic and enhancing safety for children walking or biking to school.
 
COMMUNITY: Rebecca worked with Littleton and Cherry Creek School District leaders and achieved a sales tax exemption for our local school PTO's, freeing parent volunteers to put their efforts to work for students.

Rebecca led for the elimination of waste on fuel, paper and bottled water, saving tax dollars. She founded a citizen's group and worked to develop frugal, responsible policy options. Rebecca's served on her city's Parks & Open Space Committee, and advocates land banking for open space preservation. She favors more frugality on the proposed Civic Center Park, where a staggering $7 million of taxpayers' funds may be spent on a single site, leaving little for land banking.

Councilwoman McClellan was elected to serve a term as Centennial's Mayor Pro Tem, and her regional peers elected her to district leadership with the Colorado Municipal League, where she serves on the Legislative Policy Committee. A former small business owner, Rebecca has served on Centennial's Investment Committee. Her constituents have reelected her in overwhelming numbers for her leadership and integrity.

Let's keep Rebecca working for your family!