Name: Jerri Hill

Position: Democratic Candidate for Douglas County Commissioner District 1

Age: 60

Family: My husband Charles, a daughter and son-in-law in Glenwood Springs, a son in Denver, a daughter in San Francisco. We also have a great son-in-law and two wonderful grandsons, 9 and 4, one of whom is a native Coloradan, so we are set.

What I do: I am a lawyer who does a lot of pro bono legal advocacy for neighborhoods, especially in the areas of water and natural resource conservation, and campaign finance. I also volunteer and do cases at reduced fees for the Women's Crisis Center in Douglas County. I volunteer as secretary for my homeowners association, and in that capacity have numerous contacts with staff in Douglas County. WIth Charles, I worked to create the first Water Conservancy District in Douglas County. I am participating in the formation of the Douglas County Rural Water Users Association.

Favorite place in Douglas County to hang out: Any of the open spaces, or Mainstreet in Parker, especially Jock and Jills.

What I like most about living here: The rural setting with quick commuting distance.

My interests and hobbies: Changing the world one voter at a time, gym, hiking, guitar, reading and writing.

My favorite thing to cook: Mole. (Spelling doesn't look right but it is pronounced molay in Spanish.)

People who inspired me: My neighbor caring for her children including the baby with leukemia, and doing so with grace and laughter and total dedication. My clients, many of whom are single parents, going to school and/or working, dealing with layoffs, problems with the other parent and the high cost of daycare, healthcare, heating and gasoline, and doing so with hope and determination.

How I have contributed to the community: My pro bono legal work in the areas of domestic law, community development, water district formation, water adjudications, and campaign finance. My work as president, vice president, boardmember or member of our voluntary HOA, advocationg before the county commissioners for fair consideration of conditions for development such as water supply, traffic, drainage, schools, air quality and safety. Advocating for renewable energy with the IREA. Work for the Dems, getting out the word that we are here and we have ideas to preserve and to improve the quality of life in Douglas County for all of its residents.

What are the biggest issues facing Douglas County now:

1. Water supply and quality. I support the formation of the Douglas County Rural Water Users Conservation District, (with voluntary participation). I support Commissioner Boand's efforts to place conditions on developnment, even when a Metro District issues a "Will Serve" letter, which conditions must be met before any development occurs. Smart growth would require not some plan for future development, but rather a hydrologically reviewed and approved present system which is not "water on paper", but rather the delivery system. We have had too many Metro Districts going bankrupt because of reliance on future development to pay present bills. We can have a self-sustainable community if we plan things well from the beginning. I do not agree that the northeastern corridor should be solid develpment with no buffer zones or appreciable open space, as we are still relying on groundwater and need to look at 100 to 200 years supply. Right now, we don't have it.

2. Ethics in governance. This office is not just a job to me, it is a lifetime goal to seek new and innovative answers to old questions, such as water supply. I agree with my opponent that levies for projects should always be voted upon by the people being asked to make the sacrifice, and that those costs should be revealed and upfront, not just tacked to your water bill. I disagree that it is okay to take contributions from developers that will appear before the commissioners for project approval. In a quasi-judical setting, it creates the appearance of influence. The assessor's office should be sure assessments are not unduly inflated to cover new county costs. Zoning should be enforced equally and without undue influence. If an ordinance is on the books, it should be enforced, or taken off the books. For example, the signage ordinances have been ignored. There should be a steady flow of funds from fines for egregious zoning violations until problmes are corrected.

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