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Stan VanderWerf for State Senate district 12 Colorado Springs
Experience Matters! 
Executive Leadership Delivered!

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

  • Helped create Regional Office of Emergency Management

  • Over 100,000 acres of forest fire risk reduction

  • Fully funded Sheriff's Office every year

  • Fighting to stop child abuse and human trafficking

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Multi-million dollar increased budget for roads

  • Delivered repaving of Highway 24 through UTE Pass

  • Broadband internet into Manitou Springs

  • Replaced over 200 old vehicles with new to increase efficiencies (snow plows, road pavers, salt trucks, graders, etc)

  • Accomplished all this and more without raising taxes

ECONOMY

  • Helped over 30,000 citizens find jobs as Chair of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center

  • Aided in securing re-location of companies to El Paso County

  • Improved housing development process to control housing costs

COVID RESPONSE

  • Authored variances to help re-open businesses safely in El Paso County

  • Created team to coordinate community response

  • Voted to distribute over $40 million to local cities and towns

  • Ensured County services remained open to help citizens in need

More achievements below......

National Achievements

  • Appointed to the National Association of Counties (NACO) Community, Economic Development, and Workforce Board (CEWD)

  • Established El Paso County as a national leader in tiny home legislation (e.g. affordable housing)

  • Established County designed Opportunity Zone Policy Change as National Position for NACO

  • Met with Secretary of HUD, Ben Carson, to discuss affordable housing

  • Briefed Pikes Peak Workforce Center's achievements at National Governor's Association Symposium

 

State Achievements

  • Co-Chair, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) legislative affairs committee - succeeded in influencing several pieces of legislation on behalf of the citizens of the Pikes Peak region

  • Established legislative committee in the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to improve local understanding of state initiatives related to criminal justice

  • Provided testimony on selected State transportation bills

  • Conducted extensive meetings with State legislators in a wide variety of proposed bills

  • Continued efforts to stop State unfunded mandates to Colorado counties

  • Appointed to and participated in Colorado Counties Incorporated (CCI) legislative development meetings 

  • Participated in policy development for state-wide affordable housing legislation

 

Regional Achievements

  • Leader on team to create Regional Office of Emergency Management - combined City and County operations - saved taxpayer dollars and improved operations

  • Improved regional cooperation by improving relationships with other public agencies like Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Monument, etc.

  • Speaker at numerous regional events  

  • Voting member on the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) - focus on transportation, aging, joint land use, environmental, and more

  • Co-Chair PPACG Legislative Committee - led the review of dozens of state legislative proposals leading to PPACG endorsed positions - several pieces of legislation were improved as a result

  • Voting member of Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) - 2017-2018

 

Infrastructure Improvements

  • Liaison to the County's Highway Advisory Commission

  • Supported Tabor relief ballot to increase infrastructure funding - the ballot passed with almost 70% citizen support. 95% of the funds are going into roads and bridges

  • Key member of team to accelerate I-25 widening

  • Approved budgets providing millions of dollars in County road equipment re-capitalization - Essential improvements for efficient road maintenance/construction

    • Snow plows, salt trucks, graders, Bomag (gravel road repaver), truck wash, more

  • Completed West Colorado Avenue revitalization

  • Led effort to deliver design improvements at intersection of Chipita Park and Highway 24 - construction to start 2020

  • Initiated and completed South Academy repaving

  • Supported over 40 additional road improvements in 2018 across the County

  • Established "unmanned aircraft service" contract for the County to improve reviews of infrastructure projects

 

Increased Public Safety

  • Chair, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

  • Established CJCC legislative committee to improve local understanding of state initiatives related to criminal justice

  • Voted to place Public Safety Sales Tax extension on ballot - approved by over 70% of voters - essential to continue current levels of service from the Sheriff's office

  • Approved funding additional body armor for sworn County law enforcement officers 

  • Closed down/fined marijuana stores violating permits - reduced illegal distribution risk

  • Cleaned out dozens of homeless camps which are public safety and public health risks - established a more efficient process now used County-wide

  • Improved cooperation with numerous public and private agencies to improve operations for criminally justice involved persons with mental health issues

  • Voted for retirement pay for Deputy Sheriff Micah Flick's family after he was killed in the line of duty

 

Parks Improvements

  • Commissioner liaison to El Paso County Parks Board

  • Completed development of Rainbow Falls, one of El Paso County's newest parks (near Manitou Springs) -  300 people now use the park daily

  • Voted to fund numerous park projects including

    • New dog parks

    • Gazebo repair at Fox run Regional Park

    • New youth bike park in Fountain Creek Park

    • Enhanced exhibits at Bear Creek Nature Center

    • Pineries open space trails and restoration

    • Jones Park trail re-location

    • New Elephant Rock open space in northern El Paso County

    • Establishment of Kane Ranch open space 

 

More Efficient and Transparent Land Use Planning

  • Recommended improved master planning - we now have a county-wide master plan in review and just finished a county-wide water master plan

  • Voted for and implemented nation-leading Tiny Home legislation

  • Voted for the Electronic Development And Review Program (EDARP) - program is less expensive for citizens and developers - offers better property information for all 

  • Voted for and implemented several development projects to increase housing supply and better manage rising housing costs

  • Voted for large downtown development that will add 4,500 apartments over 20 years

  • Provided extensive advocacy for construction defect reform which should increase market incentives to build apartments and town homes in El Paso County

  • Recommended creation of unbiased review process for Tax Increment Finance projects - process approved and now in operation

 

Improved Disaster Preparedness

  • Negotiated Regional Office of Emergency Management - combined City and County operations - Saves money, improves performance on critical life saving operations

  • Restructured fire risk mitigation public/private collaboration board

  • Established County "Supertanker" contract to increase local airborne firefighting water delivery

