Lynn Hirshman, Gilpin County. Last Sunday, the 21st, was a beautiful day, tempting for the leaf peepers and those on their way to Nederland for Miners’ Days. There was also a Bronco game.

Nonetheless, close to 50 politically aware individuals came to the Gilpin School auditorium at noon to experience the first of the two Candidate Forums sponsored by Gilpin County Republicans and Democrats. The Forum was moderated by retired District and Appellate Court Judge Frank Dubofsky, a wise and humorous presence who announced his appearance as “just someone who is just reading a few questions.”

This first Forum highlighted the offices of Sheriff and Assessor. With about an hour allotted to each office, candidates had five minutes for opening statements, time to respond to questions previously submitted by members of the public, and another five minutes for closing. Each candidate also had an opportunity to ask his/her opponent a question.

The Forum opened with the two candidates for Sheriff each presenting his background and reason for running.  A coin toss gave the first statement to write-in candidate Jake Adler, who began his law enforcement career in 1997 in Colby, Kansas, as patrol, a K-9 Officer, and ultimately Captain. Returning to Gilpin, he spent 4 years as a Deputy and then Sergeant at the jail before moving to Nederland, where he served for 10 years, ending as the Police Chief. He is now working as a patrol officer for Central City. He stressed that law enforcement was his life and passion.

Incumbent Sheriff Bruce Hartman began by saying he “wants to be Sheriff again,” and that his office is “not in a rut.” He read an endorsement from (Republican) District Attorney Pete Weir, and then gave a summary of the history of his department since the arrival of gaming, noting that the changes have been “huge.”

“Have things gone perfectly?” he asked. “No – I won’t try to tell you that….But we also address questions and issues from citizens.”

Gun laws

The first question dealt with Colorado’s new gun laws. Adler emphasized that the Sheriff “does not set law; he enforces the laws….Absolutely,” he added, we need some gun laws, but need to keep the Constitution in mind. Regarding the news laws themselves, he said that “I think we’re getting there, but need some modification and clarification.”

Hartman agreed that the Sheriff enforces existing law, but said that the problem with the wording of the current law is “so poor no one can write a summons in some situations.”

A question regarding what each would do should the Department’s budget be cut 30% led to the first real disagreement between the two men. Hartman said that the only place where such a cut could be made would be in personnel, and, therefore, in service.

Adler spoke of his experience in Nederland, where he was “no stranger” to budget issues, and a cut to their law enforcement budget did impact services. But, he said, there are other options, including the use of reserve officers and reliance on grants.

Why?

Why is each man running for this office? Adler responded that, while talking with many residents, he was hearing about a lack of “customer service” – that people were “terrified” to ask questions of the officers. “The Sheriff has to be out in the community,” he said.

“Deputies need to be visible…there are no deputies at HOA meetings.” Change, he said is natural and needs to occur; a department can become complacent.

Hartman stressed that he wished “we could spend more time on calls to explain the system,” and wished also that he could send more deputies for more training on the “latest techniques and ideas.”

Asking each other

In mutual “gotchas,” Adler asked Hartman in how many other sheriff’s departments had he served; Hartman’s total law enforcement experience has been in Gilpin County.

Hartman then asked Adler what the Sheriff’s Department budget is, and how many employees it had; Adler’s response was considerably lower than the actual numbers. (He mentioned after the forum that he remembered figures from when he was a deputy 10 years earlier.)

Closing

Hartman, in closing, quoted from additional letters of support, and added “I still have passion for this job, or I wouldn’t be here.” He mentioned that “many members” of his staff asked him to stay.

Adler stated that “Law enforcement is fluid and dynamic; it changes day to day.” He suggested that the Department “has to stay on top of this,” and added that many people have asked him to run. “Change is necessary, good, needed. It’s time for something new.” He ended on what had become his theme: that customer service is paramount – and he wants to work on it.

Assessor

After a short break, the Forum reconvened to hear from the candidates for the Assessor’s office.

