Mountain View Fire Protection Election

*Editor’s note: Seven candidates have filed for three positions on the Mountain View Fire Protection District Board. The deadline for district patrons to submit their ballots is 7 p.m. on May 3. The ballots can be mailed back or dropped off in person at 3561 N. Stagecoach Road. As of press time, not all candidates had responded to the questionnaire.

Debra Brodhead

Incumbent

Town: Mead

Occupation: Office Tech III for Weld County Sheriff’s Office since 2002

Number of years living in the district: 32

Experience in fire protection services: My experience has been serving on the MVFPD board as an elected director for 4 years plus a couple years as an appointed director.

What concerns do you have with the district?

The only concerns I have for the district is the encroachment of other agencies into the MVFPD.

What made you decide to run for the board?

I was asked to put a letter of interest years ago to fill a vacated seat. After that appointment was done, I decided to run for election, because I saw how well the district was run. I made the decision to run again for 2016, because I have seen all the progress this district has made over the years I have been a residence and more so since Mark Lawley has been Chief.

How do you think the district could improve, and how would you implement

The district has plans already in place for items that need to be accomplished in the coming years. The staff goes through and evaluates what is needed and presents it to the board every year. I have a lot of faith in the current staff to bring the board of directors total correct information so a decision can be made.

What do you see that the district does well, and how would you continue to provide the quality of service?

The district is forward thinking. It makes sure that it has the necessary equipment, good fire stations for the firefighters and equipment, enough stations for their area, funding for all operations through budgeting and possible grants and a great staff of employees.

Timothy Parker

Town: Unincorporated Boulder County (Brownsville)

Occupation: Retired Fire Chief/Fire Protection Consultant

Number of years living in the district: one year

Experience in fire protection services: l have had the privilege of serving over 42 years in fire service, 10 of those as Fire Chief with the Louisville Fire Protection District and 30 with the Rocky Flats Fire Department, 13 as Fire Chief. After retiring from active service, I provide consulting and master planning services to fire departments in Colorado and throughout U.S. I have also received the Governors proclamation for contributions to the Colorado Fire Service in 2015.

What made you decide to run for the board?

First, its simply an opportunity to serve my community. I have always had a passion for public safety and improving the quality of life for the communities I have served in. As a Board of Director, It’s my hope that I can use my experience to support MVFPDs mission and to reduce the risk of fire throughout the district.

Finally, I was encouraged and endorsed by the Mountain View Professional Firefighters to serve as a director.

What concerns do you have with the district?

I’m not sure I have concerns as much as opportunities to improve operations and service. The MVFPD has a large geographic district with vastly different needs in each community it serves. Because of those challenges it’s important to have strong automatic aid and mutual aid to help ensure we have adequate staff, apparatus and response times throughout the district (both rural and suburban areas).

Of a more immediate concern is the age and out of service rate of the districts fleet. Many for the departments first line trucks are at the end of their service life and in need of replacement (this can directly impact response reliability, fire loss and life safety). Lastly, there appears to be a communications gap and mis-aligned priorities at the District level that has had some impact on the departments unified vision. While different perspectives are natural in government, it’s also important to have a collaborative and transparent process when establishing district goals and policy.

How do you think the district could improve, and how would you implement those improvements?

One of the best methods to help ensure continuous improvement is thru internal & external surveys and thru self-assessments. While meeting industry guidelines are important, at the end of the day, our services need to meet our customer expectations. That said, I strongly believe to achieve the best life safety & community fire protection is through fire prevention, protecting homes and families by residential sprinklers and a strong EMS program. There is nothing we do that is more important than saving life.

What do you see that the district does well, and how would you continue to provide the quality of service?

What the district does well;

• We are very lucky to have a good department with very dedicated employees. They are quality people with a passion for service, professional development and meeting high standards.

• The district currently has sufficient funding and has little debt.

• The district has achieved accreditation thru the “Center for Public Safety Excellence which is a significant accomplishment.

How would I continue to provide quality service;

• I fully endorse the accreditation and will continue to support this process.

• Strengthen fire and injury prevention throughout the district. (The best kind of emergency is the one that never happens)

• Ensure adequate and safe staffing for all areas of the district

• Develop strong regional relationships with surrounding area fire department. To the extent possible ensure “closest units” dispatching

• Ensure stable funding. The quality and level of service is directly linked to adequate funding.

