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Lakewood [Change Location]

Bob Murphy is the one to move city forward

Article Contributed on: 10/4/2007 12:32:03 PM

In a 2006 Citizen Survey, Lakewood citizens overwhelmingly rated the quality of life in our city as good or very good. Can anyone think of a better place to live, to raise a family, to enjoy retirement? Our Lakewood city government, with it's finger on the pulse of it's citizens is moving our city in the right direction: forward.

With 7,000 acres of parks and open space, four newly remodeled recreation centers, a police force with newly re-instated resource officers helping to keep our schools safer, exemplary West Metro Fire, bustling Belmar, the Mills and Denver West, a thriving cultural arts community, why live anywhere else?
Add to that the exciting addition of a top notch hospital in the St. Anthony's move, and other promising, progressive projects, and Lakewood is poised as a model 21st century city.

Is growth and development easy to live with? Certainly not, but we cannot afford to remain static. Do you shop at Colorado Mills and Denver West? Enjoy restaurants at Belmar? Do you envision using the new C-470/Alameda interchange? Perhaps buy that dream home in Solterra? Might you have the need in the future to get to an emergency room quickly?

Without forward thinking and tough negotiations, Lakewood would have a dying Villa Italia with increased gang activity, an empty lot on west Colfax, a conglomerate of developers "Highland Ranching" Rooney Valley, a shrinking police force, and the 3rd largest city in the metro area would be without direct access to highly sophisticated medical facilities.

Bob Murphy is the right candidate for the job of Mayor, to keep moving Lakewood forward, and to improve upon the 89% satisfaction rate.

In a time when citizens feel that they need a louder voice in city government, Bob Murphy is the one who understands how to hear all voices.The Mayor is not the voice of the citizens, but the leader of the citizen-elected Council, both of which listen to and represent the concerns of all citizens. Bob Murphy has the experience and integrity to listen to opposing views and uses collaboration and compromise to come to a solution.

There are many extensive projects in the works for the next Mayor to orchestrate with the best interests of the citizen's of Lakewood in mind. Lakewood can be totally comfortable with Bob Murphy as our chief ambassador in the board room negotiating with executives from St. Anthony's, planning with large developers such as Carma, Inc., working with officials from RTD, collaborating with Lakewood Police, and West Metro Fire, around the Metro area and the state of Colorado.

It's a big job to keep Lakewood moving forward. Vote for the candidate who has the credentals to do the job with experience, leadership and integrity. Let your voice be heard. Vote for Bob Murphy for Mayor.

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Showing 1-10 of 11 comments
Sherry Beranich wrote on 10/5/2007 @ 7:48:40 PM

Rita, Are you going to respond to my questions with anything specific? I am not going to your website, I am waiting for a specific response here. I don't want to wait for the election results, I want to know if you have anything of value to say!
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Lorna Fox wrote on 10/5/2007 @ 12:39:57 PM

Good story Ginny. Rita seems to have no plan for the city, but lots of platitudes. She is very media savvy, but has no other real experience. Since she does not own property in Lakewood, she has no property values to be concerned about. That's probably why Neighborhood Plans based on widespread neighborhod input and support and the fact that Rooney Valley has been zoned for devlopment for many years do not concern her. Being young is certainly not a bad thing, but being inexperienced and self-righteous are not a good qualifications for being Mayor. The position of Mayor is not an entry level position. Bob Murphy is the best choice.
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Rita Bertolli wrote on 10/5/2007 @ 9:49:58 AM

This election will demonstrate what people feel, not a survey tendered to the few. Mr. Murphy is for more growth, more corporate development, more land deals. His yard sign has a building on it. By his own actions and his voting record, there is no question who he represents. We will be experiencing many more land decisions in the future: rezonings, developments of vacant lands (there are many, the City has a list of them), and economic package proposals. We need a leader that will address these issues and mold these changes around citizens. Citizens ARE unhappy. Wait for the vote if you don't believe it.
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Ron Egan wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 11:16:30 PM

2006 survey 2004 to 2006 ratings- "Lkwd City Gov't welcomes citizen involvement" decreased "I believe my elected representatives generally act in the best interest of the community" decreased "I am confident in the representation I receive from my Council Members" decreased "I receive good value and services for the amount of City sales and property taxes I pay" decreased 6 of 7 categories for "public trust statements", decreased from '04 to '06. Compared to cities across the nation and Front Range, we're below average. While "overall quality of life" was above the norm, it decreased from the '04 ranking. When respondents were asked about the "overall quality of life of your neighborhood" we fell below the norm compared to the nation + our ranking drops year after year. p.s. I don't support any candidate.
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Allan Berger wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 9:49:00 PM

Sherry, Belmar was genius. I will give credit to the mayor and Mr. Rock for those. Carma was an egregious error. Somethin happened in between. We need to look to the future, not the past. What is Bob Murphy's view of the future? More Belmars or more Carma's? If the former, he has my vote. But I am afraid it is the latter. That is why I am even considering Rita.
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Sherry Beranich wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 8:38:03 PM

Rita, (or any of her supporters) Please address the following: With an 89% satisfaction rate with our current life style in Lakewood, why do you think change is needed? Why do your supporters continually state that the majority of Lakewood citizens are unhappy when there is an 89% satisfaction rate? Isn't 89% a significant majority? Why is it, since you've surfaced, is there is so much dissention in Lakewood? What do you have to offer, now that Carma is a done deal? Rooney Valley was always slated for development. Where is the revenue going to come from if Lakewood doesn't move forward? If you were Mayor when Villa Italia existed, would it still be Villa now, with people afraid to shop there after dark? What are your plans for the future of Lakewood, besides firing the current city manager? How do you propose to finance that? You say the Mayor is the voice of the citizens. Speak to me.......... f
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Ginny Krause wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 7:57:29 PM

Really?
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Mike Burns wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 6:08:30 PM

I'm afraid that Bob Murphy has pulled the wool over your eyes. You, Ginny have your head in the clouds when it comes to the realistic views of the majority of citizens of this city.
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Allan Berger wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 3:40:31 PM

I don't think the Carma exchange vote showed that the city council had the "pulse" of the citizenry. I would tend to agree that Lakewood's government has done well over the last 8 years (picked because that is when Mike Rock started). I am not sure that I want a mayor who is so comfortable in the board room. I would rather that he be more comfortable in the living rooms of his constiuents. And I still have not seen what his traffic plans are.
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Sherry Beranich wrote on 10/4/2007 @ 2:19:19 PM

An excellent story about how far we have come. Why? Because the Mayor and Council Members listened to the community it serves. This city will not continue to thrive without experienced, competent and honest leadership!
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Showing 1-10 of 11 comments
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