One of the most important votes for the future of Centennial is fast approaching. June 10 th, 2008, will be our opportunity to make it possible to gain more control over our city, by approving a Home Rule Charter.

From November through February, twenty-one of your neighbors gave their complete and absolute best efforts to create the Charter, which is a "constitution" for our city. We solicited input during public hearings, responded to an abundance of emails, spoke at length on the phone and in other forums in order to gather as many opinions as possible. We then spent numerous hours entrenched in extensive and in-depth discussion regarding each opinion no matter how diverse or varied. Because of that, it's no surprise that all of us had parts of the charter with which we disagreed. However, compromise and a sense of "finding a middle ground" was the spirit of the commission and opened the way for us to unanimously present a document which, I am convinced, will better meet the needs of our citizens than if we were to remain a statutory city. The final version of the charter is now in your hands. (see www.homerule2008.com)

So, what have your elected home rule commissioners been up to since then?

We are still reaching out to distant corners of our city to educate everyone ... anyone... who wants to make an informed decision in June. The responses have been overwhelmingly encouraging and positive - and for that we are deeply grateful. Despite the misinformation and half truths used by the opposing voice, none of their contentions have convinced us- the 21 members of the Home Rule Charter Commission, nor hundreds of other citizens - to diminish our enthusiasm for the adoption of this historic document.

And in case you are still sitting on the fence, here is just a little food for thought: If not a home rule city, well...then... what? Remain confined to the "same-old-same-old" stagnation until we "grow up?" When exactly do we move from crawling to walking? Here's when: When our knees get worn out and we're tired of the view from the floor. I for one am - as I am confident most of us are - grown up enough to take the strides necessary to set the pace for our city to achieve vitality and momentum.

And one last thing...

Whether you trust the city government currently in office or not isn't the real issue. And whether you feel an elected city clerk or treasurer offers more transparency or doesn't isn't the real issue either - and here's why: We, the citizens of Centennial, are the ultimate oversight. We provide the transparency. We encourage prudent progress. And it is we the people who need to move our city forward in June. That is the spirit of this charter. You and I, all of us, are ready now - more than ever - for self-governance in directing what our city officials legislate and this charter is the avenue to it.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to vote yes June 10 th.

Shannon M. Gish,
Home Rule Charter Commissioner
Centennial