Issues

Public Safety,
Mental Health, & Homelessness

Public safety, lack of behavioral health resources, the opioid epidemic, and homelessness are pressing issues affecting our community.
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Public Safety, Mental Health & Homelessness

I work on these issues daily as a county commissioner and chair the Gateway to the Rockies Opioid Council. I also serve on the Jefferson County Corrections Board.

More than half of the county’s general fund budget is allocated to the Sheriff’s Office as well as the District Attorney, Coroner, and Justice Services. Commissioners approved an increase in benefits for sworn deputies, totaling $1.75 million to help with recruitment and retention. I’ve also supported funding for school resource officers and behavioral health co-responders who work with deputies. I am grateful for Jeffco’s first responders who put their lives at risk for the safety of others.

Our behavioral health providers and homeless navigators also are critical leaders and collaborators. As chair of the Gateway to the Rockies Opiod Council, I’m working with partners across Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Clear Creek Counties and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office to distribute opioid settlement dollars in our region in five priority areas, including acute treatment for substance use disorders treatment, behavioral health co-responders, recovery housing, harm reduction, and more.

We’re also working with our mayors to create two navigation centers to help our unhoused population by providing shelter and wrap around services, including food, mental health services, housing assistance, and employment programs. Commissioners approved $6 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to support this much needed effort.

We’ve also earmarked dollars to help enhance mental health services in Jeffco for community members of all ages.

Wildfire Risk

Jefferson County ranks #1 in Colorado for potential property loss due to wildfire.
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Wildfire Risk

Governor Polis appointed me to the Colorado Fire Commission. The Commission’s focus on reducing fire risk coupled with the state’s historic wildfires resulted in ground-breaking legislation and funding to keep communities safe.

I also created and chair the county’s first-ever Wildfire Risk Reduction Task Force now called the Jeffco Wildfire Commission, which has worked with partners to:

  • Secure more than $10 million in federal and state grants to enhance mitigation on 3,000+ acres of public and private land
  • Increase defensible space around homes
  • Harden homes by requiring use of ignition-resistant building materials in high-risk areas
  • Create two new year-round SLASH collection sites and double the number of SLASH collection days
  • Improve building codes to reduce risk
  • Enhance evacuation routes, including a mitigation pilot project on county roads and securing new federal funding for high-risk roads
  • Update the County’s wildfire protection plan

As the county faces financial challenges, we’ll continue to proactively pursue federal and state grants and other funding that help reduce wildfire risk.

Sustainability

We want to leave the earth in better shape for our children and grandchildren.
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Sustainability & Climate Change

A laser-like focus on sustainabilty helps tackle climate change and can save taxpayer dollars.

That’s why we approved the development of the county’s first ever climate action plan, strongly support the work of our Sustainability Commission, and created the Sustainability Commission Fund.

Together, we have worked to:

  • Increase the county’s recycling rate from 19% to 47%
  • Achieve our highest overall Energy Star score ever of 75.2
  • Switch to 30% recycled content office paper with recyclable packaging
  • Recycle 675 pounds of batteries collected from county staff
  • Adopt a telecommuting policy to reduce our environmental footprint
  • Continue to recycle 100% of old asphalt and harness solar power (Jeffco is one of 40 counties recognized nationally for its solar efforts), resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual savings

Parks & Trails

We must preserve our pristine parks and trails for future generations.
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Parks & Trails

During my term, we adopted the first ever Jeffco Trails Plan. The plan identifies new trail opportunities and increases trail connectivity.

Our goal is to provide residents access to a trail or greenspace within a 10-minute walk in the plains and a 10-minute drive in the mountain areas. We also adopted the Conservation Greenprint 2020-2025 – a plan for acquiring another 3,000 acres of open space, understanding our role in a changing climate, increasing wildfire mitigation, and focusing on greater equity, especially across underserved populations.

In addition, I strongly advocated for and supported our Open Space team as Jeffco:

  • Hosted record high park visitation at Open Space Parks during the pandemic. All 27 parks remained open throughout the year, providing Jeffco residents and visitors with much needed outdoor activities.
  • Led the grand opening of the Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Segment, including a “cable-cutting” ceremony with county commissioners. The 65-mile-long Peaks to Plains Trail will one day connect the South Platte Trail in Denver to Loveland Pass and then westward all the way to Glenwood Springs.
  • Made multiple park and visitor improvements at Apex, South Table Mountain, South Valley, Beaver Ranch, Hildebrand Ranch, White Ranch, Mathews-Winters (Dinosaur Ridge) and Mount Falcon Parks.
  • Preserved over 188 acres of land with the Superior Skyline and Atkins acquisitions both of which will provide new trails and access in the future.

