ROD BOCKENFELD
Party: Republican
Website: www.bockenfeld.com
Biography
I am 52 and the current County Commissioner representing District #3 in Arapahoe County. I hold a BS Degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University. I am also a graduate of the University of Colorado Graduate School of Banking. Prior to being elected I had 30 years experience in criminal justice, finance and banking. I'm married with five children and one granddaughter.
What do you consider to be the four most important issues facing Arapahoe County?
- Planning for and meeting future needs without raising additional property taxes. Proper planning today will prevent us from having to raise taxes in the future.
- Increasing government efficiency through performance management initiatives to improve current services and perhaps create a higher level of service. Arapahoe County does not have a county manager therefore the commissioners not only set policy but oversee the management of the county.
- Reprioritizing current programs and services in order to meet the needs of an aging population.
- Better regional planning and coordination to protect our quality of life in the Denver Region.
If elected, how do you plan to address such issues?
- To remain a participant on the County's Executive Budget Committee. Growth must pay its own way and the County must continue to use a pay as you go strategy to address future needs.
- Promote the objectives of the National Performance Advisory Commission. I am currently the National Association of County's appointee to this commission.
- Continue to work with the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) on best management practices in this area. I currently serve as an executive officer on the DRCOG Board.
- Remain active with DRCOG. I currently serve as the Chairman of the Metro Vision Issues 2035 Committee.
What do you see as the County's role in the future?
County governments serve the health, safety and welfare functions of the local government. Many constituents do not understand the true functions of county government. The county government is the operating arm of your state government. I do not see this role changing in the future. We will continue to maintain the jails, deliver the human services programs, oversee the health department, build courthouses, fund the district attorneys office, participate in regional planning, participate in economic development, manage elections, investigate unexplained deaths, assess property values, collect taxes and be the direct line of government in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Are there other items you plan to address if elected?
In order to fully serve this district, the commissioner must serve on a number of boards and commissions. I will remain active on the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority in order to get our urbanized communities off groundwater and on renewable water resources. I will remain a participant on the Regional Economic Advancement Partnership to represent the rural portion of the county. I will continue to serve on the Aurora Economic Development Council to represent the urbanized portion of my district. Lastly, I will continue to serve on the Centennial Airport Authority to mitigate airport impacts on the urbanized areas.
