ARAPAHOE COUNTY — Andrew Johnson got into the Arapahoe County commissioner’s race without even knowing it.
He was away with his Boy Scouts on a camping trip this past spring, while his wife, Rachel, attended the Republican County Assembly. She thought her husband would make a good elected official, “so she nominated me in absentia,” Johnson said.
Johnson is facing incumbent Democrat Frank Weddig for the District 5 seat; incumbent Rod Bockenfeld, a Republican, is seeking another term in District 3 and is being challenged by Democrat Martha Kamopp; while Democrat Jim Jackman faces Republican incumbent Susan Beckman in District 1.
Beckman is seeking her third term. In her first eight years, she said she has been the lead commissioner on transportation issues and has worked to secure open space.
If re-elected, Beckman said, a key issue facing the county is to continue to spend money wisely given the down economy.
“Let’s not build more than we need. That’s not what people elected us to do,” she said of a possible courthouse and jail expansion.
A study last year found that it could cost up to $288 million to build a new jail and courthouse.
Her challenger, Jackman, said voters would support funding expansion of the law enforcement center if it is a responsible package and the public is educated on the issue.
“The county is doing temporary patches, and in the long run, that’s a waste of money,” Jackman said.
Jackman said he got involved over a road-plowing issue, then felt he should run because “it seemed to me, some of the commissioners didn’t represent everyone in the county equally.”
Bockenfeld is proud of the commission’s conservative fiscal stances and improving customer service.
In the next four years if re-elected, Bockenfeld said, he would work to keep taxes low and phase in jail expansion.
“Pay as you go so you don’t have to increase the property tax,” he said.
Kamopp supports going to voters to fund the new jail and courthouse. She also said she would work to ensure that the county is more “green” and to improve services, such as satellite social services offices.
She ran for office in 2004, but lost the House District 40 race. Kamopp, an attorney, has served on the Aurora Bar Association and several citizens’ committees.
“I’d like to help the county run well, but there are some things I’d like to change,” she said.
Weddig is seeking a second term on the board. He worked to build a new fairgrounds and a new public works service center in the eastern part of the county.
If re-elected, Weddig said, the expansion of jail and courthouse is the most pressing issue facing the county.
“In the next four years we should take that issue to the voters,” Weddig said.
Looking back on things, Johnson said he is glad his wife nominated him to run for commissioner. If he’s elected, Johnson said he would open the lines of communication between county government and the people.
“I’ve talked with a lot of folks and I just get the feeling the people aren’t being heard,” said Johnson, a corporate trainer.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