Housing Affordability

As more people move to Jefferson County, the demand for affordable housing has skyrocketed.
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Housing Affordability

The result: young families, aging adults, teachers, and others are increasingly priced out.

With our partners, we increased affordable senior housing in south Jefferson County and we broke ground on a diverse portfolio of affordable housing in Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge and Arvada that will benefit aging adults, veterans, and youth transitioning out of foster care.

We also launched a 15 Year Comprehensive Housing Plan. This effort is community led and includes diverse voices and expertise across the County.

As a HUD entitlement community, Jeffco benefits from annual allocations of funds that we use to invest in affordable housing construction and preservation.

We hope to tap additional state housing dollars under Proposition 123. Jeffco has opted into the program. It requires us to commit to increasing affordable housing stock by 9 percent – or more than 500 units – over a three-year period. Our partner, Foothills Regional Housing Authority, is also one of the top performers in the nation in awarding emergency housing vouchers.

I also serve on the Jeffco Housing Advocacy Committee and we’re doing a deep dive on the policy barriers to affordable housing and how best to address them moving forward.

Strong Fiscal Oversight

We all want a strong return on taxpayers’ investment. A balanced budget, a multi-year forecast of capital needs, and a sound emergency reserve fund are critical to the county’s fiscal health.
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Jeffco’s Fiscal Health

Our web-based platform shows how the county collects and invests taxpayer money in county services. While demand for services continues to climb, revenue constraints create new fiscal challenges. (Learn more about TABOR and TABOR refunds)

We continue to look at operations across all county departments for cost-saving opportunities and greater efficiencies to achieve a balanced budget. Cuts alone will not solve the county’s ongoing financial challenges.

We implemented an anonymous way for county employees to report financial fraud and ethics concerns, began an internal audit process to help the county achieve low-risk status, and created a new Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee.

Aging Adults & Veterans

Jefferson County has one of the fastest growing aging populations in the state and the third highest population of veterans in the state.
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Aging Adults & Veterans

As your county commissioner, I advocated for and approved Jefferson County’s official designation as an Age-Friendly community to ensure our communities are more livable and better able to support people of all ages, especially aging adults who have contributed so much to Jeffco.

I also support Jeffco’s Aging Friendly initiative and funding for nonprofits helping older adults receive care so they live independently in their own homes.

I’m also proud to come from a Marine Corps family. My family’s stories of service to our country have had a profound impact on me. That’s why I’m a strong advocate for our veterans.

Requests for county services such as filing claims for insurance, hospitalization, and vocational training continue to grow. We’re responding! In 2020 alone, Jefferson County’s Veterans Service Officer team filed more than 500 claims on behalf of Jeffco’s veterans, totaling well over $33 million over a five-year period.

The Business and Workforce Center also assists veterans with career guidance, resume prep, and job skills development through workshops, training opportunities, and work-based learning.

Our team served 1,000 veterans through the Center – a majority of whom came to us unemployed. More than half were employed after six months and most of the remaining veterans found jobs after one year.

Giving Kids
A Strong Start

Our youngest community memebrs deserve a strong start!
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Giving Kids A Strong Start

I served as one of four founding co-chairs of the Bright Futures initiative (now Triad Bright Futures) to increase access to quality early education for all children in Jefferson County.

The county’s Head Start program also provides early childhood education, nutrition, health services, family support, and more. County commissioners play an active role in Head Start.

As a member of Head Start’s Policy Council, I have been actively engaged in the approval its strategic plan, community assessment, and renewal of federal grant funding.

Recently, we created a new program for infants and added slots for more students.

Love Our Libraries

In Jeffco, we value our nationally recognized libraries! Our libraries are a community asset for every generation.
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Love Our Libraries

Our libraries are a community asset for every generation. During my first term, we opened one new library in Edgewater and expanded the Belmar library. During my second term, we’re exploring new libraries in south Jefferson County, Conifer, and Arvada. We also remodeled the Evergreen Library to make it more community-friendly.

As you walk through the doors of one of Jeffco’s libraries, you will discover more than books — you will hear author talks, learn about free events for families, gain access to the internet and free meeting rooms, and much more.

Commissioners also approved one-time funding this year to bring national award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson to Jefferson County as part of the library’s author series.

As a frequent library user, I strongly support a robust, forward thinking library system that’s responsive to today’s needs.

Have A Question?

I’d love to hear from you. Share what’s on your mind.
Contact Lesley
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