  • Voting member of Emergency Services Authority - removed government set rate controls to ensure county-wide ambulance services

 

Enhanced Higher Quality Economic Development

  • Advisory Board Member - Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - established better programs and relationships between the SBDC, the County, and the Community

  • Commissioner Liaison - Airport Advisory Committee - key member of team that has expanded commercial and general aviation operations at the Colorado Springs airport

  • Chair - Pikes Peak Workforce Center Board - provided 15,000 job placements last year among many other achievements

  • Successfully supported growth in numerous selected industries - including sports economy, cyber security, manufacturing, military base mission growth, aerospace, more

  • Led efforts to improve rural broadband - assisted in building broadband fiber optic capabilities up UTE Pass - endorsed County-wide Broadband Strategic Plan

  • Enhanced regional outdoor athletics - established bike ride/race in Fountain

  • Supported several arts economy efforts - extensive work with COPPR and Public Art Commission to grow our creative community and businesses

  • Working with community leaders to create a university affiliated research and development center

 

Improved Job Opportunities - Workforce Development

  • Chair of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) Board

  • Provided leadership for an vastly improved regional workforce center that has been noticed by the state and nationally

  • Hired new Executive Director for PPWFC

  • PPWFC is now an award winning enterprise, the best in Colorado with record breaking job fairs, 15,000 job placements in 2018, award winning personnel, more

  • Enhanced programs for job seekers, employers, young adults, veterans, and citizens from disadvantaged backgrounds

 

Improved Homeless Policies

  • Cleaned out more than 12 homeless camps on the west side in last two years - increased public safety and reduced health risks for both residents AND the homeless

  • Recommended and now support Colorado Springs homeless outreach court as well as increased citations for illegal camping to encourage higher use of the outreach court

  • Assisted with finding new living arrangements for residents of Emerald Towers

  • Converted CSBG Program from emergency funding to self-sufficiency investments

  • Created combined Dept of Human Services / Workforce Center pilot program to help those in need get both counseling and job training 

  • Voted for and established an illegal camping ordinance

 

Increased Department of Human Services Citizen Support

  • Raised awareness for child abuse and human trafficking in El Paso County

  • Supported divestiture from intoxication center (not a gov't task, huge medical liability) - moved to Crossroads non-profit which also provides addiction prevention support in high schools

  • Supported processes to fix non-performing services contracts at DHS - saved millions of dollars and increased performance

  • Supported an improved state child welfare allocation formula resulting in more funds for El Paso County

  • Voting member of Child Alternative Placement Commission (Foster Care) - have improved public/private partnerships

 

Increased County Openness, Transparency, and Efficiency

  • Initiated and encouraged increases in strategic planning not done for a long time: 

    • Parks Plan, Broadband Plan, Housing Development Plan, Water Plan, County facilities plan, more

  • Delivered whistle blower protections in the County personnel manual

  • Created citizen-based Science and Technology Commission to improve County technology adoption

  • Supported and voted to fund new County, Clerk and Recorder and Assessor websites - provides easier citizen access and much more information 

  • Published in searchable format all county ordinances, land use and park regulations, etc.

  • Voted for several efforts to clean up and update planning code (bee keeping, ADA compliance, etc)

  • Voted for the Electronic Development and Review Program (EDARP) - a process to save citizen and developer time and money for development project reviews 

  • Implemented a strategy to increase citizen awareness of county services

 

Improved Environmental Services

  • Improved environmental services delivered by the County - collected over 500 tons of recyclable materials, over 100,000 gallons of household paint, and more in 2018

  • Created ordinance to stop dumping of tires in El Paso County - reduced fire risk and environmental damage 

 

Honoring Veterans and Supporting our Military Bases

  • Formed Pikes Peak Heroes Legacy Committee - focuses on honoring local heroes

  • Created museum exhibit now on display at the Colorado Springs airport telling the story of Mr. Don Stratton, survivor of the USS Arizona attack at Pearl Harbor - Stratton is a local El Paso County resident

  • Named the Fillmore Bridge after Mr. Don Stratton

  • Speaker at numerous Veteran's Day, VFW, American Legion, and VA events

  • Voting member of the Military Affairs Committee - enhanced community to base relationships

  • Voting member of the Defense Mission Task Force - helped capture more military missions and protect current missions

  • Contributor to growing our defense public and private business base

 

Demonstrated Community Leadership

  • Helped several citizens get their utilities re-established with CSU in Cascade

  • Member Council of Neighbors and Organizations (CONO) Advisory Committee

  • Volunteer for Saint Arnold Beer Festival which raises about $25,000 per year for Westside Cares

  • Voting member of the Community Services Development Board - achieved a re-emphasis of their funding recommendations from emergency services to sustainable services for people in need

  • Helps 2 to 3 citizens per week on wide ranging issues

  • Supports hundreds of non-profits in their missions to help people 

  • Guest climber with the AdAMan Club - I help launch fireworks from the top of Pikes Peak on New Year's eve

  • Speaker at Tri-Lakes Annual State of the Region Luncheon

  • Supporter of Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance

 

Supported Improved Public Health Efforts

  • Supported additional $200K more in 2019 budget for Public Health efforts

  • Key leader to improve community based mental health services

  • Working on initiatives to improve family health

  • Extensive work with Public Health on COVID response 

 

Key Member 2020 Census Preparation Team

  • Voting member of the Pikes Peak Complete Count Committee

  • Co-Chair of the Government Sub-Committee

  • Supporting increased County marketing development for the Census - it's important that everyone gets counted

DoD Disclaimer: Use of rank and/or photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense

God, Family, Community, Nation.

Paid for by Committee to Elect Stan VanderWerf

Registered Agent: Candi Boyer

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