Joe Baker

Incumbent

Town: Dacono

Occupation: Service

Number of years living in the district: 10

Experience in fire protection services: I am Not a Fire Fighter

What made you decide to run for the board?

I ran for the board in 2012 to ensure the health and well being of the district, to promote public safety while maintaining a fiscally sound budget.

What concerns do you have with the district?

Special interest groups within the district with their agendas and selfish attitude towards the MVFPD constituents, pushing their frivolous agenda and gluttonous and outdated systems of conjecture.

How do you think the district could improve, and how would you implement those improvements?

The District is Debt Free and has a long term Strategic plan in place that if followed will not need improvement and the will grow accordingly.

What do you see that the district does well, and how would you continue to provide the quality of service?

Quality of service starts with quality people and MVFPD are the best at that. We have the best public safety team in the area with the best equipment, apparatuses, facilities and people serving 184 square miles and over 55 thousand tax payers. I am proud of my accomplishments as the president of MVFPD Board of Directors and will never take for granted the people that help us stay the best at we do.

Chad Christian

Town: Erie

Occupation: Firefighter

Number of years living in the district: 7

Experience in fire protection services: 11

What made you decide to run for the board?

Being a firefighter doesn’t come off with the uniform. It’s something you are a lot more than something you do. I want to be able to share with the District my years of fire and emergency services experience to make my community safer and stronger.

What concerns do you have with the district?

Historically this district has served a largely rural, widespread population. Today, the urban growth is explosive. I am concerned that our population will outpace our ability to deliver quality service. We need a board who not just understands the fire and EMS environment in the district of today, but one who can prepare us for the district of tomorrow.

How do you think the district could improve, and how would you implement those improvements?

There is always room for improvement. Response times, effective firefighting force deployed within “x” amount of time. How fast can an effective response show up to my door when it’s my house on fire or my medical emergency? We can identify reasonable goals based on existing standards and work incrementally to meet them. We don’t need major changes, just diligent minds, committed to public safety, working daily to make a great district greater.

What do you see that the district does well, and how would you continue to provide the quality of service?

We have amazing, dedicated people operating in difficult circumstances. We perform exceptionally well with limited resources. Three personnel on a single family structure fire in Erie are going to have much more work to do in the first critical moments of the emergency than an initial response to a structure fire in many other area departments based on the available firefighting force deployed within the first few minutes. We have fewer firefighters and their backup is further away. I want to take a good hard look at everything we’re doing to deliver service and figure out ways to do it better. And by better I mean safer, faster, more efficiently, and with greater skill.

Kevin Plain

Town: Dacono

Occupation: Senior Program Manager - Avaya

Number of years living in the district: 10.5 years

Experience in fire protection services: Special districts such as the MVFPD have citizen-elected boards that serve as a governing body. It is crucial that taxpayers elect people like themselves to represent them within any kind of district that serves them. I have worked with the MVFPD for 8.5 years in my role on the Dacono City Council. I will be leaving the Dacono City Council in November 2016 and hope to continue my service to others on the MVFPD board.

What made you decide to run for the board?

I enjoy service to others as a way to make a difference in this world. I will have served nine years on the Dacono City Council this November and it is time for someone else to take my place there. Much has been accomplished in Dacono and my experience and knowledge has grown. I would like to bring this experience to the MVFPD board.

What concerns do you have with the district?

The District has sound financials and I plan to make sure things stay that way while always looking for ways to serve taxpayers better. My track record in Dacono speaks for itself. I served during one of the most difficult times for the US economy and Dacono emerged from the recession in great shape.

How do you think the district could improve, and how would you implement those improvements?

I would like to look at coverage and service and find ways to maintain the District’s current level of excellent service. I would also like to hear the feedback of the people serving us within the District and incorporate that back into decisions made by the board.

What do you see that the district does well, and how would you continue to provide the quality of service?

The District manages taxpayer money well and I would like to ensure this continues. The District has an excellent ISO rating which translates to excellent service and lower home owner insurance premiums. I would like to continue the District’s focus on improving fire protection services through training, equipment, and budgeting.