Incumbent Anne Schafer has served as Gilpin County Assessor for over 10 years. Before becoming the Assessor, Schafer worked for 15 years at People's United Bank in Connecticut in positions of management, real estate, finance, and technology. Schafer has a Masters Degree in Business Management, a Bachelors Degree in Communications, and her Colorado Ad Valorem Mass Appraiser License.

Schafer emphasized that she has won three elections since her original appointment in 2003. In her position, she noted, “experience is critical.” Since her appointment and subsequent elections, she has acquired more than 400 hours of continuing education in the field and received her Appraisal license.

Challenger Robert Hatch currently works with the award-winning Arapahoe County Assessor’s Office. Robert also is a business owner. He founded and managed a real estate company that has bought, developed, and sold 12 properties along the front range. His business success as a “flipper” was featured on the front page of the business section of The Denver Post in 2012.

Robert holds a degree in Real Estate from the University of Denver. His opening statement focused on using money efficiently, and he stressed that he “wants to do real estate for the rest of his life.”

The candidates were asked their intentions toward the position, noting in particular Schafer’s home for sale and her application for the Broomfield Assessor position.

Schafer noted that she put her house up for sale because she wanted to move from a 2-story house to a 1-story; she has no intention of leaving Gilpin. As for her application to Broomfield (they don’t elect the Assessor there, she noted), the position was at twice the salary she makes here; she was a finalist, but would not agree to leave Gilpin before the end of her 4-year term. Should she be reelected, she would once again commit to staying throughout the term. Meanwhile, she is also active in the community beyond her 40-50 hour workweek in the Assessor’s office.

Hatch asserted that he “wants to be here (Gilpin) in perpetuity.” He is currently working with the Arapahoe County Assessor’s Office, but would, obviously, work here in Gilpin should he be elected.

Qualifications

Asked for their qualifications for the position, Hatch responded that, although he doesn’t have an appraiser’s license, he has “appraised hundreds and hundreds” of properties on his own. If his appraisals are wrong, he added, there would be serious consequences, up to and including bankruptcy.

Schafer noted that the role of the Assessor is “to classify and value properties in a fair and equitable way.” She added that people come into her office with questions; that she – and the office – are very accessible. She also speaks to many community groups about the work of the Assessor’s Office.

Needed improvements?

Asked about improvements that could be made to the department, Schafer said that she has a great staff that needs more room – but, she added quickly, she doesn’t want to leave the congenial environment of the Courthouse. Budget restrictions have precluded her from acquiring a much-needed field appraiser. She is always looking for innovation in technology and cost savings.

Hatch agreed that there are good people in the office, but pointed out that such a small office needs cross-training, which is not happening, and bi-weekly meetings.

Schafer’s body language altered abruptly at that statement, as she responded that all her staff are completely cross-trained – one of the very first tasks she undertook when first came into the position. As for bi-weekly meetings, she said the staff meets regularly “all the time.”

Hatch indicated skepticism, saying that “no one knows what goes on in the office.”

Assessor’s job?

Hatch sees the position of Assessor as more administrative than anything else; that staff and Assessor need to work together. Schafer agreed that staff management is critical, probably 50% of the job. Budgeting is also critical, she said, and she is proud that every year the office has come in under or close to the projected budget.

Hatch said that he is “uncomfortable” with “some of the numbers” in Schafer’s budget; she responded that she would like to know which ones, since she is proud of her budgeting.

This was followed by the inevitable “gotcha” questions for each other. Schafer asked Hatch the three best methods for identifying land. He clearly had no idea what she was talking about, responding at last with “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

On the other hand, he asked her how many positions she has applied for since her appointment as Assessor; she answered “Broomfield,” and added something about Arapahoe abstracts.

Closing

Brief final statements reiterated what had already been said: Schafer talked about “a job I love doing,” especially working with the public; she added that it takes two to three years to get all the training an effective assessor needs.

Hatch claimed not to be “a politician; I don’t want to be one.” He said he wants to be in real estate in Gilpin County; thinks his experience in the private sector qualifies him as Assessor; and offered to pay for his training out of his own pocket. He wants, he said, to being a new perspective into the Assessor’s Office.